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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


!«  IM    112.5 


IM    112.2 


1140 


2.0 


1.8 


U    ill  1.6 


P 


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/i 


/. 


'ci^l 


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<W  ^1 


^^ 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


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^^ 


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V 


^^ 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14SB0 

(716)  872-4503 


^5 


%.  ^F 


W 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions 


Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


1980 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 
D 


□ 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculde 


Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

□    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

□    Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 


□ 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
tors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6X6  film^es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  d^tbiis 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


□ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 


n    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pelliculdes 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  di§color6es,  tachetdes  ou  piqu^es 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tach^es 

□    Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  in6gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6X6  film^es  6  nouveau  de  faqon  d 
obtenir  la  meilieure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 


Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  c 
10X                             14X                              18X 

i-dessous 
22X 

26X 

30X 

i 

y 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

tails 

du 
odifier 

une 
mage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library, 

Geological  Survey  uf  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  b?.ck  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  ori  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^' (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  a.e  filmed 
beginnit  ^  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  ana  top  *  •  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  Tr.    '  blowing  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque, 

Commission  G6ologique  du  Canada 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  I'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  filmds  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  (jar 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  --^-  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  §tre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


irrata 
to 


pelure, 
n  d 


n 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

'' 


AUG  16 16^2 

.  CANADA, 


SMITHSONIAN 


CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  KNOWLEDGE. 


vol..    XXVIll. 


KV,.y  MAV  ,»  A  VAU.A»,..    M.MB.R  „.    S„..,K,V  >V„„,    „v  ,„.  ,„„BUVAr,n:,s,    KK.KAHrHK,    AS,,   „P.„,„EK,..    ,.„.H;.„ 

KNOWLEIMIE  niK  MEN. -S.MITHSIIN. 


CITY    OF    WAHHIKGTON: 
PUBLISHED    HY    J  II  !•:    SMITliSOMAX    INSTITUTION. 


ADVKRTiSKMKNT. 


Tliis  voluiiic  tonus  tlu'  twi^iity-ci^litli  of  ii  scries,  coiiiposi'd  of  orifiiiial 
nieinoirs  nii  (lilfcrciit  hrimclics  of  kiiowk-djic,  piililislu'd  nt  the  ('.\|)t^iiso  and 
under  the  direction  of  tiic  Smithsonian  Institution.  Tiie  piddieation  of  tins 
si-ries  forms  part  of  a  fjfeneral  ))lan  adoj)ted  for  earryinjj'  into  etl'ect  tlie  liencAolcnt 
intentions  of  .Jamks  Smithson,  Es(|.,  of  Kuffland.  This  ^icnth^nan  left  his  prop- 
erty in  trust  to  the  United  States  of  America,  to  found,  at  Washin<iton,  an 
institution  which  should  l)ear  his  own  name  and  lia\e  foi' its  ohjects  the  ''liicrcasr, 
and  ili^fi'iaioii  of  kuowlcd^-e  ainonji'  men."  'riiis  trust  was  accepted  Ity  the  Gov- 
ernment of  the  Tuited  States,  and  an  act  of  ( 'ouji'ress  was  passed  Auf^ust  10, 
1S4(),  constituting;'  the  President  and  the  otiier  i)riucipal  executive  officers  of  tho 
General  Government,  the  ( 'hief  .lustice  of  tiie  Supreme  Court,  the  Mayor  of 
Washiuffton*  (and  sucli  othei'  ))ersoiis  as  tiiey  mij^lu  elect  houorarv  mendiers), 
an  establishment  under  the  name  of  the  "  Smu  usoman  Institition  i'ok  thk 
Inckrask,  axi)  Dii'FrsioN  OF  JVNowi.i'.iMiK  AMoNo  MiA."  The  meiuhers  and  hon- 
oi'arv  members  of  this  establislnneut  are  to  iiold  stated  lind  special  nu'eting.s  for 
the  supervision  of  the  ati'airs  of  the  Institution  and  for  the  ad\ice  and  instriu-tion 
of  a  Hoard  of  Rej^'ents,  to  whom  the  linaucial  and  otiier  affairs  are  intrust(Ml. 

'I^he  Hoard  of  Hejivnts  consists  of  two  niemliers  r.r  (i//i<iii  of  tJie  establish- 
ment, nanudy,  the  \'ice- 1 'resident  of  the  I'uited  States,  and  the  Chief  .lustice  of 
the  Supi'eme  ( 'ourt,  toj^'ether  with  twcdve  other  members,  three  of  whom  are 
appointed  by  the  Senate  from  its  own  l)ody,  finer  by  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives from  its  mendter.- 
H 


lud  six  persons  ap]iomtc(|    b\   a    jonU  resolution  o 


f  both 


I  aises. 


this  Hoard 


IS   ii'ivell  till 


th 


.f  el 


ectiii"'  a  Secretarv  anil  o 


lltloll. 


ther 


ofKcers  for  ciiiiiluctin<;'  tiie  acti\c  ojierations  nt'  tiic  lustit 

To  carry  into  efi'ect  the  purposes  of  tiie  testator  llie  plan  of'  oroanizatiou 
should  evidently  embrace  two  objects:  one.  the  increase  of  knowledge  by  tho 
addition  of  new  truths  to  the  existing  stock;   the  other,  the  diffusion  of  knowl- 


edjje,  thus  incn 


d. 


amoii!''   men. 


N. 


restriction  is  made  in  fa\'or  of  anv  kind 


of  kuowledjic;  and    hei 
share  of  attention. 


ice    each    oram 


ntitled    ti 


should 


receive,   a 


lA-fi 


This  iilHif  liiis  lii'i'ii  :iliii|islii'(l. 


TV 


ADVKUTISKMKNT. 


Tlio  iu't  of  congress  ('stiil)lisliiii<,'  tlic  Institution  dirocts,  as  a  part  oC  tlie 
plan  of  orfranination.  i\\\.  formation  of  a  library,  a  iimsoiun,  and  a  "fallory  of 
art,  toffethcr  with  ])rovisions  for  physical  research  and  popidar  lectun^s,  while  it 
leaves  to  the  Ref^ents  the  ]iowrr  of  adoptin}>'  such  other  j)arts  of  an  orj^anization 
as  thoy  may  deem  best  suited  to  jtroniote  the  objects  of  tiu^  l)('([U(^st. 

After  nnich  deliberation  the  Re<>'ents  restdved  to  divide  the  annual  income 
into  two  ecpial  j)arts — one  ]»art  to  be  devoted  to  thi'  increase  and  diffusion  of 
knowledffo  by  moans  of  orijrinal  research  and  publications;  the  other  half  of 
the  income  to  be  apjdied  in  a<'cordance  witli  the  re(|uirements  of  the  act  of 
Congress  to  the  ^jradual  formation  of  a  library,  a  nuiseum,  and  a  {gallery  of 
art. 

'riie  followinj^'  are  the  (h-tails  of  the  parts  of  the  j^eneral  jdan  of  orffaniuation 
provisi(»nally  a(h>{>tetl  at  the  meeting  of  the  Regents.  December  S,  1^<47. 


DETAILS  OF  THE  FIRST  PART  OF  THE  PLAN. 


I.  To INCKKASK  IvNowLKixiK. — It  is })r()))(isc(l  to  stmiildtc  icsrdnli  III/  i{(f'rrinif  ninirtlfi 
for  oiifjiuul  memoirs  mi  all  siihji'cts  of  iiirrstii/iifion. 

I.  The  memoirs  thus  obtained  to  lie  published  in  a  series  of  xolumes  in  a 
(piarto  form  and  entitled  "Smithsonian  (Jontriiaitions  to  Knowledge." 

■J.  No  memoir  on  subjects  of  phvsical  science  t(t  l)e  accepted  for  publica- 
tion   which  does  not  I'ni'iiish  a  jiositive  addition  to  human  knowledge    I'csting  on 


origmal  re;-earch  ;   and  all  un\crihe(l  speculations  to  he  rejecteil. 

;{.   Kach  memoir  presented  to  the  Institution    to  lie  submitted  i'or  e.\a.mina- 
tion  to  a  connnission  of  persons  of  reputation  for  learning  in  the  branch  to  which 


the 


memoir  pertains,  and 


1  to  be  acceiited   for  i)ul)licati< 


pul 


on,  onlv  m  case 


th 


.f  tl 


us  coimmssion  is  ia\ora 


I>1( 


4.  Tl 


le  connnission  to  be  chosi'U   b\'  ihe  otlici'rs  of  llu^    Instilinii 


n^port 


d  th 


name  of  the  author  as  far  as  practicable  concealed,  unless  a  faxorable'  decision 
be  made. 

.">.  The  vidumes  of  the  memoirs  to  be  cxclianged  for  the  transactions  of 
literary  and  scientilic  societies,  and  copies  to  lie  giventoall  the  colleges  and  prin- 
cipal lil»raries  in  this  conntry.  One  part  of  the  remaining  ■opies  may  be  ottered 
for  sale;  and  the  other  carefully  preserxcd,  to  form  completi;  sets  of  the  work, 
to  su])ply  the  demand  from  new  institutions. 

6.  An  abstract,  or  jtopular  account,  of  the  contents  of  tiiesc^  memoirs  to  be 
given  to  the  [»ublic  through  tlaj  annual  report  of  tiie  Itegents  to  Congress. 


ADVKKTIHEMKNT.  V 

II.  To  in(;kkasi.;  KN<>wij;i)(iE. — II  is  also  pioittixnl  to  uftpropriaUt  a  port  ion  of  the 
income  (iiiiiitdllif  to  sitniiil  olijnts  of  risconli,  itiidi'r  (lie  (lircrtion  of  suiUdilc 
prrsoris. 

1.  'Hie  ohjocts  1111(1  tlic  iiiiiomit  iippropriiilwl  to  he  n<comiiufii(lo«l  Ity  nmii- 
Hcldi's  ot"  tlut  Institution. 

2.  Appropriiitions  in  diU'crcnt  yciir.s  to  didricnt  ohjcct.s,  ,><o  tliiit  in  cour.sn 
of  tini<^  (^iicli  Itrancli  of  knowlndyc  may  receivo  a  slinnf. 

■'{.  'i'lic  rt'swlts  ol»tain('(|  tVoni  tlicso  iipjjropriiitiins  to  Ix'  pulilislit'd,  with  the 
HKMnoir.s  holorc  incntioucd,  in  tlu;  voliinu's  of  the  Sniitlisonimi  Contrihutions  to 
Knowledf^e. 

4.  Exiini|)lcs  of  ohjccts  for  wliicli  iij)))ro])niitions  niiiy  ho  made — 

(1)  System  of  extended  niete<»rolo<^'ical  ol)servations  for  solvinj^'  the  ])rol)- 
h*m  of  Ameiicnn  storms. 

(2)  Kxplonitions  in  de.Hcriptivif  natural  history,  and  ;4'eoloo'ieal,  matliemat- 
ieal,  and  toi)ogra])hical  surveys  to  colleet  material  f.>r  I  he  formation  of  a  jthysieal 
atlas  of  the  United  States. 

(3)  Solution  of  experimental  prol»l(;ms,  siu-li  as  a  new  determination  of  the 
wei<j:ht  of  the  earth,  of  the  velocity  of  electricity  and  of  liji'ht,  chemical  analyses 
of  soils  and  jilants,  collection  and  jaihlication  of  articles  of  science  accunudated 
in  the  olHees  of  (ioxcrnnuuit. 

(4)  Institution  of  stati.stical  inijuiries  with  reference  to  physical,  moral,  and 
political  subjects. 

(f))  Historical  ro.searclies,  and  accurate  snr\('ys  of  places  cehOirated  in 
American  history. 

(6)  Kthnoloffical  researches,  particidarl}'  with  reference  to  the  (lillerent 
races  of  men  in  North  America;  also  explorations  and  accurate  surveys  of  the 
mounds  and  other  remains  of  the  ancient  people  of  our  coinitry. 


I.  To  DIKFITSE  Knowi.kdiik. — //  is  proposrd  to  inili/ish  a  sfrics  of  reports  (/ivitiff 
an  aeeoH)it  of  the  iieie  tliseoreries  in  science  nml  of  the  ehtin/fcs  made  from  year  to 
year  in  all  liranches  of  knoie/cdi/e  not  strietlif  professional. 

1.  Some  of  these  reports  may  he  puhlished  annuallv,  others  at  lonj^er 
intervals,  as  thc^  income  of  the  Institution  or  the  chanj^es  in  the  hranches  of 
knowledge  may  indicate. 

2.  The  niports  are  to  Ix^  prepared  l»y  collahorators  emiiK-nt  in  the  dillerent 
branches  of  knowledge. 


VI 


ADVKKTISKMKNT. 


3.  Eiich  foUiibomtor  to  In-  t'liniislu'd  with  the  joiiniiils  imd  piihlicatioiis, 
domestic  iiiul  foroififii,  iiocossarv  to  tlio  compilatidii  of  liis  report:  to  ho  paid  a 
cwtiiin  sum  for  his  hihors,  and  to  lie  iiamecl  on  the  tith'-pajye  of  the  report. 

4.  The  reports  to  be  puiilislied  in  separate  parts,  so  tliat  jiersons  interested 
in  a  iiarticnhir  hrancli  can  iiroc  ure  the  parts  relatin<i'  to  it  without  purehasin*,' 
tlie  whok'. 

f).  'ria-se  rejtorts  may  l)e  presented  to  ("on<iress  for  partial  distribution,  tho 
remainini>-  copies  to  lie  <;iven  to  literary  and  scientilic  institutions  and  sold  to 
individuals  for  a  moch-rate  price. 

The  JhUowinji  tire  noiiic  of  the  suhjicts  which  miiji  he  vnihriiml  in  the  rc/iorLs: 


rol 


oroloyy. 
■> 


ties,  etc, 
G. 
7. 

H. 


10. 
11. 
12. 


1.  PHYSICAL  t;LA,SS. 
Physics,  includhif-astronumy,  natural  iiliilosophy,  chemistry,  and  moto- 

Natural  hi.story,  includinj^'  botany,  zinilojiy,  ;;('oloj;y.  etc. 

Af'Ticulture. 

Application  of  science  to  arts. 

II.  MORAL  AND  POLITK  AL  CLASS. 
Etlmoloffy,  indudini^- particidiu'  history,  comparative  )ihilolofiy,  anti(|Ui- 

Statistics  and  jiolitical  economy. 

Mental  and  moral  jihilosojihy. 

A  survey  of  the  jiolitical  events  of  the  world,  penal  reform,  etc. 

Ill,  LITEKATri.'K  AND  THE  FINE  AUTS. 

Modern  literature. 

'Pho  line  arts,  and  their  apjilication  to  the  usel'ul  arts. 

|{iblio<'Ta]iliy. 

Obituary  notices  of  distinffuished  individuals. 


II.  To  DiKKUsi.;  KNo\vi.i:i)(ii;. — //  is inojinsrd  to pw,Hsh  orrasimnilli/  srimmtr  treatises 

nil  siiljjrrts  (i/(/eiici(il  ilitrrrst. 

1.  These  treatises  mav  occasionally  consi.s't  of  valuable  memoirs  translated 
from  forei<>-n  lauf^^iiajies,  or  of  articles  preiiared   imder  the  direction  of  the  Insti- 


ADVKKTIHKMENT. 


Til 


tution,  or  prociirpd  liy  oflferin^  i)ri'iniuiu8  for  tlio  hoM  oxjM»Hitioii  of  a  given 
subject. 

2.  'I'lio  trentisos  to  l)o  snlmiittcd  to  gi  (•(»miiiissi;iii  of  coinpcti'iit  jiidfifcs,  pre- 
vious to  their  piihliejvtioii. 


DETAILS  OF  THE  SECOND  PART  OF  THE  I'LAN  OF  ORGANIZATION. 


Tliirt  pail;  coiiteniplateH  the  formation  of  »  library,  a  nniseuin,  and  a  <fallery 
of  ail. 

1.  To  cany  out  the  phm  before  described,  a  library  will  be  required,  coii- 
.si.sting,  first,  of  a  complete  collection  of  the  transactions  and  in-oceedinfis  of  all 
the  learned  societies  in  the  world;  second,  of  the  more  important  current  period- 
ical publications  and  other  works  necessary  in  preparinji'  the  jteriodical  reports. 

2.  The  Institution  should  make  sj)ecial  ctdlections,  particularly  of  objects 
to  verify  its  own  publications.  Also  a  collecti<in  of  instruments  of  research  in 
all  branches  of  experimental  science. 

i3.  With  reference  to  the  ccdlection  of  books  other  than  those  mentioned 
above,  cataloj^ues  of  all  the  different  libraries  in  the  United  Stat(^s  should  be 
procured,  in  oriler  that  the  valuable  books  first  purchased  msiv  l)e  such  as  are 
not  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  the  United  States. 

4.  Also  catalogues  of  memoirs  and  of  books  in  foreign  libraries  and  other 
materials  should  be  collected  for  rendering  the  Institution  a  center  of  biblio- 
graphical knowledge,  whence  tlie  .student  may  be  directed  to  anv  work  which 
he  may  re(piire. 

f).  It  is  believed  that  the  collections  in  natural  history  will  increase  b}' 
donation  its  raj)idly  as  the  inconuf  of  tii«i  In.stitution  can  make  provision  for 
their  re(reption,  and  therefore  it  will  seldom  bcf  ncicessary  to  purchase  any  article 
of  this  kind. 

6.  AtttMupts  shotdd  bo  made  to  proctn-i^  for  tla^  gallerv  of  art  casts  of  tlie 
most  celebrated  articles  of  ai\cient  and  modern  .sculjjture. 


7.  The  arts  may  be  enciairaged   by  providing  a  room,  fre*-  of  expense,  f 


or 


the  exhibition  of  the  objects  of  the  Art  Union  and  otl 


u-r  snmlnr  societies. 


K.  A  small  appropriation  should  annually  be  made  for  models  of  anticpiity, 
such  as  those  of  the  remains  of  ancient  temi)les,  etc. 

}l.  The  Secretary  and  his  as.sistants  during  the  session  of  Congress  will  be 
required  to  illu.strate  new  discoveries  in  science  and  to  exhibit  new  objects  of  art; 
distinguLshed  individuals  sliouid  also  be  invited  to  giv<»  huitures  on  sidyects  of 
general  interest. 


¥ 


VIII 


ADVKItTISKMKNT. 


In  lU'cordaiico  witli  tlu>  riiloH  ntloptcd  in  tlu*  |)ro^rtunin<4  of  (tr^iini/ation,  oach 
iiiomoir  hari  hccii  fuvorahly  roportoil  on  hy  a  (■oiiiiiuHHion  a|)|><>iiitc)l  (or  itH  exuin- 
iimtioii.  It  is,  liowovcr,  iinpOHsihlt'  in  most  cases  to  verify  tlie  statements  of  an 
anthor;  and  therefore  neither  the  commissiitn  nor  the  Institntion  can  lie  respon- 
sihh>  for  more  than  the  "'eneral  eharacter  of  a  memoir. 


V 


OFFICERS 


SMITHSONIAN  INSTITUTION. 


HKNJAMIN   HAHKISON, 

I'HEStltKXT  OF  TIIK  rxlTKP  STATKS, 
Ex-qfficio  PKK81U1NU    pFKICER   OK   THE    INSTITUTION. 

MELVILLK  W.    FULLER, 

VUIKFJISTICK  Of  THE  P.  S.  tH'l-RKUK  VltVHT, 
(•HANCEI^LOR    OF   THE    INSTITUTION. 

SAMUEL    I'.    L  ANGLE  Y, 

.SECKETAKY    OK    THE    INSTITUTION. 

U.    BROWN    GOODE, 

ASSISTANT    SE(;KETARV. 


JAMES   (J.    WELLING, 
HENRY   COPPEE, 
JOHN    B.    HENDERSON, 


Executive  Committee. 


MKMHKRS  KX  OFPFCTO  OF  THI<:  INSTITUTION. 


w 


Henjamin  IIakuison 

I.KVI     V.    MoKTdX 

Mki.viixk  W.   Kri.i.r.ii 

.IaMKS    (i.     IM.AINK      . 

("iiahi.ks  fostkh 
Sti-.i'iii;n   U.  Klkins 
Mknmamin  F.  '1'ua<  y 
John  Wanamakku 
W.   II.   H.  M!Ij.i:k. 

W.     K.    SlMllNIIS  .       . 


.      I'rrniih'iifdffhi'  riiitril  Sfafp.s. 

j'irr-J'rtsiili'iif  It/ thf  I'llitril  Statrs. 

Clilr/Jilstirf  of  I  lie  I'liitiil  Stdlfs. 

Sirrrtiir/i  »/ Slnlr. 

Sirrrlitr/i  <>/ llic  Tmisiiri/. 

Si'cn'tarif  of  War. 

.     .     .    SiTrctiii-ji  (f  till'  j\<iri/. 

.    I'osliiiu.strr-dcui'nil. 

ittiinirif-drni'fill. 

ComtiiisKiiiiinofl'ufi'tiiN. 


II  i:  G  E  N  T  S . 


Melville  W.  Fi'llek 

LkVI    1*.    MoRTdX      .       . 
J.    S.    MoKKILL     .       .       . 

Handall  I.ee  (JmsoN 

S.    M.    CULLdM     .       .       . 

JdSKi'ii  Wheelek  .     . 

II.    (JaMOT    LolHiE    . 

W.    V.     V.    HuECKIMtllKJE        . 

IIkNKY   Coi'PlOE 

tl.    li.    ANdl'.LL 

Am)Ki:w  I).  White    ,     .     . 
William   I'ijesiun  .liniNsnis 
James  ( '.   Wei.lino    .     .     . 
J.   H.   IIendeusun  .... 


('Iiirf  Justice  of  the  United  States. 

Viee-J'residetit  of  the  United  States. 

Member  of  the  Senatr  of  the  United  States. 

Me  miter  of  the  Senate  of  the  United  States. 

Memlwr  of  the  Senate  of  the  ignited  States. 

Memlter  of  the  /louse  of  Uepresentatires  U.  S. 

Member  of  the  House  of  lieprrsentatives  U.  S. 
Memlier  of  the  House  «tf'  liepresentatires  U.  S. 
Citizen  of  I'ennsjilrania. 
Citizen  of  Miehi}/an. 
('ifi~en  of  New  York. 
( 'iti-en  of  Louisiana. 
Citizen  of  Washiuf/ton,  P.  C. 
Citizen  if  Washiuf/tou,  h.  C. 


W 


m 


SMITHSONIAN  CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  KNOWLEDGE. 

— 840 


LIFE  HISTORIES 


OF 


NOKTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS 


WITH  SPECIAL  REFKUEKCK  TO 


THEIR  BREEDlNii  HABITS  AND  EGGS, 


TWELVK  LITHOIJRAI'HIC  PLATKS. 


IIY 


CHAIU.KS   HKNIURK,  TAiTAiN,  r.S.   AuMV   (rktikkii), 

Iloimrury  (■iiriilor  of  llm  lUtmrhmiil  uf  '«/«./i/.  f.  .S.  .V«(iu«<W  iliitmiii, 
Member  of  the  Ameritun  OrnHholoijinlt'  Union. 


WAHHtNCJTON: 

UOVKKNMKNT    PRINTIN)*    (IFFIOK. 
189L', 


COMMISSION  TO  WHOM  THIS  MKMOIU  MAS  lUCKN  KUFKKUKI). 
<ii;oit(ii;  N.  Lawkkni^i;, 
William  Bkkwstkk. 


■i 


l 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


The  t'ollr.wiiiff  iiiciiK.ir  hy  (^)t.  Oliiiilcs  liciidiio  liuviiijr  l„„.,i  |Mihlislie<l 
at  tlio  joint  oxpensd  of  tlie  Siuitlisouian  fiiiul  aiul  of  tlio  priiitiiifr  fipproiM-iiitioii 
of  tilt!  r.  S.  National  Musouni,  two  .soparate  editions  arc  issncd,  onu  forniinf,'-  a 
portion  of  tiie  st-rios  of  "Smithsonian  (Jontribntions  to  Knowledge,"  and  the 
other  appearing  as  a  Special  Hulletin  of  the  IT.  S.  National  Museum. 

In  accordance  with  the  rule  adopted  by  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  the 
work  has  !»een  sultmitted  for  examination  to  a  commis.sion  consisting  of  Messrs. 
(Jeorge  N.  I.awrence  and  William  Hrew.ster.  'i'he  memoir,  having  been  rec-om- 
mended  for  publication  by  these  gentlemen,  is  herewith  presented  as  a  work  of 
original  resean^h,  illustrating  more  particularly  the  o.ilogy  and  breeding  habits 
of  North  American  birds. 

S.  I'.  Lamji-kv, 

Sccrcttuff. 

SmITIIKONIAX    iNSTrriTION, 

Wasliiiifjtoti,  Ma  If,  IS!t:>, 


!    ■! 


Ill' 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 


(JALMNACKOIIS   HIKDS. 


I'amily   TKTisAoMD.ii.    (iniusc,  I'liil ridges,  rte. 

1.   ('l)IlimH  VllKMIIllllllS Ildll   Wliilo  (I'l.  I,  ri;r.  1) J 

iKiniiuiim  (liiiiilaiius I'lciiidii  llol)  Wliili' ■j 


Coli 


3.  ColiniiH  \'irgjniiiiiii.-s  toxiiiiiis  . 


Ti'xaii  Dull  Wliitu 


1.  Ci)liniis  virgiiiiiiiiiiH  <iiliiiiirii8i.s ('iiliaii  lluli  Wliitr g 


CdlinuN  ridi'W 


.  M»Nknl  |{(>l>  WliiUi 


II.  Oii'oit.vx  ])iitiis Mdiiuti 


7.  Orenrtyx  |)i(!tii.s  pliiniitVri 
S.  (hcoityx  pictiis  ciiiirniis  . 
I).  ('allip('|ila  H(|iiaiiiata 


10 

liii  I'aiiriilgc jg 


.  I'liiiiicilJ'artiidKr  (I'l.  I,  l'if;n.  2.;!) 


Ill  I'ldni  I'arti'id" 


.Sialcd  rartiidgr  (I'l.  I,  I'i 


10.  C'alliprpla  Hi|iiainiilii  castaiKiKaHlii.-i Clicstiiiit-liclliHd  .Sialicl  I'aitridKe  (I'l.  I,  Ki^H.  (i,  7 


II.  Calliiie|>la  calilnriiica. . . 

1-'.  ('allipni)lii  califdinicii  vallicida. 


.('alili 
....Vallr 


iiiia  I'aiti-idKr  (I'l.  I,  Ki^s.  8-10) 


aiiiht'li  . 


i:<.  Callipi'pla 

II.  Cyrtdiiyx  iiidiitrziiina^ 


.(iaiiilirr.s  l',iitild«(!  (I'l.  I,  l'ij;s.  11-11)  , 


|.~i.  l>(MidrajL;a)iiiN  dliHninis 

Hi.  l>('iidni^a|iUH  iilMciiriis  riili;;iii<>KiiH  . 

17.  DiMidraKapiis  idiscnnis  licliardNdiiii  . 

IS.  |lriidra;;apii.s  canadi'iisiN 

I!i.  Iinidnisapii.s  Iraiiklinii 

L'O.  Itdiiasa  iinilirlliiH 

1^1.  Itdiiasa  iiiitlM'lliis  tdjjjata 

L'L'.  Ildiia.sa  iiiiilicllus  iiiiiliclloidi'.s 

L'H.  Ildiiasa  iiiiiht'llns  sahini 


.Ma 


.SHeiia  I'aitiidgi^  (I'l.  I,  Ti^.  !.->)  .. 


....Sooty  (iriiiiso  (I'l.  I,  I'igH.  lli-UH. 


. . .  l{ii-li.-ii'dMoir.s  <i 


Caiiadii  (fi-dii.sc  (I'l.  1,  ri;rs.  20-J:i) 


...Franklin's  (Iroin 


I.'nllrd  (froiisc  (I'l,  II,  Ki^.  1 


II 
17 
IX 

T2 
23 
2H 


41 


50 


r.ti 


.Canadian  K'nlli'd  (^ 


roasi!  (I'l.  II,  \ 


Gray  K'ntlVil  (irnnsi'  (I'l.  II,  Kij;.  H) 


IK.  -')  . 


L'l.  I.a;;dpns  la^^opn.^  . . 
-■~>.  La^dpiiH  l.-i^opnsal 
-it.   i.a^^opns  rnpcstriH  . 


.OlTKdn  KnIlVil  (irdusc  (I'l.  II,  I'i 


....Willdw  I'h 


rinifjan  i  I'l.   il.  I 


ifjs.  r>-10). 


...Mir 


il'tM 


...Iv'dck  I'ta 


L'7.  I. 
L'K,    I, 


ti(;dpns  nipcslrin  rcinliardli. 
ii^dpiiH  rnpi'.slris  ni'Linni 


...Rididiardt'.s  ri,Mniij;an 
-...\i'l.s<urs  I'ta 


1  (I'l.  II,  I'ifi.s.  Il-I."i 


!0.   I,ii;;dpn.i  riipcstriN.-itklicnsi.s. 


Ti 


:!ii.  I, 


I'ta 


;i);npn.s  wclilii . 


31.   I,;i;^npn.s  Irucun 
3'J.    TyinpannrlinHai 


nrncaniis 


33.  'rynipanni'lins  inpido 

31    'rympannilins  palliiliciiiilns  . 
3."!.   rrilidcji'ti's  idia.siani'llns 


\V^^l(■ll's  Ptarmigan 

Wliil.-tailiMl  I'tarinlKan  (I'l.  II,  I' 

I'rairir  Ilcn  (I'l.  11.  l-ij-s.  IS-L'O).. 

....Ilrath  Hen  (I'I.  III.  Vi^. 


Hi.  17 


.  l.iesiT  I'lairio  IIimi  (I'l.  Ill,  I'; 


..SI 


3t».   I'niidca'tr 


37.   I'cdi. 


I'llii 


dliinili 


3S.  ('cntr 


idiii'Ic's  pliasiani'llns  lanipr.striN 


i.n|i-l,iilcd  (iidiiHc  (I'l.  Ill,  Fi^rs,  n_,-,) 

1""" Cdliiniliiaii  Sharii-tailod  (irdiiHr  (I'l.  HI,  KIk".  (i-Xi 


oirrins  nrdplia.sianiiN 


.I'rairir  Sliarii-tailrd  (iidusr  (I'l.  1I|,  Fi^rn.  it.  ill 
iaj{r  llrou.si'  (I'l.  Ill,  Fi(;.s   H-13). 


(!7 


lilt 


SO 
HI 


W 


XH 


lOI 
10« 


3!l.  Mili'aKri.s);alldpavo 

10.  Mili'iiKriH Halldpav cxiiana 


I'aniily  I'li.v.si.wi 
Tnrki' 


I'll! 


(I'l.  Ill,  I'iK.  I4i i; 


..Mfxican  I'lirkcy  (I'l.  Ill,  Fi;;.  l.-|) 


Family  I  km  ID 


CnraNSdws  anil  linans 


II.  Orlali: 
II 


itiila  inaoralli 


.Cliailialaca  (I'l.  Ill,  Flu.  Hi 


IK) 


11!) 


VI 


42. 

t:i. 
u. 

45. 
46. 
47. 
48. 
4!t. 
50. 
51. 
5'.'. 

5:t. 

54. 
55. 
5(5. 


TABI-K    OF    CONTENTS. 


ri(ii;o\.'<  on  Dovi'.s. 

Kiiiiiil.v  Ciii.iMitlli.i;.     ritfiMPiiH. 

Colunilm  fnsomfn nniid-tnilnl  rif;«(iti  (I'l.  Ill,  V'lK-  17)... 

Ciiliiiiil)!!  I'liHciilta  viimni' Viiwni's  riuiMiii  (I'l,  III,  V'tn.  IH] 

Ciiluinha  (lavircwtriH Hid  lii lied  riuiMni  (I'l.  IV,  I'ij;.  '.') 

C'olmiibii  Icuioci'iiliiila Wliilcciowiicil  I'ifjciui  (I'l.  IV,  \'\n.  \  i. 

Koloiiisti'S  iiiiffi'uloi'iiiN I'liKNiiiurr  I'ijjruii  (I'l.  IV,  I'ijj.  (i| 

Zcimiduni  iiiacniiirii Mdiiiiiiiif;  Dove  ( I'l.  I\'.  rifi».  K'J) 


.../iiiiiicla  ItMv.'d'l.  II,  l"l^'.  L'l) 

...WIiitr-lroiil.Ml  UnviMl'l.  II,  I'iK.:.'!')..-- 
...\Vliil.>-»  infill  lii.ved'l.  II,  Ki«,  L'll)  .... 

. .  .(irnlllHl  l)o\  (' 

....Mexican  (iidiiiicl  Dcive  (I'l.  II.  I'iu.  L'l)  . 


/cnnliln  /.I'liaida 

Kngvptilii  alliil'riiim 

Mrlcipi'lia  li'iudpliTii 

(.'nlninbiKallliia  iia.xscrina 

C<diiinlit);iilliiiu  paHHoriiia  ])alli'Mei'iis 

.Siardafidia  inca Inca  Dove  (I'l.  II.  I'ly;.  L'5) 

(icnlrvKoii  inai'tinica Key  Wist  (^iiail-Dovr 

(tt'otiymui  imintana IJiiddy  (,iiiail-lliivi'  (I'l.  II,  Kid,  L'li)... 

Staiuii'UUH  lyuUDfOjiliala I!lin 'liiadccl  (;iiail-l)ovr 


•u(ie. 
I'.'L' 
r.'T 
VJH 

i:ii 
i;):.' 

111 
II.-. 

IIH 
l.-.L' 

1,-.:! 

151 


'i  '  t 


:!! 


^Ilil 


HII{I),S  Ol'  I'l.'KY. 
Faiiiily  ('atii.viitih.i:.      .Vincriiaii  Viilturrs. 


57.  PsriidourypliiiH  caliriiriiianiiN CaliCiiiijIa  \  nlliirc  ( I'l.  I\  .  I  iy.  ."n. 

5S.  vlatliurtiHaura Tiirki'y  Xiihmi'  ( I'l.  IV,  I'l^s.  I,  Hi 

5!».  Catbaii.sta  atralii Illai  k  Villi iirr  (I'l.  IV.  I'Ikh.  7,  111)  . 


Family  F.M.cii.vin  i:.     Vnltiiii's,    I'alcuii.s,  Hawks.  Kayli's,  itc, 

(K).  KlnnoidoHforficatiis SwMlldW-t.iilcd  Kilf  (I'l,  V,  l'iK>*.  1.  -) 

til.   F-laniis  lincuriiN Wliitr-tailrd  Kile  ( I'l.  V,  \'i'^^.  'X  \) 

ti2.  Ictinia  iniNsissippiciLHin Mississippi  Kite  (I'l,   V,  I'ijj. 5) 

t!:t.  Kosti'liaiiiiis  Hdiialiilis Kvi'r;;ladc  Kile  (I'l.  V.  Fif,"*.  •'.  7) 

ftl.  ( 'ileus  liiidsDuiii.s Maisli  Hawk  (I'l.  V,  Fif;s,  «-l(l)  

05,  Aeeipiter  velox Sliarp-sliiniLeil  Haw  k  (I'l.  V.  I  Iks.  11-17 1 

(iti.  Aeeipiter  eoiiperi Cciniier'.s  Hawk  (I'l,   \',  I'l^s,  IH-L'(I) 

(!7,  Aeeipiter  atriea]>illiiH Auiericaii  (lusliawk  (I'l,  VI,  Fi;;,  I) 

tiX,  Aeeipiter  atrieapilliin  striatuliis Western  t lusliawk  (I'l,  VI,  I'iy.  li) 

(lit.  I'aralmteo  iiiiieinetiiH  liarrisi Harris's  Hawk  (I'l.  VI,  Fi;;s.  3,  I) 

70.  liuteo  biiteo Kiiriipi.'iii  liii/zaril 

71.  lluleo  bnrealis Ked-tailed  Hawk  (I'l.   \  I,  I'i^s.  .Mi;  

72.  Huteo  bcirealiK  kiiderli  Kriiler's   Hawk  

7H.   liiitco  boreal  is  ealiinis Wintirii  lied-tail  (I'l.  \l.  Fins.  7.  x,i 

74.  Hiileo  borealis  liieasaiiiis Saint    I.neas   Itid-tail 

75.  lliiteo  biirialis  liarlaiii Harlan's  lliiwk 

7ti.  Iluteo  liiieatns I.'ed-sbciiblered  Hank  (I'l.  VII.  Fiys.  l-.Ti 

77.  Ituteo  liiieatii.s  alien i Fliirida  li'eil-slKnililen.d  H.iwk 

7H,  Hiitei)  liiieatns  ele;jans Ifed-bellied  Hawk  (I'l.  VI.  Fi;;.!!)  

7!l.  Iliileo  aldireviatiis /onelailed  Hawk  (I'l,  \ll.  Fit;,  til 

HO.  Huteo  albieandatns Whiti-t.iiled  ll.iwk  (I'l,  VII,  Fifjs.  X,  Hi 

51,  Hiiteo  swainsoni Swainson's  Hawk  (I'l,  \  III,  l"\'^s.  1  lii 

52.  linteo  latissiiniiH Ilroad-w  iiiKed  Hawk  (I'l,  \  II,  l'i^;s,  lli-i:ti  

«;{,  linteo  l.rai  by  urns .Sliort -tailed  Hawk  (I'l.  Vlll.  Fi;;.  7) 

SI.  rriibitin;ta  aniliraeina Mexican  lllaek  Hawk  i  I'l,  \lll.  Fi^s.  s,>.\) 

S,"),  Astnrina  pla;;iata Mixiean  (iosliaw  k  i  I'l,  \ll,  Fin.  7) 

Sti.  .\reliilniteii  lado|iii,s Ii'minlibnued  H.iwk 

S7.  Areliilniteo  liincppiis  saneli-JMliannis \iiieriean  l\Mn^'b-lii;^,d  H.iwk  (I'l.  VIII,  Fiys,  III-I2I. 

SH.  Areliibnteo  terrii>;iiieiis Ferrii<;irions  l;nn;;b  lei;  (I'l.  IN,  l'ii,'s,  1.2.  1 1 

S!t.  Ai|nila  ebrysaetos (iolden  F.ajile  (I'l.  I.\,  Fin's.  '■>.'•  \ 

!I0.  Tbrasai'tiiM  barjiyia Harpy  I'.ayle ^ 

111.  llalia-c"tiiHalbiiilla (iray  .•<ea  lOan'le. .'. 

!t2.  llaliaM^tus  leneoeepbalns liald  Fanleil'l,  IX.  Fij;.  7l 

9;i.  Faleo  islandiiN Wbite  tiyiialeini  

!I4.  Falio  iiiHtiioliiH (iray   tiyrlalemi 

1)5.  Faico  rnutieoluH  {jyrl'alin (iyrlaledn  (I'l,   IX.  Fi«».  (i,  S.  !l) 


1.-.7 
Itil 

1(1.-. 


Itis 
171! 
177 

IK(I 
ISli 
IS(i 
1112 
ItKi 
IHl' 
202 
205 
2(Ki 
212 
2  lit 
217 
217 
21!i 
221 
22(1 
22S 
2:11 
2;  1(1 
211 
2l(i 
2  IS 
2;.  I 
2.-..". 
2.".(! 
2r.ll 
2ti;i 
270 


271 
2S1 

2s:t 
2s;i 


\ 


TAItl.K    ()!•'    CONTKNTS. 


VII 


lie.   I'aliii  iiHliiciliiM  iih^dliiliiH Illiick  (;\rriilciiii  d'l.  X,  Viif.  1) 

!)7.   I'lilni  iii(i\iiiiMiis I'niiiif  I'lilidti  il'l.  X,  riK'H.  LMD 

9k.   I'lilc  II  |Mi-i!;iiiiiis  Mil. il  mil UniU  MiiwK  (I 'I.  X.  I'inM.  5-71 

W.    rillrii  |ii'lc-f;lilllis  pi'iilri rcillr'.i  I'll  In  in    

KNI.   I'lilni  iciliiiiiliii rills I'i«i ll.iwK  i  I'l.  X.  riK".  I.  «) 

101.  Full liiiiiliMiiiis  siiiKli'.\i liliirk  .Mnliii    

in:.'.   Kiiliii  liiliiiiilNiinii Iiirliiii(ls..ii's  .Ml  rliti    

IIKi.    I'lllrii  li';,'lllll.s Mvlliil     

Ill  I.    rillciirilHiM-iiilllli'.Hrrlh- Allllllni.dli  I'll  I. nil  (I'l.X.  I'ljIM.  !l,  III! 

Ur..    I'illro  lilllllllnlllllH KuKlrrl    

l(Hi.   I'lili  n  .siiiiivi'liii.i Aliii'iieiin  Simiinw  lliiwU  (I'l.  X.  I'ius.  II -Hi) 

Id".   riilriMliiiiiiiiicriiKiM  Ciiliiiu  S|iairn\v  llnwk    

Ills.   rnl\linriw  I  Intivviiy \iiiliilinii'M  Ciiiai  mil  (I'l.  XI.  I'Ik-s.  I-I)  

Kill,   rnl.vliiiiiislnlnsii,^ (ininliiln|in  ('iiiiniini    

I  111.  I'liiiiliiiii  lialiiii^liis  niinlliiciiHii* Aiiiiiii'iiii  lispiry  (I'l.  X.  Ki;;.  17;  I'l.  XI,  !■  igH..".-<l) 


I'nuo. 
2Hli 

'.'SX 
l-tlj 


L'lW 
lillj 


:tiii 


■M)X 
■MY.\ 

:iii 
:tir. 
:ii« 

H-'ll 


riiniilv  STiiii^iii  I  .     lliini  I  i\\l> 


111.  Sirix  prill iiii'olii 


Anii-rir 


Hani  u»i  ii'i.xil.l'l«.  ii  ;(:.'; 


I'aiiiilv   r>riiiiMI>  I  .     llnrni'il  ( Iwls,  I'lr. 


llL'.  Ahiii  wll.snniaiiiiH \ ricaii  I.niiK-i'iiriil  <  l«  I  (I'l.  XII.  I'i^. -)  ;t28 

113.  AhIii  ariiiiilriniis Slmit-cari'il  Owl  (I'l.  XII.  l-'i};.  :i)   ;t;iL' 

111.  .'<,v  ruin  III  iiilnilnsniii Hiinvil  (Iwl  d'l.  XII.  I'Ik.  I  i    ;i;i.-i 

II."..  .'syriiiiini  iii'liiiliiMiiii  iillriii  I'lnriilu  liiirnil  Owl  ;!;);! 

in;.  .Syniiiiiii  nciiilnitiilf Spill rnl  Owl  :t|!( 

117.  .Sinl  ill  pics  riiinca Creiil  (irav  Owl  (I'l.  XII.  l'\g.:<\  :il.-i 

UK.  Sintiapli's  riiiina  liippnniia Lapp  Owl lili; 

nil.  N.vrtala  ti'imiiialiiii  rirliaril.'iniii  Kirlianlsnn's  Owl  ( I'l.  XII.  I'it;.  (il ;tl7 

ll-'d.  Nyitiilii  aiailiia .Siiw-wlict  Owl  d'l.  XII,  rij,'.  7) XiO 

IJl.  .MfKasciip.s  iiHiii Scriiili  Owl  d'l.  XII,  Ki^.S) ;t."il 

X'J'J.  Mi'v:iisi'ii|is  ii.<iii  lliiriilaiin.s Flnriila  .^rrniTli  Owl  UnK 

I'S.i.  MrKiKi'oiw  a.'<in  nil  I'll  nil Tisaii  8<n'iMli  Ow  1 jtiK) 

121.  McKiisiiipN  iisii)  liiMiiliri'i Califoriiia  .SmitiIi  Owl ;t(;i 

l-'."i.  Mi'^jasi-nps  a.siii  kriiiiii  nttil Kiniiii'Mlt'.i  .'^iiim  rli  Ow  I ;tt>;j 

l-'l).  Mr(;asinp.s  a.sin  iiiiixw  rlliir Knrky  .Miiiintaln  Srri'i'cli  Ow  I  i  I'l.  .Xll,  I'i;;.  10) :t(i:t 

127.  XIi'Kascnps  iiaii,  triiliopsis .Mixlran  Sitiim  li  Owl  (I'l.  Xll.  I'i(».  II ) 'Mix 

128.  Mi'f;iisi(ips  iisii)  iiikiMii Vikcii's  .'^iici'ili  Owl  1)7(1 

I2!l.  Mrf,'asiiipsii>iiiiiiiii  railaini Marl'iM  liiiio'.-*  Si  r li  Ow  I  d'l,  Xll,  I'i^.  !l) ;i71 

i;i(l.  .Mi'^jiiscnps  artiii  f*iitiiiiitiis i'ni^rt  .**iiiiinl  St-r -li  Ow  1  373 

i;il.  Mi'fiasiiips  lliiiiinii'iiliis I'lanniiiilatcil  Srrrnli  Owl  d'l.  XII.  Fi^.  Ii"i) :i74 

1H2.  Mt'jjasinp.s  lliiiiiiiii'iiliis  iiliiliiiriisis Dwarf  Sriri'di  Owl  ;I7(; 

i;!;i.  Biilm  vii«iiiiiiniis (iri'iit  llnrniil  Owl  i  I'l.  Xll.  I'ii;.  12 1 H7G 

i:tl.  Itiilin  \  iri;iiiiaiiiis  snliari'tiriis W't'sti-rn  llornnl  Owl ;w:l 

llir,.  Ilnliii  viri,'iiiiaiiin-iircliiiis \ritii.'  Iliiniiil  Ow  I ;{K(; 

lllii.  liiilio  \  ir);i  Ilia  nils  .•<iit  unit  lis Dusky  lliinii'il  Owl  ;)S7 

i:i7.  Nyrtra  iiMlra Snnwy  Owl  (I'l.  Xll.  I'in.  Ill) ;)K!I 

i;iS.  Snriiia  iilnlii Hawk  Ow  I H!I2 

i;!ll.  Siiriiia  nliila  lapiirnili Annrimii  Hawk  Owl  d'l.  XII.  I'ij;.  \Hi ;t<i:i 

111).  Spent  ylii  I'liiiiinlaria  liyiHi;;iiii linrrnw  inn  I'wl  d'l.  XII,  I'i;;.  Ill ;iiiri 

1 1 1.  Spinlvtii  iniiicnlaria  llnriilana  Flnriila  liiirriiwin^  Owl  i  I'l.  .XII,  Fi;;.  Ill) KKI 

1 12.  (iliiiiiiilinin  linnma I'yjriny  Owl 10:i 

li:i.  (Ilaiii'iilinni  yiiuniii  ralil'iirniciiin ('alit'nriiia  I'yK"i,\  Owl Hi" 

111.  (Iliinriilinni  f;i a  Imskinsii  Ilnskiii's  I'yi;niy  Owl IDS 

lITi.  lilainiiliniii  iilialaiioidrs Fi'rrii^iiiniis  I'.\}.'iiiy  Owl  d'l.  XII.  Fi^.  H)  ID!* 

IHi.  Miirnpiillas  wliitinyi  Kit' Owl  d'l.  XII,  Fii;.  Kli Ill 


INTRODUCTION 


Tliis  wdi'k  on  llic  Life  llistinlcs  nl'  Norfli  Aniciicfin  Minis  is  liasotl  larffdy 
ii|iiiM  till'  rolh'ctioiis  'II  tlio  r.  S,  Niitiiiiiiil  Muscimi.  it  wiis  tlic  wish  of  tiu-  late 
I'nif.  S|»<'ii('cr  K.  liainl  that  a  (•<»Mi])r('lit'iisi\c  wofk  on  this  siihjrct  slumhl  lie 
liiililishcil,  liriii<;iii^'  touctht'i'  the  jiTcat  advauct's  in  luir  kiiowlod^ic  iiiailc  diiriii^' 

the  past  lew  vt-ars.     This  wish  was  alsu  shared  liy  I'l'ot'.  l^aiifi'lcy  and  \)vAi Ic, 

and  witii  their  ('unciirrciK'c  tlic  present  work  has  iieen  written. 

Since  the  piililieatinii  liy  tht^  Sniithsaniaii  Institntinn  in  Is'i?  nt'  an  initial 
volume  on  North  American  ( )(')lo<>y,  hy  the  late  Dr.  'I'.  M.  Mrewer — which  work 
was  not  tiiiisheil  owin^^'  to  lack  ot'  material — and  of  Haird,  Brewer  and  Uidfiway's 
"  llistoiy  of  North  American  liirds"  in  1S74,  no  systematic  and  comprehensive 
work  on  the  o()lojr\- of  this  coiintr\'  has  ajipeareil.  Iiar<i'e  collections  have  lietdi 
liroii;iiit  tofj'ether  during'  the  last  tliree  decades,  ami  i^reat  advances,  only  rentlered 
possible  by  the  nutri'  ^ieiieral  interest  that  the  subject  has  attractt-d,  have  lieen 
made.  '_^ 

It  is  not  intended  tluit  this  work  shall  consist  merely  of  descriptions  ot  nosts 
and  i'iXiis.  Special  attention  has  been  ji'iveii  to  the  life  history,  the  mij.'-ratory 
and  Itreediufi'  ruiifics,  and  food  of  each  species,  in  this  connection  the  latest 
information,  iii(dii(lin<;'  the  field  notes  made  by  my.self  and  others  and  hitherto 
unpublished,  has  lieeii  freeh'  used. 

Althoui^h  in\dl\in^' considerai)ly  nioi-e  laliorand  a  certain  amount  of  rei)eti- 
tion,  I  treat  each  species  and  subspecies  separately,  and  endeavor  to  (h-line  the 
"  lireediufi' raii<j('"  of  each  as  accurately  as  jiossible.  'I'his  method  is  to  some 
I'Xtent  open  to  criticism,  and  especially  so  \\  here  a  species  is  diNided  into  several 
f;'eoi)'rapliical  races  itetween  the  Ixtundaries  of  whose  ranges  a  neutral  zone  exists 
ill  which  they  intergi-ade.  On  account  ot'  the  limited  knowledge  uc  possess  of 
many  of  our  liirds,  1  am  widl  aware  that  the  information  j^iven  under  this  head  is 
more  oi-  less  imjierfect,  but  this  is  irremedialih'  in  many  instances  at  jireseiit. 

'i'iie  present  Nolume  relates  only  to  land  birds.  'I'lie  dassitication  }i'i\-en  in 
the  ( 'ode  and  Check  liist  of  the  Amei-ican  ( )riiitliolo(iists'  rnion  has  been  followed, 
and  the  synonymy  atid  nomenclature  used  in  this  list  lia\c  also  bvon  adopted, 
with  the  emendations  that  have  lieeii  made  up  to  <late. 


*  INTIIODIKTION. 

WlK-n  if  is  n..f  ..x|..VHsly  sn.tr.l  tn  il,,.  .■oi.tn.rv,  tl...  tvp..  s,K.,.in...MK  r,;.,,,-,..! 

1...V..  1m...|.  ,,n.s,.„t..,|  to  tlM-  C.  S.  Nntioiuii  Mnscnn  n,Ii,.,tiun  |,v  tl...  u,,,tl „ 

wlinsr  „m.M.s  mv  uiv,.,..      Witliunt  .ncntinniM^'  i.u-h  l..v  nnn,..,  ,„v  tl,i,„ks  n.v  .In,- 
to  tl...  .......y  tn.....l,s  wl,..H..  .wsiHtann.  Ims  «.,  g,.,.„tlv  „i,|,..|  „„.  i,i  tl...  pr..imf,.ti..i. 

"'  ""'*  ^■"'"'""  "•"'  '"'•'"••  '"  i^-* ' |'l<'t'->H.ss,  „„.|  wi,..s..  .■.Hl,,..rati..n  will.  I  I,.,,,,.. 

Ih'  .•.ii.tiiiii«.(|  III. til  tl...  w.irk  in  (ii.isl....!. 

'I'Ih'  oriuin,,!  w..t,.r-,...|.,|.  .ln.wii,o.M  fn,i„  „-l,i,.h  tl...  |,|;,t..s  l.av..  1,,.....  ,•,.,„•.,- 
.lMn..l  w..n.  i,.i,.|..  hy  .Mr..l„|.„  L.  J{i,|o.w„y,  .,f  W„,sl,ii.j,t.,„,  D.  C.  f.,  u  I..,.h.. 
skill  an.l  painstakino-  .•„.•..  tl...  ..x....1I..m,.,.  .,f  th,.  il!„strati..i.s  is  |„rovly  ,1,,,.. 
Tho  .•l.r.......litl...oTapl,i,.  n.pnMli„.ti,,„s  ..C  tl„.,s..  p!„t,.s  w..n.  ,,,,.,1,.  l,y"tl.,".  K.-t- 

torli„„slVi>m..o(;.„„pa,.y,   .,f  l'l,ih„l..lp|,i.,    I'a.,  a.„l   it   o.iv,.s   m,.   ,, sun,  t.. 

say  that  tlioy  an,  as  laithfi.l    ....pios  of  tlu-  ..ri-inal  .|ra\vi..-s  as   if  is  p..ssil,|,. 
t.i  make. 

'I'lii:  Ai'i'iKiu. 


liliiH 


4 


i;{iiro(l 
Icincii 
ro  (hw 
nitiuii 

ll<l)H', 

icpro- 

iVllU.HC 

'  flue. 

Kct- 

in;  to 

ssihlc 


i 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


Hy  CnAHLE8  llRNDiKK,  <'n;((ain  V.  S,  Army  {rtllred). 


GALLINACEOUS  BIRDS. 

Family  TKTKAONID/E.     (Juoi  .si:,  I'aktkiihiks,  ktc. 
I.    Colinus  virginianus  (Linn.kcs). 

iioii  wiiiTi;. 

Titrao  rirfjinianu.t  LinN/KUs,  SyHtciim  Niitiini',  od.  lo,  1,  1758,  101. 
ColinuN  riryiniduu.s  Htejnkoek,  Auk,  ii,  January  1kn5,  ir,. 

(B  4ri,  c  ;is!),  R  isu,  (J  sn,  u  wo.) 

OEouKAPHlCAli  RANOK ;  EaHttTU  Unitdil  States  and  soutlnTu  Ontario,  Ciiuada, 
west  to  eastern  Minnesota,  Nelinisi<a,  Kansas.  Indian  Tfrritory,  and  eastern  Texas! 
south  to  Georgia,  Alaliaina,  and  other  (iulf  Slates. 

Thin  HpocieH,  one  of  the  most  widoly  distributed  of  our  frjiniK  Mrds,  is 
iR'tter  known  throughout  the  NortliiTu  and  Middle  Stfitcs  as  tlic  Quail,  and 
under  the  luune  of  Partridge  or  Virginia  Tiirtridge  in  the  S(.uth.  it  is  found 
everywhere,  more  or  less  abundantly  in  suitable  localities  within  the  I'nited 
States,  east  of  the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  Kivers,  exeepting  in  Florida,  where 
it  is  replaced  by  the  Florida  \iiAt  White,  and  in  the  northern  portions  of  the 
\ew  England  States,  In  these,  north  of  .Massachusetts,  it  is  rare,  but  oeeur.s 
occasionally  in  the  southern  portions  of  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire,  and  less 
frequently  in  Maine.  In  northern  New  York  it  is  very  rare.  West  of  tin-  .Mis- 
sissippi it  occin-s  in  Louisiana,  eastern  Texas,  the  eastern  part  of  the  Indian 
Territory,  Arkansas,  Missouri,  Kansas,  and  thc^  greater  portion  of  Nebraska, 
where  it  has  advanced  beyond  the  central  ir.wt  of  tlu^  State. 

Mr.  W.  M.  Wolfe,  of  Keaniey,  Neltra.ska,  informs  me  that  the  Bob  Whites 
are  becoming  more  and  more  abundant,  and  are  now  conunon  as  far  wc-st  as 
( )gallala.  Ur.  T.  K.  Wilcox,  surgeon  U.  S.  Army,  writt!S  me  to  the  same  effect 
from  Fort  Niobrara,  Nebraska,  saying  it  is  steadily  advancing  westward  ami 
is  now  to  be  foinid  30  miles  west  of  this  i)ost.  It  is  also  gradmdlv  advancing 
northward. 

Mr.  W.  W.  Cooke  states  that  in  Minnesota  it  has  followed  up  the  settle- 
nents,  and  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State  has  reached  the  line  of  the  Northern 
iiG<J67— Bull,  1 1 


2  LIFE  UISTOltlES  OF  JJOKTU  AMEIUUAN  BIKDS. 

Pacific  Railroad,  about  latitu(l(i  Hi° ;  also  that  in  South  Dakota  it  is  abuudant, 
and  has  advanced  to  latitude  44°  30'.' 

North  of  the  United  States  Mr.  T.  Mcllwraith  gives  it  as  a  permanent  resi- 
dent in  southern  Ontario,  Canada.^ 

At  the  present  time 'the  Ho!)  Whites  are  most  abundant  in  tlm  Central  and 
some  of  the  Southern  States.  Tliey  have  also  been  successfully  introduced  in 
various  localities  in  the  West.  Accordinj^  to  information  received  from  Mr. 
Denis  Gale,  of  Gold  Hill,  lioulder  Gounty,  Colorado,  it  is  now  well  establi.shed 
along  the  Sc  'h  Platte  River  and  its  tril)Utaries  in  the  vicinity  of  Denver,  Colo- 
rado, and  is  known  to  occur  also  in  portions  of  northern  New  Mexico. 

As  earl}'  as  1872  Prof  J.  A.  iVllen  stated  in  the  American  Naturalist  that 
these  l)irds  had  recently  been  introduced  in  the  Great  Salt  Lake  Valley,  Utah, 
and  that  in  the  sunnuer  of  1871  young  liad  been  raised  and  gave  promise  of 
multii)lying  rajjidly  and  becoming  thoroughly  naturalized.  At  the  present  time 
they  are  common  in  various  parts  of  Utali,  and  Professor  Allen's  predictions 
have  been  iully  verified.  According  to  Mr.  II.  K.  Taylor  the  Rob  Whites  are 
quite  abuudant  abcmt  Gilroy,  California.' 

In  the  vicinity  of  Roise  City,  Idaho,  a  few  pairs  were  turned  out  sonie 
time  in  187.').  In  the  fall  of  1878  I  found  tlieiii  abundant  between  that  point 
and  Snake  River,  all  along  the  Roise  River,  and  in  1882  they  had  .spread  to 
the  west  side  of  Snake  l\iver,  fully  50  miles  from  where  they  were  first  liber- 
ated. Dr.  T.  E.  Wilco.x,  U.  S.  Army,  who  first  noticed  them  there,  says,  "1 
never  saw  coveys  so  lai-ge  and  numerous  as  I  found  them  about  Roisd.  Cover 
and  food,  as  wA\  as  climate,  are  all  favorable."'' 

They  are  also  (piite  abundant  now  in  portions  of  the  Willamette  Valle}-, 
Oregon,  as  well  as  on  several  Islands  in  Puget  Sound,  Washington.  In  fact, 
they  are  well  adapted  for  introduction  into  any  country  where  tlie  climate  is 
not  too  severe  in  winter,  and  where  suitable  food  and  shelter  are  to  be  found, 
tiiey  seem  to  thrive  and  adapt  themselves  to  the  vurrouudings. 

Exce])ting,  perhaps,  in  its  extreme  nortln  r.  range,  the  Bo])  Wliites  an* 
residents,  and  l)reed  wherever  foimd.  The}'  are  i)artial  to  more  or  less  o]ien 
country.  Fields  and  pastures,  interspersed  with  small  bodies  of  woodland, 
coimtry  roads,  bordered  by  l)rush  and  briar  patches,  as  well  as  the  edges  of 
meadow  and  lowlands,  are  its  favorite  abiding  jjlaces.  In  soutliern  Louisiana 
they  are  very  partial  to  the  bonlers  of  hammock  land  and  open  pine  woods. 

They  are  never  found  in  large  pai^ks;  each  covey  generally  keeps  to  itself, 
and  rarely  moves  far  from  tlu?  jjlace  where  it  Avas  raised.  The  mating  season 
commences  in  April,  when  the  coveys  or  such  portions  of  them  remaining 
begin  to  break  np,  each  pair  selecting  a  suitable  nesting  site.  Nidification 
))eginH  usually  about  May  1;  in  the  Southei-n  States  .somewliat  earlier,  and  in 

'  Report  nil  liird  Higrntioii  o(  thn  Miitaiutiipi)!  Valley,  Dull,  ii,  U.  8.  Dept.  of  Agric,  Uiv.  Kconniiiic 
Ornith.,  p.  l(W. 

'Hinls  of  Ontario,  pp.  140,  lit. 

'Ornithologist  and  OologiHt,  Vol.  IV,  1HH9,  p.  93. 

*Auk,Vol.  u,  1885,  p.  315. 


THE  BOB  WHITE. 


8 


A 
w 


the  more  nortliem  portions  of  tlieir  bi-ecding  ranf»e  it  is  often  delayed  until 
.June.  The  nest  is  alwiiys  placed  on  the  {ground  and  is  f(enerally  a  very  siir-nle 
affair.  A  saucer-.shaped  cavity  is  excavated  (occasionally  (piite  a  dee|)  one) 
alongside  a  patch  of  overhanffing  weeds  or  a  tall  hunch  of  grass.  Again,  it 
may  l)e  placed  under  a  small  hush  or  in  a  briar  patch,  by  the  side  of  a  fence,  in 
cultivated  fields  or  pastures,  and  even  in  gardens  close  to  houses;  and  in  the 
South,  "Cotton  rows"  are  favorite  nesting  sites.  This  cavity  is  lined  with  dry 
grasses  or  bits  of  grain  stiibl)l(!.  The  nest  is  generally  well  hidden,  arched  over 
naturally  by  overhanging  vines,  l)ushes  or  weeds,  and  usually  open  on  one  side. 
Occasionally  a  nest  is  arched  over  ailificially,  but  in  most  cases,  where  there  is 
no  natural  cover  existing,  no  dome  is  attempted. 

Judge  John  N.  Clark,  of  Saybrook,  Connecticut,  writes  me  of  having  seen 
a  male  Hob  White  at  work  constructing  a  domed  nest,  lie  .says:  "In  May, 
1887,  while  on  a  hill  back  of  my  house  one  morning,  I  heard  a  Quail  whistle, 
but  the  note,  which  was  continually  repeatecl,  liad  a  smothered  sound.  Track- 
ing tlie  notes  to  their  source,  I  found  a  male  Hob  White  Imildiiig  a  nest  in  a 
littUi  patch  of  dewbeiTy  vine".  He  was  busy  carrying  in  the  grasses  and  wi-av- 
ing  a  roof,  as  well  as  whistling  at  his  work.  Tlie  dome  was  very  expertly 
fa.shioned,  ai.d  fitted  into  its  place  witliout  clianging  the  surroundings,  so  that  I 
believe  I  would  never  have  observed  it,  iiad  lie  kept  ([uiet."  Another  nest, 
found  b}-  Mr.  G.  E.  Heyer,  of  New  Orleans,  Louisiana,  was  entirely  constructed 
of  i)in(^  needles,  arched  over,  and  the  entrance  probably  a  foot  or  more  from  the 
nest  i)ro))er. 

In  North  Carolina,  according  to  Mr.  R.  H.  iy[cLauglilin,  the  Hob  Whites 
preferred  to  nest  in  .sedge-fields,  so  very  coi anion  in  that  region,  and  nearly  all 
the  nests  observed  by  him  were  placed  near  paths  and  roads.  The  favorif(! 
materials  used  for  lining  the  nest  were  the  long  dry  blades  from  the  sedge 
tussocks. 

Capt.  B.  F.  Goss,  of  Pewaukee,  Wisconsin,  has  found  these  birds  nesting 
in  the  open  prairies,  miles  from  tinil)er  and  Imisli  of  any  kind;  but  such 
instances  are  rather  unusual. 

Among  miconnnon  nesting  sites  the  following  deserves  mention:  Mr.  Lynds 
Jones,  of  (iriunell,  Iowa,  found  a  nivst  of  a  pair  of  Mob  Whites  under  the  edge 
of  a  in-idge,  which. contained  nine  egg.s.  It  had  been  placed  tuuler  a  plank  in 
the  road,  and  during  a  heavy  rain.storm  was  Hooded  and  deserted. 

Prof  Robert  Ridgway,  of  the  .Smitii.soiiian  Institution,  found  a  Hob  White's 
nest  containing  fresh  egg.s,  on  October  1(>,  and  Mr.  II.  ( !.  .Muuger,  of  Jetfcrson 
City,  Mis.souri,  publishes  in  Forest  and  Stream,  of  March  (i,  1.S71),  a  .still  more 
remarkable  find.     He  writes  as  follows: 

"  Jkfi'kkson  City,  Missoiiki,  Februan/  6,  187!). 
"Editor  FoKK.ST  and  Stkkam: 

"1  noticed  an  article  in  a  local  paper  here  yesterday,  stating  that  a  gentle- 
man while  out  iumting  in  ('alaway  (.'ounty,  a  county  adjoining  tliis,  in  the 
month  of  January,  fouiul  a  Quail's  nest  with  lifteen  or  sixteen  i"j:<::*,  and  tlie 


LIFK  UlSTOltlES  OF  NOUTII  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


mother  bird  sitting  on  tho  nest.  After  slie  flew  off  tlio  nest,  he  exiiniined  it 
carefully,  the  bunch  of  j'-rass  covering  it  being  filled  with  ice  and  frozen  solid, 
leaving  just  space  enough  under  it  for  the  bird  and  her  nest  and  a  place  of  exit. 
A  few  days  after  finding  it  he  and  other  parties  went  to  examine  it  again.  This 
time  they  found  the  bird  still  sitting  on  the  nest  but  frozen  to  death.  A  portion 
of  the  eggs  had  been  hatched,  but  the  young  were  also  fn>zeii.  Was  this  not  a 
a  very  singular  occurrence?  I  should  have  been  somewhat  skeptical  in  regard 
to  it  if  I  had  not  met  with  very  nearly  a  similar  case  while  out  (juail  shooting 
four  years  sxgo  this  winter,  in  comjtany  with  a  venerable  sj)ortsman,  Mr.  Pratt, 
of  this  jdace.  Our  dogs  made  a  point.  We  flushed  a  single  bird  after  consid- 
erable kicking  aroiuid  in  the  grass  and  snow,  and  found  she  had  been  sitting  on 
her  nest  containing  three  ajjparently  fresh  eggs;  but  alas,  slie  never  returned  to 
finish  her  maternal  duties.  It  was  too  late  when  we  found  tho  cause  of  her 
reluctant  flight." 

Tlie  Hob  White  is  unciuestionably  tlie  most  prolific  of  all  our  game  birds, 
the  numlier  of  eggs  laid  varying  from  tw(;lve  to  eighteen  to  a  dutch.  Fifteen 
may  be  considered  a  fair  avi-rage.  As  many  as  tliirty-.seven  eggs  have  been 
found  in  one  nest,  unquestionably  tho  product  of  two,  or  even  three,  hens.  In 
such  largo  sets  the  eggs  are  always  placed  in  layers  or  tiers,  the  small  or  pointed 
ends  usually  toward  the  center.  An  egg  is  laid  daily  till  the  set  is  com- 
pleted. 

The  late  Dr.  T.  M.  Hrewer  states  that  he  "never  found  less  than  twenty- 
four  eggs  in  a  nest,  and  from  that  to  thirty-two."'  If  the  eggs  are  all  laid  by 
a  single  bird,  which  I  think  is  <loubtful,  such  largo  sets  as  Dr.  iircwer 
mentions  may  j)ossibly  be  accounted  for  in  the  following  manner:  In 
Massachusetts  and  in  otlier  portions  of  its  northern  range  tho  Bol)  Whites 
probably  rear  but  ono  brood,  and  lay  a  larger  numl)er  of  eggs  to  a  set  than 
they  do  in  the  Middle  and  Southern  Slates,  wliere  the  fact  seems  to  bo  pretty 
well  estaldished  that  two  and  even  three  broods  are  sometimes  raised  during 
a  favorable  season;  parents  with  young  of  tln-ee  different  sizes  having  l)ecn 
met  with  now  and  then,  which  would  tend  to  substantiate  this  assertion.  Incu- 
l)ation  lasts  about  twenty-four  days,  in  which  duty  the  male  is  said  to  assist, 
at  times  at  least. 

Mr.  Lynds  Jones,  who  has  had  exccdKiut  opportunities  to  study  the  habits 
of  the  Mob  White,  writes  me:  "The  female  is  scildom  seen  during  the  nesting 
season,  while  the  male  attracts  our  attention  with  his  loml  and  fearless  call, 
usually  uttered  from  some  fenccpost  or  other  elevate<l  ])ositiou.  If  driven 
from  this,  lu'  darts  into  the  grass  or  slirubb<'ry  ami  there  repeats  his  call.  I 
never  siu-ceeded  in  flushing  the  female  at  such  timi  s:  she  is  shy  and  coy,  while 
the  male  is  bold  and  fearless.  While  I  have  never  IIusIkmI  the  male  from  the 
nest,  I  have  fretpiently  found  him  near  it.  If  the  nest  is  distiu'lK-d  while  th(« 
set  of  eggs  is  still  incomplete,  tlu^  birds  usually  abandon  it;  but  sliuuld  incuba- 
tion be  somewhat  advanced  they  will  return  and  hatch  their  brood.     The  male 

>  HiHtury  North  Ameriouu  Birds,  Vol.  in,  p.  472. 


thl;  bob  white. 


is  very  attentive  to  the  sottiii"'  lion,  often  nmking  excnrHions  into  the  grass  after 
food,  iipijsirently  for  lier  benefit." 

That  tlie  male  Hob  White  takes  tlie  whole  duty  of  incubation  upon  himself, 
should  some  aceident  befall  the  female,  which  unfortunately  happens  only  too 
often,  is  conclusively  proven  by  the  following  statement,  from  Dr.  William  C. 
Avery,  of  Greensboro,  Alabama,  who  writes  me  as  follows:  "In  June,  lH8(i, 
while  on  a  visit  to  Dr.  J.  AI.  I'ickett,  of  Cedarville,  Alabama,  this  gentleman 
informed  me  of  having  seen  a  male  Bob  White  incubating;  he  had  visited  tiic 
nest  at  various  times  during  the  day,  and  on  ditferent  days,  and  always  found 
tlu^  male  on  the  nest.  Wishing  tt>  be  an  eye  witness  of  so  interesting  a  phe- 
nomenon, 1  rode  several  miles  witli  tlie  (hictor  to  see  tiiis  male  Hol>  White  on 
his  nest.  There  we  found  liiui,  faithfully  warming  his  treasures,  but  not  into 
life.  The  eggs  were  never  hatched.  Dr.  Pickett  went  frequently  to  the  place, 
until  long  after  the  jieriod  of  incubation  had  elaj)sed,  and  <in<ling  that  the  eggs 
would  not  hatch,  he  destroyed  them,  to  prevent  the  useless  occupation  of  the 
nest  by  the  male.  The  female  had  probaldy  been  dead  .some  hours,  and  the 
eggs  were  coh'  before  the  male  took  the  nest,  hence  they  did  not  hatch.  How 
ditl'erent  is  he  in  his  nature  from  some  other  gallinaceous  liirds,  which  <mly  seek 
the  female  when  impelled  by  sexual  desire.  1  know  no  other  bird  that  will 
take  the  nest  and  faithfully  brood  upon  the  eggs  when  the  female  has  been 
killed."' 

These  birds  are  very  sociable  in  disposition,  and,  when  not  constantly  dis- 
turbed or  shot  at,  become  cpiite  tame  and  may  fre([ucntly  be  seen  about  dwell- 
ing houses,  barns,  and  in  gardens,  especially  during  the  late  fall,  winter,  and 
ciu'ly  spring.  As  soon  as  the  young  are  hatcheil  they  become  more  sh'>'  anil 
retiring.  The  young  leave  the  nest  aw  soon  as  hatched,  and  have  l)een  seen 
running  about  with  pieces  of  the  shell  sticking  to  them.  They  are  faithfully 
cared  for  by  both  parents,  who  make  use  of  all  sorts  of  artifices,  such  as  feign- 
ing lameness  and  fluttering  along  just  out  of  reach  of  tlu^  intruder,  to  lure  him 
away  from  the  young  brood;  the  young  scattering,  in  the  mean  time,  and  hitling 
in  the  grass  and  under  leaves  at  the  danger  sigiud  of  the  parents,  and 
remaining  (piiet  until  called  together  again  by  either  of  them,  as  soon  as 
all  danger  is  jiassed.  When  they  are  about  two  or  three  weeks  old,  the  male 
takes  charge  of  the  first  brood,  while  the  female  begins  to  lay  her  second 
clutch  of  eggs.  This  is  usually  a  small(>r  one  than  the  first,  averaging  onlv 
aliout  twelve  eggs.  The  young  an*  at  first  exclusively  fed  on  insect  food,  and 
later  on  small  seeds,  grains,  and  berries. 

Aside  from  insects  of  various  kinds,  the  favorite  food  of  the  Hob  White 
consists  of  buckwheat,  wheat,  rye,  oats,  the  seed  of  the  locust,  wild  pease,  tick- 
trefoil  (Dcsmodiioii),  smartweeds  (^Poli/f/nnici),  suiiHower,  and  bitterwee<l,  the 
jiartridge  berry  {MicheUa),  wintergreen  (Gaidthcrid),  naunxDerries  (^Vihi(niiiiii). 

'The  fnct  timt  the  nmlo  Bob  White  takuH  occnainnnlly  th«  entire  duties  of  iiiciilmtinii  on  hiuiHeir,  8h(inlil 
thu  female  be  killed,  appears  to  be  not  an  unusual  nncnrrence  with  thisBpeoieg,  at  least  two  Hiniilar  inxtuncuN 
havini;  come  onder  the  observation  of  othur  partius. 


6 


LIFE  DISTOKIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


wild  grapes,  and  other  sitiall  berries.  In  tlic  lute  full  they  often  feed  on  the 
seeds  of  the  skunk  cabbage,  acorns  of  ditt'erent  kinds,  as  well  as  on  beech- 
luits. 

Mr.  W.  M.  Wolfe,  of  Kearney,  Nebraska,  writes  me:  "Here,  the  male  takes 
the  young  to  the  wlieat  fields  and  stul)ble  early  in  Jidy:  at  first,  tliey  return  to 
the  brush  for  the  night,  but  as  soon  as  harvesting  fairl}-  coinmenees  they  spend 
all  their  time  in  the  fields,  huddling  together  at  night  in  the  open.  Here  they 
form  a  circle  with  their  lieads  out  and  crowd  close  together.  The  male  remains 
outside  the  ring  and  close  at  iiand.  The  female,  after  raising  her  second  brood, 
takes  the  chicks  to  the  stubble  as  soon  as  they  are  al)le  to  Hy.  The  bro(»ds 
unite  in  Sei)tenil)er,  ami  all  care  on  the  part  of  the  parents  ceases  soon  after, 
though  they  all  remain  togetlu'r  imtil  the  following  s])ring." 

Aside  from  tlie  many  enemies  that  the  Holj  White  has  to  contend  with 
during  the  breeding  season,  the  mowing  machine  is  probaldy  one  of  the  greatest 
factors  t)f  destruction,  as  many  brooding  birds  and  eggs  are  annually  destroyed 
through  its  agency. 

The  males  connnence  singing  about  May  1 ;  their  song  is  the  well-known 
"Hob  White,"  or  "Ah,  Bob  Wliite."  One  of  tiieir  love  notes  may  be  translated 
as  "Pease  most  ripe,"  another  call  as  "No  more  wet,"  or  "More  wet."  A  siiriil 
"wee-teeh"  is  used  as  a  note  of  warning,  and  one  to  assemble  when  the  cove\ 
has  dispersed  resembles  "Quoi-hee,  (juoi-hee."  A  sulKlued  clucking  when 
undi.sturl)ed,  and  a  rapi<lly  rei)eated  twitter  when  suddenly  surprised,  are  fre- 
quently used  as  well. 

In  tile  fall,  in  certain  portions  of  tlie  country,  these  birds,  while  not  actually 
migratory,  leave  the  localities  where  they  raised  tlieir  broods  for  others,  possibly 
on  account  of  the  desire  tor  some  particular  kind  of  food.  Mr.  U.  10.  Heyer 
writes  me  that  in  the  vicinity  of  Madisonville,  Louisiana,  tlie  IJol)  Whites  leaxc 
the  hammock  lands  in  tlie  fall  and  retreat  considerai)le  distances  into  the  open 
pine  woods,  along  small  water  courses,  returning  only  when  nesting  time 
aj)proaches. 

'I'lie  eggs  of  the  Bob  White  vary  from  a  round  ovate  to  subpyriform  in 
shajje,  are  dull  white  in  color,  slightly  glossy,  ami  often  |)artially  stained  a 
bufl'y  yellow  by  contact  with  the  grass  or  .soil  on  which  they  lie.  The  shell  is 
smooth  and  remarkably  strong  and  thick  for  tlu^  size*  of  the  egg.  'V\um-  average 
size  is  about  30  by  24  millimetres,  the  largest  egg  in  the  II.  S.  National 
Museum  collection   measuring  32.;")  by  25,  the  smallest  2(i  by  22.5  millimtftres. 

The  type  specimen,  Nu.  l27<S(i,  1*1.  1,  Fig.  1,  .selected  from  a  s(ft  of  ten 
eggs,  was  collected  by  Dr.  William  Wood  at  East  Windsor  Hill,  Connecticut, 
June  14,  iSGG. 


THE  FLORIDA  BOB  WHITE. 


2.     Colinus  virginianus  floridanus  (Coues). 


FLOKIUA   noiJ   WHITE. 


Ortiix  virginianus  var.  flnridavii.s  Coues.  Key  to  North  Amorican  birds,  1873,  237. 
Colinus  virgin ianim  floridanus  Stejneoer,  Auk,  ii,  January,  J8S5,  45. 
(B  — ,  C  389((,  R  480u,  C  573,  U  3H!)«.) 

Geographical  range:  Florida,  except  the  extreme  southern  portion. 

This  soinewliat  smaller  and  darker  race  is  foiiiul  only  in  Florida.  Dr.  W. 
L.  Ralph,  who  has  enjoyed  excellent  opportunities  of  stiidyin;^  the  habits  of  the 
Florida  Bob  White,  and  is  well  known  as  a  reliable  and  careful  observer,  writes 
ine  as  follows:  "It  is  still  conunon  throu^i'iiout  the  northern  and  central  i)arts  of 
the  State,  and  probably  in  the  southern  ])ortions  as  well,  but  they  are  not  nearly 
so  abundant  as  formerly,  owin^  to  the  |)ersecution  they  receive  from  northern 
visitors  and  nejjroes,  and  to  th(^  want  of  efficient  <;ame  laws.  Tliey  are  very 
tame  and  confiding,  and  when  not  molested  prefer  to  live  near  man,  jtrobably  on 
account  of  greater  security  from  the  attacks  of  beasts  and  birds  of  prey,  'i'iiey 
become  nuich  attached  to  the  lf)calities  wliere  they  breed,  and  seldom  wander  far 
from  these,  even  when  much  jjcrsecuted.  I  have  known  cases  wiiere  they  were 
hunted  day  after  (hiy  until  their  number  was  reducetl  to  two  or  three  birds  to 
each  covey,  yet  those  which  were  left  could  always  be  found  at  their  old  places 
of  resort.  '^Plie  localities  they  lik(!  best  are  open  woods  grown  up  with  saw 
l)almettos  or  low  l)ushes,  or  fields  with  woods  near  them,  and  they  are  partic- 
ularly fond  of  slovenly  (uiltivated  groimds  that  have  bushes  and  weed.;  growing 
thickly  along  their  borders." 

'Die  pairing  season  commences  {*arly.  Mr.  J.  F.  Menge  writes  me:  "In 
r^ee  County,  Florida,  it  nests  sometimes  as  early  as  Fel)ruary  Ih.  A  dry 
secluded  spot  is  selected  for  a  nesting  site,  usually  under  a  saw  palmetto  or  low 
bush  in  o])en  woorls  or  in  a  field  thickly  grown  uj)  with  grass  and  weeds." 

Mr.  W.  K.  1).  rtcott  states,  "The  Florida  Hob  White  is  abundant  in  tiie 
vicinity  of  Tarpon  Springs,  and  breculs  in  numbers  in  early  April.  At  least  two 
broods  are  raised,  as  1  have  found  birds  but  a  few  days  old  in  the  first  week  in 
July." 

Their  general  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  its  northern  relative.  Their 
food  consists  of  insects  of  various  kinds,  small  seeds,  and  cabbage-palm  berries, 
and  their  various  notes  reseml)l(>  those  of  the  Hob  White.  Mr.  Scott  heard 
males  singing  as  early  as  January  l!l,  18S!»,  and  February  7,  18!M).  The 
average  number  of  eggs  laid  v.iries  from  eleven  to  thirteen.  Mr.  Menge  has 
found  as  many  as  twenty-three  in  one  nest,  however.  Two  and  j)robably  three 
broods  i\n'  raised  in  a  season.  The  eggs  resemble  those  of  Coliiiiis  viniiniauus 
in  every  respect.  The  average  size  of  twenty-threcf  specimens  is  iiO  by  24 
millimetres,  the  largest  measuring  31.5  l)y  24.5,  the  smallest  28.5  by  23 
millimetres.     None  are  figured. 


8 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


3.    Colinus  virginianus  texanus  (Lawrence). 

,  TEXAN   BOB   WHITE. 

Orty.riexnnus  Lawrence,  Annals  Lyceum  Naturiil  Histcry,  N.  Y.,  vi,  April,  1853,  1. 
Volinus  viryiniunus  hjiunis  Stejnehek,  Auk,  11,  Januir.y,  1885,  45. 
(B  472,  C  38!)/*,  R  48(1?;,  C  573,  U  2896.) 

Geographical  range:  Southern  and  western  Texas,  and  northeastern  Mexico 
north  to  western  Kansas. 

Tlie  Texan  liob  White  is  a  resident  of  the  grecater  part  of  Texas,  excepting 
the  so-called  Staked  Plains  in  the  northwestern  i)art  of  the  State.  In  eastern 
Texas  it  intergrades  with  Volinus  virffiniauus.  It  is  most  abundant  in  the  cen- 
tral ])arts  of  the  State.  Its  range  ncn'thward  extends  well  into  tlie  Indian  Ter- 
ritory and  it  has  also  been  taken  in  western  Kansas,  where  it  is  rare,  however. 
In  its  general  habits  it  does  not  ditt'er  materially  from  Colimis  vin/hiittnits. 

Capt.  P.  M.  Tiiorne,  Twenty-second  Infantry,  II.  S.  Army,  writes  me: 
"During  a  month  I  spent  on  the  road  between  Forts  Duncan  and  Mcintosh, 
Texas,  I  found  this  species  common,  and  so  unsophisticated  that  a  covey  would 
not  even  squat  when  my  dog  pointed  tlieni;  they  would  move  on  slowly,  chat- 
tering to  each  other,  evidently  talking  the  matter  over.  At  Fort  Duncan  it 
seemed  odd  that  I  could  always  find  them  morninjrs  and  eveninjfs  clo-so  to  tiie 
bank  of  the  Rio  Grande  on  tiie  Americ^an  side,  and  as  soon  as  flushed  they  Hew- 
straight  over  into  Mexico.  The  river  here  is  over  half  a  mile  wide.  At  Fort 
Clark,  Texas,  I  have  taken  them  nearly  full  grown  on  July  29,  and  found  them 
barely  able  to  fly  as  late  as  Se])tember  20." 

Mr.  George  H.  Sennett  i-ecords  them  as  common  at  Lomita,  in  the  lower 
Rio  Grande  Valley,  coming  into  tiie  inclosures  of  the  ranch  at  all  times  and 
feeding  about  the  corncribs  witli  Blackbirds  and  I'igeons. 

Mr.  William  Lloyd,  of  Marfa,  Texas,  informs  me,  "The  Texan  Rob  White 
is  a  bird  of  the  lowlands,  and  is  not  found  above  an  altitude  of  2,000  feet. 
Their  food  consists  of  small  berries,  acorns,  grain,  buds  and  leaves  of  aromatic 
herbs  and  small  slmxbs,  varied  with  occasional  beetles,  grasshop|)ers,  an<l  ants, 
especially  tlie  winged  females,  of  whicli  they  seem  to  be  very  fond.  They  are 
very  insHs])icious,  and  tlieir  low  notes,  uttered  while  feeding,  attract  a  good 
many  enemies.  1  have  sccsn  foxes  on  the  watdi,  and  the  Marsh  Harrier  perchecl 
in  a  clump  of  grass  on  tiie  lookout,  waiting  for  them  to  pass.  Hut  tlie  many 
large  rattlesnakes  found  here  are  their  worst  enemies.  One  killed  in  May  ha<l 
swallowed  five  of  these  birds  at  one  meal;  another,  a  female  evidently  caught 
on  her  nest  and  a  half  dozen  of  iier  eggs;  a  third,  four  Rol)  Wiiites  and  a 
Scaled  Partridge.  Tiie  young  are  also  greatly  affected  and  many  killed  by 
heavy  ranis  in  June  and  July;  numbers  jierish  then  from  cold  and  protracted 
wet  weather.  When  alarmed  by  a  Hawk  sailing  overhead  they  run  under  tiie 
mother  for  jirotection,  as  domestic  chickens  dn." 

Mr.  J.  A.  Siiigley,  of  Giddings,  Texas,  writes  tw:  "During  tlu;  very  hot 
weather  of  the  summer  this  species  is  always  to  be  found   under  the  largo 


THE  TEXAN  KOB  WHITE. 


9 


(k'tadied  live  oaks  standing  in  tlio  prairies.  It  is  cool  there  in  the  hottest 
weather,  and  the  birds  know  it.  They  are  easily  a]»i)r(tafhed  tlien,  and  are 
often  killed  by  the  dozen  at  snch  times  by  so-called  sportsmen,  thoiiffji  they 
are  in  i)Oor  condition  and  molting-  ijliimaj^e.  Tiie  favorite  nesting  site  of  the 
Texan  Hob  White  is  a  biuieh  of  sedge  grass.  A  slight  cavity  is  made  in  the 
center,  this  is  lined  with  a  few  straws  and  arched  ov(>r  with  similar  material. 
Sometimes  a  covered  way  or  tunnel  leads  to  the  entrance  of  the  nest.  Occa- 
sionally a  nest  is  placed  mider  a  bush  and  not  covered  or  arched." 

Two  broods  are  usually  raised  in  a  sea,Hon,  and  even  threes  at  times.  Tlie 
average  number  of  eggs  to  a  set  is  about  tifteen.  Kull  sets  of  eggs  have  been 
found  as  early  as  May  iJ,  and  again  late  in  September.  Mr.  Singley  met  with  a 
covey  of  young  just  hatched  Septend)er  22.  He  also  found  five  eggs  of  this 
species  in  the  nest  of  a  domestic  lien,  not  over  30  yards  from  tlie  hou.se.  A 
nest  with  nineteen  eggs  when  tirst  found,  contained  ten  additional  ones  five  days 
later,  proving  conclusively  tliat  it  was  occupied  by  two  birds.  Only  one  incu- 
bated, however.  Mr.  II.  P.  Attwater  found  as  many  as  thirty-three  eggs  in  a 
nest  of  the  Texan  Hob  White  on  May  14,  IHH!),  m-ar  San  Antonio,  Texas. 
This  set  is  now  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  Samuel  li.  Ladd,  of  Westcliester,  iVnn- 
sylvania.  While  examining  this  collection  I  was  .shown  a  very  peculiar  set  of 
nine  eggs,  taken  on  May  16,  IKS!),  by  the  above-mentioned  c<»llector,  near  the 
same  place.  Tlieso  eggs,  while  of  tlie  usual  ,shaj)(^  and  color,  are  all  more  or 
less  spdtted  and  streaked  with  pale  reddish  lirown  and  lilac  shell  markings, 
principally  about  the  larger  end.  The  nest  from  which  they  were  taken  was 
found  in  a  cornfield. 

The  eggs  of  the  Texan  Hob  White  are  in  no  way  diflen-nt  from  those 
of  CoUuits  vir(/ini(i)uis.  The  average  measurement  of  tifty-nhie  specimens  in 
the  U.  S.  National  Museum  collection  is  30  by  24  millimetres;  the  largest  egg 
measuring  31.')  by  24.r>,  the  smallest  27.")  by  22  millimetres.  On  account  of 
the  similarity  of  these  eggs   to  those  of  the   preceding  subspecies  none  are 


figured. 


4.    Colinus  virginianus  cubanensis  Goulu. 


f'l'iiAN  noit  wnrn;. 

OHi/.r  riihanensifi  G0VI.D,  Moiiograpli  of  tlic  ()(li)iit<)j)li()riiuc.  IS.'iO,  PI.  ^>. 
Colinus  riiyiniimns  vubanm.six  RinoWAV.  Manual  NiH'tli  Anierican  Birds,  1)SS7.  p.  IfSH. 

(B  — ,  C  — ,  R  — .  C— ,  U  -iS'.U:) 

Qeooraphical  RAN(iE:  Cuba  au(l  soutli Western  Florida. 

This  slightly  smaller  and  dark(>r  colored  bird  than  Coliims  rirfiiiiio»i<s  Jion- 
(faiiiis,  is  found  in  limited  numbers  in  southwestern  Fh)rida,  south  of  Lake  Okee- 
chobee and  Tampa  Hay.  S|)ecimens  from  Miami,  1  )a(le  County,  on  the  e.ast  coast, 
are  intermediate  between  this  and  the  Florida  Hoi)  White.  Dr.  Jean  (Sundlach 
reports  it  as  common  on  tin;  Island  of  Cuba,  and  says:  "It  is  not  found  at  an\ 
time  in  the  heavy  forests,  but  along  their  out.skirt.s,  in  the  Ijiishes  and  unih-r- 


10 


LIFE  UISTORIES  OF  NOUTII  AMERICAN  BlUDS. 


^owtli.  Durin<;  tlio  nintiiij»  Honson  tho  ninlo  perches  on  one  of  tlu;  lower 
Itnmches  of  un  isolated  tree,  or  some  other  elevateil  position,  and  calls  to  the 
female.  This  note  resemldes  its  <feneric  nanui  '0/7//.f'  or  'Oiii/s.'  Another  call 
is  somewhat  similar  to  the  low  fjruntin};  of  tluf  Ciriiinea  pi<,^  Nidification  l)e<>ins 
in  Mandi  and  lasts  till  May.  The  female  deposits  abont  sixteen  white  e;i};:s  in  a 
slight  excavati(«i  of  the  jfround,  sparingly  lined  with  grasses  and  always  cov- 
ered with  overhanging  plants."' 

According  to  Dr.  Juan  VihnV),  ])rofessor  of  natural  history,  University  of 
Havana,  Cuba,  "The  Cuban  Bob  Wliite  la\s  from  ten  to  eighteen  eggs;  theses 
are  usually  deposited,  between  the  months  of  April  and  July,  in  ii  slight  cavity 
of  th(;  groimd  sheltered  by  vegetation.  Tliey  feed  on  small  fruits,  seeds,  and 
leafy  shoots.  Tiu'  young,  if  alarmed,  raise  tlie  featliers  of  the  head  and  upper 
part  of  tlie  neck,  spread  out  the  tail  and  wings  a  little,  and  run  in  various  direc- 
tions to  hide,  reassembling  again  in  obedience  to  the  call  of  the  parent  birds. 
Tlie  male  assists  in  the  duties  of  incubation.      This  bird  is  h»cally  known  as 

The  average  measurement  of  nine  eggs  in  the  U.  S.  National  ^fuseum  col- 
lection from  Cuba  is  BO.f)  by  24  millimetres.  'J'he  largest  v'^tr  measures  31. f)  l)y 
"It).'),  the  smallest  2\).')  by  2'SJ)  millimetres.  They  are  indistinguishal)le  from  the 
eggs  of  the  preceding  sul)species,  and  none  are  figured  on  this  account. 


5.     Colinus  ridgwayi  JiuKw.sTKK. 

MASKED   UOH  WHITE. 

CWmus  ri"(Z(/irai/i  Brewstek,  Auk.  11,  April,  ISM.  iDi). 

(B— ,  C— ,  R— .  C— ,  U^>91.) 

Geographical  range  :  Sonora,  Mexieo,  ainl  soutliorii  Arizona. 

This  sjK'cies,  only  recently  added  to  our  avifauna,  was  first  described  by 
Mr.  William  Hrewster  in  the  Auk  (Vol.  11,  iSSo,  p.  l!l!l),  from  a  si)e<imen  taken 
by  Mr.  F.  Stephens,  August  11,  1SS4,  about  IM  miles  southwest  of  the  little 
town  of  Sasabe,  in  Sonora,  Mexico.  Fully  a  year  jireviou.sly,  however,  Mr. 
Herbert  Hrown,  of  Tucson,  Arizona,  obtaint'(l  some  of  these  Itirds  within  our 
border,  wiiich  he  sent  Fast,  where  sevt-ral  ornithologists  examiueil  and  ]»ro- 
nounced  them  to  l)e  Grayson's  l{ol»  \Vliit(«  (^Voliint^  f/nii/soiii),  a  Mexican 
s])ecies,  which  ])roved  to  be  ji  mistake,  as  the;  specimens  sent  wen*  iiientical 
with  tile  bird  subsecpiently  descrilu'd  l>y  Mr.  Hrewster.  The  credit  of  discov- 
ering the  Masked  Bob  White  clearly  belongs  to  Mr.  Brown,  and  what  little 
information  we  possess  about  its  range  witliin  tlie  limits  of  the  United  States 
and  the  habits  of  this  s|»ecies  is  principally  dui^  to  his  jiatient  incpiiry  and  j»er- 
sonal  investigation.  He  gives  its  range  at?  follows:  "The  Masked  Bob  White 
is  found  in  tho  country  lying  between  the  Barboipiivari  Range  in  Arizona  and 
the  Gulf  coa.st  in  Sonora,  more  es])ecially  between  the  Barl)o(|uivari  and  th(f 
I'lomoso,  where  this  species  is  (piite  abunthmt.     They  are  also  found  on  tho 


'  Journal  filr  OrnitlioloKii',  CubaniH,  l*)(i,  p.  a;i7. 


THE  MASKED  HOB  VVIIITR. 


11 


Sonoita  Creek,  about  (50  miles  nortli  of  the  Soiioni  line.  From  the  Sonoita 
Valley  they  raii<re  in  a  westerly  direction  fully  1(10  miles,  and  throujjh  a  strip 
of  country  not  less  than  30  miles  in  widtii  within  Arizona  Territory.  Very 
j)rol)al)ly  they  may  f^o  beyond  this,  both  to  the  east  and  west.  The  habits  of 
the  Masked  Bob  White,  .so  far  as  we  know  them,  appear  to  resemble  very 
doselv  those  of  the  connnon  Quail,  only  slif^htly  modiH(^d  by  the  conditions 
of  th(;ir  environment.  Tlu'y  utter  the  characteristic  call  of  '  Hob  White'  with 
bold,  full  notes,  and  perch  on  rocks  or  bushes  while  callin<^-.  'IMh\v  do  not 
appear  to  be  a  mountain  bird,  but  live  on  the  mesas  (table  huuls)  in  the 
valleys,  and  possibly  in  the  foothills. 

"The  Masked  Hob  White  was,  three  years  siiu-e,  abundant  in  the  neij^h- 
borhood  of  HoUe's  Well,  a  sta;.;e  station  on  tiuf  Quijotoa,  road,  near  the  northern 
end  of  the  Harbocpiivari  Range,  2!)  miles  southwest  of  Tucson  and  al)out  40 
miles  north  of  the  Mexican  boun(huy  line.  As  tlie  station  was  then  com- 
paratively new  the  grass  thereabouts  was  high  and  thescf  Quail  could  be  had  for 
the  taking;  but  now  that  the  stock  has  eaten  away  the  grass  the  birds  have 
not  for  a  year  or  more  beciU  seen  about  the  i)lace.  On  the  road  from  Hollc':^ 
Well  west  to  the  Coy«>te  Range  (about  2,")  mile.s)  the.se  Quail  were  frecpiently 
to  be  met  with,  but  the  team.sters  and  travelers  have  killed  or  frightened  them 
off.  One  of  the  former  assured  uh'  that  he  had  killed  as  many  as  five  at  one 
shot.  Ten  miles  south  of  iJolle's,  in  tiie  Altar  Valley,  we  came  across  a  small 
covey,  jx'rhaps  a  dozen  in  all.  The  bright  deep  che.stnut  l)reast  plumage  of 
the  males  hxiked  red  in  the  sun  and  gave  the  birds  a  most  magnificent  appear- 
ance. We  secured  l)Ut  one,  a  male,  the  rest  secreting  themselves  in  the  tall 
satiaton  grass,  which  at  this  point  was  between  4  and  5  feet  high,  and  as  we 
had  no  dog  we  did  not  follow  them.  Our  next  jilace  to  find  tiiem  was  on  the 
mesa  southea.st  of  the  peak,  where  we  camped  to  hunt  for  them,  but  they  wen? 
scarc(f  here,  and  we  managed  to  secure  l)ut  few. 

"In  addition  to  their  'Hob  AVhite'  they  have  a  sec(tnd  call  of  'Hoo-we,' 
articulated  and  as  clean  cut  as  their  'Hob  White.'  This  call  of  '  Iloo-we' 
they  use  when  scattered,  and  more  especially  wiieii  separated  toward  night- 
fall. At  this  hour  I  noted,  that,  although  they  occasionally  call  '  tinb  White,' 
they  never  repeated  the  first  syllable,  as  in  tiie  daytime  they  now  and  then 
attem])ted  to  (h).  In  l)ody  they  are  plumpness  itself;  in  this  respect,  considering 
size,  they  overmatch  the  Arizona  Quail  (J'aUijicjthi  t)<inilirli)  with  which  1 
compared  them.  In  actual  size  of  body,  however,  the  latter  is  the  larger.  Of 
three  stumachs  of  this  species  examined,  one  contained  a  species  of  mustard 
s(H'd,  a  few  chaparral  Ixirries,  and  some  six  or  eight  beetles  and  other  insects, 
ranging  in  length  from  a  half  inch  down  to  the  size  of  a  ])in  head.  The  second 
was  similarly  provided,  but  contained,  in  lieu  of  nuistard  seed,  a  grasshopper 
fully  an  inch  in  length.  The.se  two  w(M-e  taken  on  the  mesa.  The  third,  from 
a  bird  taken  in  the  valley,  contained  about  twen. ,  medium-sized  red  ants,  .sev- 
eral ere.scent-shaped  seeds,  and  a  large  nundjer  of  small,  fleshy,  green  leaves."' 

'  Kxtrncted  from   "  Arizoiiiv  Quail  Notes,"  For«st  and  Stroiiin,  Duceiiilier  :U,  ISiTi.    TUo  nuiiiu  of  "  C. 
ridgwayi "  ia  substituteil  by  me  for  C.  ijratisoni,  wliero  used  in  above  article. 


^ 


12 


lilFK  IlISTOltlES  OF  NOUTII  AMKltlUAN  lilUDS. 


Lieut.  II.  C.  Rensdii,  Foiirtli  Caviilry,  U.  S.  Army,  foimd  tho  Miiskwl  Rol) 
VVhito  fairly  al)iin(liiut  near  Campos  anil  Haciiaclii,  Soiiora,  Ht'ciirinj^  ii  immlicr 
of  siM'ciiiu'ii.s  ill  tlio  Hiiiiimcr  of  18H(!,  and  ho  writoH  nio  that  they  only 
fr«'((ut'ntt'(l  cultivated  fields  tliere,  when*  wheat  and  harley  had  been  raised. 
lie  also  found  another  species  of  Partridi;e  assocMatod  with  these  hirds  near 
Campos,  which  probaltly  crosses  our  border  also.  This  Partrid^ie  was  recently 
described  by  Mr.  U.  Ridj^way,  in  Forest  and  Stream  of  Marcii  3,  1MM7,  and 
iuuiumI  ^^ lUiUipcjthi  rlfi/iiHS  hcnatuii"  in  honor  of  its  discoverer. 

Xothiu})^  l)ositive  has  been  known  about  the  nest  and  e<;<rs  of  the  MaskiMl 
Hob  White  till  the  ju'eseiit  season,  thoujjfii  one  of  their  nests  containing  six  ej^j^s 
was  found  .some  years  a;>(>.  They  were  allowed  to  remain  in  hope  of  Heeiuj^f 
the  number  increased,  and  when  visited  at  another  time  th(>y  had  hatched. 
The  nest  as  de.scrilied  to  .Mr.  Mrown  was  a  shallow  excavation  alon<;'side  a  tuft 
of  {j^rass.  The  e}>-^rs  were  white  and  unspotted.  In  the  sj»rin<;  of  ISIIO  Mr. 
Brown  succeeded  in  ol)taininji'  one  of  these  oi^j^'s  cut  from  the  oviduct  of  the 
female,  as  well  as  a  set  of  eleven  ej;jjs  said  to  beluiijf  to  this  species.  'I'hes(* 
egfi's  were  found  early  in  .May  in  a  similar  situation  in  the  vicinity  of  .\rivaca. 
The  e^<;  of  the  Ma.sked  Hob  Whiter  is  white,  unspotted,  subi)yriform  in  shape, 
and  their  averaf^e  measurement  is  (51  by  2")  millimetres. 

Since  the  foregoinjf  was  writtiMi,  Mr.  Otlio  (!.  l*olin«^  writes  nu^  from  Fort 
lluachuca,  Arizona,  as  follows:  "I  first  met  with  tlu*  .Masked  Hob  Wliiti!  on 
May  24,  IHDO,  in  a  series  of  low  foothilLs  e.\teiidin<r  off  to  the  northwest  of  the 
lluachuca  Mountains,  and  endinjf  in  a  .somewhat  hif'her  ranj;e  of  hills  called 
the  Canella  Raiif^-e,  beiny  the  northwestern  termination  of  the  lluachucas. 
Most  of  these  hills  an*  thickly  <frown  up  with  juniper,  cedar,  mauzanita,  stunted 
oaks,  pines,  and  with  a  heavy  ji'rowth  of  <frass.  While  ridin;;  alouff  one  of 
these  grassy  ridges  I  flushed  what  1  supposed  was  a  "Fool  (^iiail,"  Ci/rtoiii/.r 
))ii)iife^iinitr.  I  at  once  staked  my  horse,  and  on  shooting  the  bird  I  found  it  to 
be  a  male  of  the  Masked  Quail.  I  continued  the  search  and  had  spent  a  half 
hour  or  more,  when,  as  1  passed  within  2  fV'Cit  of  a  mescal  plant,  Af/iirc  aiiirri- 
raun,  I  suddenly  flu.shed  tlu!  female  from  underneath  it.  I  first  shot  her  and 
then  exj)ected  to  find  the  nest;  but  after  searching  ft)r  several  houivs  and  failing, 
I  gave  it  up.  Tiie  female  contained  an  e^x'^  which  was  fully  (hiveloped  and 
would  probably  have  been  laid  within  half  an  hoiu'.  I  searched  for  the  nest 
of  this  sj)ecies  on  the  two  succeeding  tlays  as  well,  but  made  no  further  discov- 
erie.s.  The  single  egg  of  ('(>H)ii<s  ridi/wuj/i  nhtiunoil  by  me  is  pure  white  and 
measures  31  by  24  millimetres. 

"The  Canella  Hang**  is  about  2')  miles  north  of  the  Mexican  border.  Two 
more  specimens  of  the  Masked  Quail,  both  females,  w(M(j  shot  about  June  10, 
in  the  lluachuca  .Mountains,  near  the  inidille  of  the  range,  at  an  ehtvation  of 
about  t!,000  feet.  The  birds  were  found  in  a  <;anon  aliout  lo  miles  north  of  the 
lionler,  on  the  northeastern  .slope  (tf  the  range." 

From  the  foregoing  it  would  app(!ar  that  the  Masked  Bob  White  is  confinecl 
to  u  narrow  strip  of  country  along  our  southwestern  Ixu'der,  and  is  uowhen!  as 


TUE  MASKED  HOlt  WIIITIO. 


18 


common  iih  the  Gambel'8  and  Scaled  Partriilfffs,  wliitli  an^  louml  in  tlio  same 
r»'f(i(tnH.  The  oggH  appear  to  ho  iiulistin}^nislial)le  troni  those  of  the  eaHtoni 
Hob  White,  and  no  specimen  is  figured  on  that  account. 


6.    Oreortyx  pictus  (Doikilas). 

MOUNTAIN    I'AKTKIDOK. 

Orfi/.r  pirfa  DoiTOLAS,  Transactions  of  tlm  Liiiiia'iui  Socioty,  XVI,  1829,  143. 
Oreortyx  2>ictuD  Bairu,  Birds  of  Nortii  Amurii'ii,  1H,")H,  (14^. 

(B  473,  C  :m,  It  481,  C  574,  U  2'M.) 

Geoouaphk'al  banoe;  Pacific  coast   districts,  from  Haiita  Barbara,  California, 
north  to  Washington. 

This  handsome  bird  is  the  hu'gcst  of  tlie  Aiiicriian  Cartridges.  It  is  better 
known  on  the  Pacilic  c(»ast  l»y  tii(*  name  of  "Mountain  t^uail."  Its  range  is  not 
an  extensive  one,  as  it  is  only  found  along  the  western  slopes  of  the  Coast 
i^mge  in  California  from  about  latitude  .'{P  iiortiiward,  and  tinoughout  western 
Oregon,  wliero  it  lias  a  sligiitly  more  easterly  range  than  in  Calitornia,  typical 
specimens  having  been  taken  near  Mount  Hood.  In  regard  to  its  occurrence  in 
tile  new  State  of  Wa.shington,  I'rof.  ().  15.  dohn.son,  of  tlie  I'liiversity  of  Wash- 
ington, Seattle,  Washington,  writes  me  as  follows:  "'rweiity  years  ago  this 
species  was  found  l)Ut  little  north  of  the  Willamette  Valley,  ((regun,  but  they 
gradually  worked  down  the  smith  si<lo  of  the  Columbia  Uivcr  toward  Astoria, 
and  in  1872  I  was  informed  that  some  of  these  birds,  shot  at  Kalama,  Wash- 
ington, wore  the  first  .seen  north  of  the  (^dumliia.  A  crate  of  trajtped  birds  sent 
to  the  Seattle  market,  were  .some  time  afterward  purchased  l)y  the  Voung  Nat- 
uralists'Society  and  set  free.  These  have  since  multiplied  nicely,  and  others 
have  been  sent  to  Whitby  Islaiul,  40  miles  north  of  Seattle,  where,  I  under- 
stand, they  are  also  doing  well.  A  covey  winterecl  in  a  l)arn  lot  with  the  hens, 
just  at  the  outskirts  of  Seattle  this  winter." 

■  It  is  only  within  the  last  twenty  years  that  this  I'artridgo  has  ol)tained  a 
pttrmanent  footing  in  Washington,  and  while  a  few  birds  may  have  crossi'd  the 
Columbia  River  near  Kalama,  the  majority  were  introiliiced,  (piite  a  number 
having  been  liberated  near  Vancouver  Barracks  and  other  localities  as  well. 
This  species  is  affe('ted  by  climatological  conditions,  and  is  only  to  be  tbund  in 
the  moi.st  mountainous  regions  along  the  coast,  where  the  rainfall  is  heavy.  In 
the  dryer  regions  of  the  interior  it  is  replaced  by  a  paler  race,  Otrorfyi:  jnctus 
pliiinifirns. 

The  Mountain  Partridge  is  a  constant  resident  wherever  fouiul,  and  is  ([uite 
common  in  portions  of  its  range,  es})ecially  about  Fort  (Jaston,  California.  Its 
lial)its  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Plumed  Partridge,  which  will  be  more  fidly 
described.  Professor  .Johnson  writes  me,  "the  males  have  a  sharp  challenge 
note,  which  they  utter  with  the  beak  pointing  straight  uj)  and  with  wings 
tkopped,  wliilo  standing  ou  a  feucepost,  broken  limb,  or  upturned  root.     It  is  a 


14 


lAVK  lllSTOIilKH  OF  NOUTH  AMKKIOAN   HIHDH. 


,«i" 


Mliarp  wliistlt*  uf  Imt  mio  nofc,  and   iiiiiy  \w  imitiittMl   hy  wliiMtlin}^  tlic  wnnl 
"i|iicrk"  in  mlddlt*  I'!,  iiiid  isaiidililc  tor  a  luiiff  distance." 

Niditicatioii  ciiimiii'iu'cH  al)iiiit  the  niiddlu  of  May,  and  ordinarily  but  oik' 
lu'ood  is  raised.  Tlic  nest  is  jilat'ctl  on  the  ground,  alun<j^side  or  under  an  old 
!<%  (»r  on  side  hills  luider  tiiiek  itushes  mul  idinnps  ot'  ferns,  oceasioiiaily  aloii;^' 
tile  e(l;;'es  ot'  (•learin;,'s,  i>-rain  fKilds,  or  meadows.  A  nest  t'oiuid  .May  21,  1H77, 
near  ('o(|iiiile,  <  >rejron,  containin},' six  I'resh  e;f^.s,  was  well  eiuicealed  luider  a 
Itnnch  of  tall  ferns,  in  a  tract  of  tind)er  killeil  l)y  a  fore.st  tire.  Another,  taken 
in  rkiah  N'alley,  Mendocino  ("oiuity,  ( "alifornia,  dune  'J,  1H8;{,  i)y  .Mr.  ('.  I'urdy, 
contained  twelve  fresh  e;r;;s.  'Phis  nest  was  found  under  a  hush  of  ])oi.son  oak 
anionj,^  a  lot  of  dry  leaves  on  a  steep  liillsiiht.  The  averaj^e  ninnlu'r  of  effns 
laid  Ity  this  I'artrid;^!'  is  alioiit  ten,  natst  of  the  sets  conlainiu;;  from  eiji'ht  to 
twcdvo.  An  occasional  nest  contains  as  many  as  si.xtoen,  lint  such  larj^o  sets 
are  rare. 

The  e^fj^^s  vary  from  a  pale  cream  color  to  a  rich  creamy  ImfT,  and  are 
lUispotted.  in  siiape  they  are  short  o\ate,  and  very  miU'h  reseudile  unmarked 
eff^is  of  tlu'  Rull'ed  Urouse  althou;>'h  of  smaller  size,  'i'hey  are  iudistinji'ui.shalde 
in  shape,  size,  and  color  from  tlio  t'jjffs  of  tlie  next  sulispecies,  and  for  that 
reason  ikmu;  are  ti^iu'ed.  Tiie  averaf^c  siz(^  of  nineteen  specimens  in  the  V.  S. 
National  Musttuin  coll(H'tion  is  iJd.'i  Ity  2(!  millimetres,  the  largest  egg  inoasuring 
'in  by  -M).."),  the  smallest,  31  l)y  L'a  millimetru.s. 


7.    Oreortyx  pictus  plumiferus  ((foni,i)). 

I'M'.MKI)  rAUTKntdK. 

OHj/.r  plumiftrn  flon.D.  PrdcceiliiiH;.-!  Zi>iil(i>,'i('iil  Society,  1837,  \'i. 
Onurti/.f  picttm  var.  jiliiiiiijrniN  HnxiWAV,   in  History  Nta'th   Aniorican   Birds,  ill, 

IHM,  4711. 
(B  — ,  C  — ,  K  tsir/,  C  — ,  U  -i'Mu.) 

OKooKArnicAi.  HAXOK:  Kriiiii  llie  west  side  of  tin-  Casciidd  HunKo  in  nnrthern 
Oregon  (I'xct'pl  near  the  cdmsI)  .sinitli,  alonj;  l)(itli  sides  of  the  Sierru  Nevada  and  tiie 
.stjutlierii  coast  ranges  of  California  (.south  of  latitude  '.H  only)  to  northern  Lower 
California. 

The  Plumed  Partridge,  a  l)ird  as  handsome  as  the  preceding,  inhabits 
the  interior  mountain  regions  from  the  southern  border  of  California  north- 
ward through  middle  western  ( (regon,  as  well  as  ]»arts  of  western  Nevada, 
approaching  the  seacoast  in  tin-  extromo  southern  portion  of  its  range  only. 
It  is  everywhere  known  as  the  ".M<anitain  Quail,"  and  deserves  this  innne  far 
more  than  the  preceding  subspecies,  reaidiing  much  higher  altitudes  than  the 
former.  On  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  it  has  beini  observed  from 
Walker's  Pass,  near  Fort  Tejon,  northward.  Personally,  I  have  often  mot  with 
it  on  .Moinit  Ivearsarge,  in  Inyo  County,  (laliforuia,  where  it  reached  an  altitude 
of  l(),()(l<l  feet  in  sunnner.  Mr.  Holtert  Kidgway  noti<'od  this  sub.sitecies  near 
Carson  City,  and  in  the  Conistock  Mountains  near  Pyramid   Lake,  Nevada, 


THE  i'LUMKI)  I'AKTIMIKIK. 


15 


tiiitl  |)r.  A.  K.  KisluT  (ilttaiiicil  it  in  tlif  Aijiiin  Waii^fr  nl'  imMiiitaiiiH  in  soiitli- 
ciiMtt'ni  ( 'iilitoniiii,  tiut  iiiont  ciistorly  known  pciint  nt'  its  ran;;*'.  It  is  csmimi- 
liaily  a  hiril  nf  tiic  niouiitain«,  whcro  it  is  nunc  partial  to  tlio  open  pine  fon-Hts 
and  rocky  riil^rt'S,  covcnMl  with  cliapairal  and  nndt'ijiniwtli,  tlian  to  the  di-nscly 
tirnlxTt'd  portions  of  tla-  ranges.  I  haw  always  t'oiiml  it  a  sliy  and  rcfiriii},' 
Itird,  usnally  to  Ih'  I'oinid  only  in  small  coveys,  ami  on  licinji'  alarnuMl  trnstinj; 
inoro  to  tilt)  leys  than  wiiiffs  for  escape.  While  e(|nally  aitnndant  on  liotli 
sides  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  and  connnon  enoii;ih  on  the  western  slopes  of  the 
Cascade  .Mountains  in  ( )rej;'nn,  it  does  not  seem  to  occur  on  the  east  side  ol' 
tlio  hitter  range;  at  any  rate  no  specimens  liave  heen  luonght  to  the  notice 
of  natui'alists  from  such  localities,  and  as  fai  as  known  to  me,  unless  recently 
introduced,  it  does  not  occur  in  Washington.  It  is  a  resident  and  breeds 
wherever  ioiiiid,  e.\ce[ttin;;-  in  the  hijfher  portions  of  tlie  mountains  fre(iuente(l 
as  summer  haunts,  from  which  the  birds  retire  on  the  approach  of  winter. 

.Mr.  (!harles  A.  Allen,  of  Nicasio,  ( laiifornia,  a  careful  and  trustworthy 
observer,  writes  me  as  follows:  "I  find  this  I'artridfic  all  through  the  Sierras. 
in  the  .spring  many  go  up  to  the  snow  line,  returning  in  the  fall  below  the 
point  of  snowfall.  These  vertical  migrations  are  performeil  cuHrilif  on  fitot, 
unless  streams  nnist  hv  cro.-.seil,  when  they  tak(t  to  their  wings,  but  alight  at 
once  on  gaining  the  oijjxtsite  side,  and  continue  their  travels  on  foot." 

The  mating  sea.son  begins  in  the  latter  part  of  .March  and  tint  beginning  of 
April,  according  to  latitude  and  altitude.  The  call  note  of  the  male  is  a  clear 
whistle,  like  "whu-ie-whu-ic,"  usually  uttereil  from  an  old  stump,  the  top  of  a 
rock,  or  a  bush.  When  alarmed,  a  uot(!  like  "(piit-ipiit"  is  useil.  In  the  higher 
mountains  but  a  single  l)roo<l  is  raised;  but  in  the  lower  foothills  they  roar  two 
broods  occasionally,  the  male  caring  for  the  lirst  one  while  the  female  is  busy 
hatching  the  .second. 

I  met  with  a  brood  of  young  l)irds,  perhaps  a  week  or  ten  days  (dd,  near 
Jacksonville,  Oregon,  on  June  17,  iNS.'t.  The  male,  which  had  them  in  charge, 
perf<irmed  tin;  usual  tactics  of  feigning  lameness,  and  tried  his  very  best  to 
draw  my  attention  away  from  the  young,  uttering  in  the  mean  tinii'  a  shrill 
.sound  re.sembling  "(,^uaih-(piaih,"  ami  slioweil  a  great  deal  of  distre.ss,  seeing 
I  paid  no  attention  to  him.  The  young,  already  handsome  and  active  little 
creatures,  si'atteri'd  promptly  in  all  directions,  and  the  m.ijority  were  most 
ell'ectually  hidden  in  an  in.stant.  As  nearly  as  I  was  able  to  jmlgo  they  num- 
bered eleven.  I  caught  one,  but  after  examining  it  turned  it  loose  again. 
The  feathers  of  the  crest  already  showed  very  plainly. 

Their  food  consists  of  insticts,  x\w  buds  and  tender  tops  of  leguminous 
plants,  small  seeds,  and  berries  of  various  kinds.  The  ne.st,  simply  a  slight 
de])ression  in  the  ground  scratchi'd  out  by  the  bird,  and  linetl  perhaps  with 
a  few  dry  leaves,  pine  nectdles,  grasses,  and  usually  a  few  feathers  lost  by  the 
hen  while  incubating,  is  sometimes  placed  alongside  au  old  log,  at  other  times 
under  low  bushes  or  tufts  of  weeds,  ferns,  and,  when  nesting  in  the  vicinity  of 
of  u  logging  camp,  a  favorite  site  is  under  the  fallen  tO[)s  of  pine  trees  that 


16 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  JSOllTU  AMERICAN  JURDS. 


liiivo  been  left  by  wooil-chopjiers,  tho  boughs  of  wliirli  iifforil  oxcelleut  cover 
for  tlie  nest. 

Mr.  L.  lielding  found  a  deserted  nest  of  this  speeies  in  a  cavity  of  tho 
trunk  of  a  staudin<i^  tree  near  Hi{>'  Trees,  ('alifoniia,  but  in  tliis  locality  tliey 
nest  ofteuor  in  thickets  of  tlie  rock  rose  or  tho  tar-weed,  and  accordin<^  to  his 
observations  tliey  <lo  not  desert  their  nests  for  .sli<;lit  cause,  like  tlie  Hoi*  Wliite 
or  the  California  Quail.  The  ej^f^s  vary  from  eijiiit  to  fourteen  in  number, 
averaj^inj^  usually  about  eleven,  and  are  indistiu^^uishable  from  tliose  of  the 
precediufj^  subspecies.  Tliey  ar(^  {^imerally  more  or  loss  stained  by  contact  with 
tho  linin<^  of  the  nest  and  tlie  soil. 

Mr.  Loreu  W.  Green,  of  the  IT.  S.  Fi.sh  Commission,  reports  tho  Plumed 
Partridfye  as  (juite  conwnon  near  Haird,  Siiasta  County,  California,  and  he  found 
a  nest  containinj,^  nineteen  ej;ii-s,  seeinjj  also  a  l»rood  of  twenty  youn^'  bird.s.  In 
that  vicinitv  they  raise  two  broods  a  season.  The  earliest  date  on  which  Oirirs 
were  found  by  him  was  April  1"),  and  tlie  latest  Aujfust  If).  Occasionally  a 
nest  is  placed  on  top  of  old  decayed  tree  stumps.  Rattlesnakes  are  very  com- 
mon in  tins  locality,  and  these  birds  liave  adopted  such  sites,  probal)ly  from  the 
fact  that  they  afl'ord  tlieiii  better  protection  from  such  enemies.  A  nest  taken 
by  Mr.  Green  on  May  "iJ,  ISSO,  near  Ueihlinjr,  California,  contained  twelve 
fresli  eji'fjj's;  these  were  placed  in  a  .slight  excavation  on  a  hillside  under  a 
small  bush,  and  well  concealed  from  view.  Another,  found  .May  ."),  1885,  in 
the  Volcau  ^lountains,  San  Diego  County,  California,  by  Mr.  F.  W.  Paine,  at 
an  altitude  of  al)out  ."),()l)(>  feet,  contained  eighv  slightly  incubated  egg.s.  It  was 
placed  among  ii  lot  of  dry  leaves  in  a  pine  iiiul  fir  fori'st. 

Mr.  A.  M.  Ingersoll,  of  San  Diego,  ( •alifornia,  found  a  nest  of  the  Plumed 
Partriilge  containing  ten  eggs,  under  a  muss  of  e.Kcelsior  and  otlu^r  shavings 
that  had  lodged  against  a  bnicc  of  a  siiowslicd,  less  than  l.">  feet  iVom  the  rail- 
road track  on  tlie  U^nioii  Pacilic  Railroad  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  .Mountains. 

Mr.  F.  Stevens  found  a  full  .set  of  eggs  of  this  subspecies  in  southern 
California  as  esirly  as  Ajiril  7. 

The  ground  color  of  the  K'^^^'f,  of  tlie  Plumed  Partridge  vari(vs  from  pale 
cream  to  a  re<hlisli  lairt",  and  in  shape  tliey  are  short  ovate.  Incubation  lasts 
about  twenty-one  days,  and  mi  v<r_\r  is  laid  diiily  until  the  set  is  complete.  The 
shell  is  smooth  and  slightly  glossy,  and  usually  more  or  less  stained  by  contact 
with  the  lining  t>f  the  nest  or  the  soil. 

The  averag(i  measurement  of  sixty-six  specimens  in  the  IT.  S.  National 
Museum  collection  is  34.5  by  2(1.5  millimetres.  Tlie  largest  i^\;^<^  of  tho  series 
mea,sin-(^s  as  by  28,  the  smallest  .'12  by  25.5  millimetres.  The  type,  No.  10041), 
(1*1.  1,  Fig.  .H),  selected  from  a  .set  of  ten  eggs,  is  one  of  the  darkest  colored  spec- 
imens; it  was  taken  .June  7,  18(;(i,  near  Dowiiieville,  California,  by  Mr.  William 
Veille.  No.  18187  (IM.  1,  Fig.  2),  one  of  the  jiah^st  colored  specimens  of  the 
series,  showing  the  other  extreme,  was  collected  liy  .Mr.  L.  Melding,  .fune  10, 
i880,  in  Hear  V^alley,  Alpine  County,  California.  This  nest  had  been  aban- 
doned and  contained  only  six  eggs  when  fouud. 


iifty 


THE  SAN  PEDKO  rAUTlUUOE. 


17 


8.     Oreortyx  pictus  confinis  Anthony. 


SAX    I'KDKO    PAKTKIDfiE. 

Orinrlij.v  pictuti  cniifiniti  Anthony,  Procoodiuf^s  California  Acaduiny  Scioncus,  3(1  sor.. 

II,  Ootobui-  11,  ISHit,  74. 
(B  -,  C  — ,  R  —  C  -,U  -i'.i-ih.) 

Geooraphic.vl  kancje:  San  Podro  Mountains,  Lower  California  (and  southward  ?). 

Tliis  rooontly  doscnbcil  suljspocios  differs  from  Oreortyx  pktus  pltimiferiis 
in  its  finiyor  uppor  jxirts  Jind  tliirker  liill. 

.Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony,  who  (lis(H)veri;il  this  now  race,  writes  me  tliat  the 
broediiif''  rau<40  of  the  San  Pech'o  I'artridf^^e  extends  from  the  foothills  alony  the 
base  of  the  San  I'edro  .Mnuntains,  Lower  (Jaliforuia,  to  the  tops  of  the  highest 
peaks,  estimated  at  about  r_*,')(>(>  feet.  It  is  not  eommon  below  an  altitude  of 
2,5(10  feet.  He  says:  "The  first  rail  notes  are  heard  about  the  last  of  February, 
ii  soft-tuned,  far-reaeliiu<?  'ehay-ehay,'  as  mellow  and  sweet  as  the  notes  of  a 
tiute.  The  alarm  note  when  surprised  is  a  soft,  loud,  '  oh-ch-ch-e-e-ea, 
ch-e-e-ea,'  whieli,  as  the  dauf^'cr  btH-omes  more  evident,  l)ecomes  harder,  sound- 
in;;'  like  'kee-kee-ke-ea,'  which  is  taken  uj)  i»y  each  member  of  the  covey  as 
they  gradually  draw  away,  and  long  after  the  last  of  the  band  has  disappeared 
the  soft  chorus  floats  i)ack  from  the  mazanitas  and  lilacs  wliieh  clothe  the  hills 
where  this  subsnecies  is  found.  Frecpieiitly  a  loud  'pit-|)it'  is  heard  as  they 
take  wing,  but  ti.  -  are  more  silent  when  on  the  wing  than  Callijicjila  culifoniica. 
\  few  pairs  bred  aixiut  my  camp  at  Valladares  Creek,  (!  miles  from  the  l)ase  of 
tlu^  range  and  aixmt  2,5tl()  feet  alntve  the  sea  level,  but  nearly  all  of  the  flocks 
that  wintered  along  the  creek  at  this  point  disajipeareil  by  March,  leaving  onl\' 
an  occasional  pair,  which  .sought  the  shelter  of  the  manzanitas  high  up  on  the 
hillsides,  from  vrlience  their  clear,  mellow  notes  were  heard  mtn-ning  and 
evening,  so  suggestive  of  cool  brooks  and  ru.stling  pines,  but  .so  out  of  place 
in  the  hot  barren  hills  of  tliis  region. 

"The  only  eggs  1  have  taken  were  found  at  my  camj)  on  the  Valladares 
(Jreek,  >[arch  2!t,  ISSI).  Tiie  ne.st,  placed  in  the  midst  of  thick  manzanita  cha- 
parral high  up  on  a  hillside  having  a  northern  exjtosure,  ciHisi.-<ted  of  a  mere 
liollow  under  a  manzanita  bush,  lineil,  or  rather  filled,  with  dry  leaves  of  the 
lilac  and  manzanita,  and  contained  Itut  a  single  i-<^<i:.  Tlie  female,  which  I  shot 
as  slu^  hff't  the  nest,  was  about  to  deposit  a  second,  which  I  secured  upon 
Nkinning  her."  .Mr.  Anthony  further  states  that  the  eggs  of  tiie  San  IVdro 
Partridge  resemble  those  of  the  I'lumed  Partridge  in  sha[)e  and  color,  l)eiug 
creamy  white  and  unspotted.  The  two  specimens  measure  3(5  liy  28  and  37  liy 
27  millimetre.>*,  respectively. 
20957— Bull.  1 2 


18 


LIFE  lllSTOltlKS  OF  NORTH  AiMIiKICAN  HIUIJS. 


g.     Callipepla  squamata  (Vkjoks). 


SCALKI)    I'AIMKIIMJi;. 


Off !/x  squamotii.i  YicoKs.  Zoi'iluijic;!,)  Journal,  v,  ls;j(),  ■^75. 
ddllipeiilit  Niiiiamitlit  (Iray.  (fciicra  nl    Birds,  in,  IS4(1,  5U. 

(H  irii,  C  ;it):t,  R  4S4,  C  577,  U  -iu:).) 

GEociKAPHiCAL,  UANUE:  Nortliovii  Mexico  and  coiitif^iKius  liDi'diT  of  United  States, 
ffoiii  western  Texas,  lln'oiijifli  Ninv  Mexieo,  fo  southern  Arizona. 

The  Sealed  Partridjife,  usually  ciilleil  tlie  Hhu!  Quail  aud  also  the  White 
Top-kuot  Quail,  is  a  coustaut  resident  ut"  southwestern  Texas  i'roni  aitout  lati- 
tude 28'^  northward  !ilon<r  the  valley  of  the  Uio  (Jrande,  as  well  as  of  ii 
considerable  portion  of  New  Mexieo  and  southern  .Vriz(»na,  extendinj;-  south 
into  Mexieo.  Speeiniens  have  l)een  taken  as  far  nortli  as  (Miieo  Sl)rin<,^s,  C(d- 
fax  (y'ounty,  New  Mexieo,  where  .Mr.  Thurlow  Washl)urne  reports  them  as 
fairly  eonnnon  in  roeky  places  wiierever  water  is  fomul.  Honham,  Fannin 
County,  Texas,  is  the  most  eastern  point  at  which  it  has  heen  noted,  and  in 
Arizona  the  mountains  in  the  vicinity  of  tlu^  Colorado  iiiver  prohahly  mark  its 
western  l)oun(hu"v.  It  has  Iteen  traced  at  least  !)()  miles  west  by  southwest 
from  Tucson  to  Wood's  Station,  and  jn'obahly  extends  still  furtlier  wt'st  in  this 
direction.  It  does  not  appear  to  occur  north  and  east  of  tlu-  AVhite  and  Mop)l- 
lon  Mountai'is.  They  are  very  common  in  sonn'  portions  of  southern  Arizona. 
Mr.  Herl)ert  Urown  writes  me  from  Tucson  as  follows:  "I  have  seen  this  ])ird, 
botii  far  away  from,  and  in  tiie  innuediate  vicinity  of,  water,  on  the  open  valleys 
and  |)lains,  and  also  in  the  rou;>li  foothills  of  the  mountains.  In  the  Altar 
Valley,  west  and  southwest  of  Tucson,  I  have  seen  larji'c  nund)ers  of  them,  but 
as  the  foothills  of  the  mountains  are  approaclied  they  jiive  way  to  (Jamljel's 
Quail  entirely.  They  are  also  at  all  tinu's  \-ery  numerous  in  the  Sierritas  about 
.')()  miles  s(mth  of  'i'ucson,  as  well  as  west  of  the  Catalina  Mountains." 

Accordinji'  to  my  own  observations  the  Sealed  I'ai'tridji'e  is  found  most 
al)undantly  on  tlie  lii;rh  plateaus  Ixirderinj;-  on  tlie  principal  streams  of  tlu- 
re<rions  imder  consideration,  reachinji'  an  altitude  of  from  l.aOO  to  nearly  7,tK)0 
feet,  it  shuns  timl)ered  country,  and  in  southern  Arizona,  where  I  have  fre- 
(pU'iitly  met  with  these  l)irds,  they  seemeil  to  m(^  to  prefer  the  most  barren  and 
ilriest  ])ortions  of  that  scantily  watered  Territory.  I  invariably  found  them 
iiack  in  the  tbothills  and  mesas,  from  2  to  ,">  miles  distant  from  the  river  beds, 
which  are  jfeiu'rally  dry  for  the  ^fcater  part  of  the  yeai-. 

These  barren  and  rocky  foothills  and  tai)le  lands  are  covered  in  places 
with  a  dry,  harsh  vejictation,  consisting;'  of  diil'erent  species  of  cacti,  stunted 
yuccas,  catclaw-mimosa,  creosote,  and  dwarf  sajic  bushes,  where  the  soil  is  so 
parched  that  .scarcely  anythinj^  else  will  tlourish,  and  where  nearly  every  shrnb 
is  covered  with  sharp  spines  or  thoi-ns;  sneh  places  I  found  to  be  the  favorite 
home  of  the  Scaled  Partridjic.  Many  times  have  1  seen  coveys  miles  from 
water,  and  it  appeared  to  me  that,  jud^'in;^  from  the  kind  of  country  it  iuhab- 


TDE  SCALED  l'AltTl:lDGK. 


19 


its  l)y  iiii't'fi'Diico,  tliis  tiniversally  needed  fluid  was  scareely  required  J)y  these 
binls.  From  the  re])eUin<;'  nature  i»t"  the  eountry  it  j^enerally  lre<iuents  it  is 
naturally  hunted  very  httks  still,  I  found  them  exeee<lingly  shy  and  wary  and 
ver\-  dilH(udt  to  a|)j)roath,  tar  more  so  than  Gambel's  Partridj^e.  It  prefers 
to  trust  to  its  left's  tor  escape  almost  entirely,  and  is  generally  successful, 
l)eiug  an  exi)ert  and  swift  runner,  dodging  in  and  out  among  the  bushes  with 
great  ease  and  dexterity,  eoiiseiiuently  they  are  soon  lost  to  sight.  The  covey 
generally  follow  a  leader,  Indian-file  fashion.  Their  habits  seem,  however,  to 
difler  somewhat  in  other  sections. 

Mr.  Iv  W.  Nelson  furnishes  me  with  the  following  observations  about  this 
species:  "In  New  Mexico  I  have  found  the  Scaled  Partridge  al)undant  cm  the 
.lornada  del  Muerto,  and  thence  north  along  the  vallt^y  of  the  Rio  Grande  to 
the  vicinity  of  Santa  Fe  and  (Janoncito.  Near  the  latter  ])lace  the  birds  occur 
sparingly  in  the  lower  portions  of  the  cedar  and  }iinon  belt,  l)ut  as  a  rule  the 
Scaled  Partridge  is  preeminently  a  species  of  the  oi)en  arid  jjlains. 

"In  many  instances  I  have  found  them  far  from  water,  but  they  make  reg- 
ular visits  to  the  watering  places.  On  the  tlornada  del  Muerto  and  on  Santa  ¥6 
Creek  I  found  them  freciuenting  the  open  plains,  away  from  the  water  in  the 
middle  of  the  (biy,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  water  late  in  the  afternoon.  At 
this  time  they  are  often  seen  in  company  with  Gambel's  Quail  amongst  the 
bushes  anil  coarse  grass  or  weeds  bordering  the  water  courses.  They  are  very 
dilHcult  to  Hush,  owing  t('  the  rapidity  with  which  they  run  through  the  bushes 
or  other  vegetation.  When  flushed,  tliey  scatter  and  only  fiy  a  short  distance, 
when  they  alight  and  run  on  as  Ix'fore.  As  soon  as  the  alarm  is  over  the  old 
birds  reunite  the  Hock  by  a  low  call  note. 

"The  latter  part  of  summer  and  early  fall  they  gather  into  coveys,  often 
containiug  .several  broods,  as  1  ob.served  in  \HH2,  in  the  valley  of  the  (iila 
River,  near  (Jlifton,  Arizona.  At  this  season  they  frequented  the  low  bare  hill- 
sides, or  the  now  <lrv  water  courses  and  the  fields  adjoining  these,  associating 
with  Gambel's  I'artridge.  They  are  easily  trajjped  in  the  fall  and  winter,  ami 
many  are  caught  by  the  nativi's  and  taken  to  the  markets  of  the  larger  towns 
of  New  ^lexico  and  Arizona." 

Mr.  William  Lloyd  writes  me  from  Marfa,  Ti'xas,  as  follows:  "The  liluo 
Quail  loves  a  sandy  table  land,  where  they  s])end  consi(h'ral)le  time  in  taking 
sand  baths.  I  have  otten  watched  them  doing  so,  pecking  and  chasing  each 
other  like  a  brood  of  young  chickens.  (Jood  clear  water  is  a  necessity  to  them. 
They  are  local,  l)ut  travel  at  least  .'{  miles  for  water.  In  the  evenings  they 
retire  to  the  smaller  ridges  or  hillocks  and  their  calls  are  heai'd  on  all 
sides  as  the  scattered  covey  collects.  Several  times  I  have  seen  jjacks  num- 
l)ering  si.xty  to  eighty,  Itut  coveys  from  twenty-live  to  thirty  are  nnich 
oftener  noticed.  The  mating  season  begins  sometimes  as  eai'ly  as  March, 
and  after  the  female  connnences  laying,  generally  about  six  weeks  later,  the 
male  at  al)out  sumlown  cvcrN'  line  evening,  mounts  a  convenient  bush  or  rock 
and  calls  his  mate,  which  approaches  noiselessly  and  they  disappear  together. 


!l'  ''3 


i 


20 


LIFE  dlSTOKlES  OV  NOUTIl  AMEKICAN  BIUUS. 


TIio  younj^  Jiro  wary,  find  crouch  in  m-  under  tlio  smallest  tufts  of  "^rass,  wliilc 
the  parents  remain  in  full  sijrjit.  Durinj^  the  middle  of  the  day  they  freijuciitly 
allyht  in  trees,  usually  larj^e  oaks,  but  they  roost  on  the  <;round  at  ni<;ht." 

Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  says:  "I  think  this  species,  like  C(illi))r)ila  ((ili/oniirii 
vallicold,  is  larj^ely  influenced  by  the  seasons  in  rep^ard  to  its  nestiiifi",  althou^ih 
perhaj)s  not  to  the  same  extent.  In  southwestern  New  Mexico  tlu^  season  of 
188()  was  a  very  dry  one,  no  rain  fallin"-  duriii"-  the  spnuj'-  and  but  very  little 


f  the  deserts 


(Inrnifif  tlie  precedui;^  wmter.      As  a  consecpience  th(^  vefjetatiou  o 

was  unusually  scarce.     The  Scaled  I'artriilj^cs  remained  in  Hocks  till  very  late 


an( 


I  in  many  cases  did  not  break  up  at 


Louu"-  Dn-fis  were  verv  scarce 


duriu};  the  fall,  and  none  were  noted,  I  think,  till  after  August  10.     The  only 


nes 


t  that  came  under  mv  notice  that  seasi 


>n  was  taken  on  duly  >'J1.  It  was 
located  on  a  hi^ifh,  rocky  hillsidi',  in  a  slij;ht  hollow  between  t\\(i  rocks,  and 
slightly  lined  with  dry  ;jrass.  A  lar^^e  tlead  A(/(irc  (American  aloe)  had  fallen 
fiver  the  nest,  hiilinff  it  so  effectually  that  its  discover}"  was  accidental,  the 
female  beinj^  flushed  by  my  l)rusliiiii>'  aj^'ains 
It  contained  eijylit  fresh  ejj:<j:s.  I  have  taken  chicks  not  over  two  weeks  old  in 
Grant  County,  New  Mexico,  as  late  as  C)ctol)er  1  0,  while  younji-  of  the  year 
taken  the  same  day  coidd  not  Ije  distinj^uislied  from  the  adults  by  the  closest 
scrutiny." 


t  the  dry  leaves    of  this  plant. 


I  beli 


b 


leve  two  ami  even  tfii'ee  broods  are  occasionallv  raised  ni  n  season 


Ih 


d 


tl 


i(^   male   assistniy:   ni   the   care   o 


.f  tl 


le   vouny, 


but   not   in   inculiati 


on. 


Tl 


n.'- 


lasts  al)out  twenty-one  days.     Full  sets  of  the  eji'fi's  of  the  Scaled  Quail  havi- 
been  taken  early  in  April  and  others  late  in  Septi'mliei'.     The  nest  is  al 


placed  on  tlu^  {^'round,  as  far  as  known, 


or  sma 


11  busl 


I,  overjifrown  witn  j;i'ama  j;rass 


th 


usually  under  the  .shelter  of  a  y 
and   in  the   Hio  (irande  \' 


ways 
ucca 


Ulev, 


New  .Mexico,  occasionally   in   a   wiieatfield.     In   southern    .Vrizona   .Mr.  ().  ( ' 


Polinjr  lia.s  found  the   Scaled   Partriilu'e  nestini;-  in  corn  and    "T 


un 


field.>< 


m 


dtalfr 


I  meadows   and  potato  patchc 


as  well  as  on  almost  liarren  flats,  where 


on 


ly  a  f 


ew  scatterini^  bushes  but  a  few  inches  liitili  "re 


Ih 


ei'(^  tlu^  nestini 


sea.son  lie^an  al)out  .May  1,  and  en'^is  were  fomiil  as  latt^  as  ,Fulv   1."). 


Their  food    <'onsists    of 


sm; 


ill 


see( 


Is,   ;-■ 


ram    wnen    prncu 


raiile,    l)err 


les 


various  kinds,  tlie  tender  to[)s  of  plants,  small  beetles,  ants,  and  ji'rasshoppers. 
A  youn<.f  female  of  this  species,  proliably  al)iiut  ten  days  old,  and  taken  h\ 
Mr.  Herbert  Mrown  in  .Mtar  N'alley,  Arizona,  September  '21,  ISS'),  may  lie 
described  as  follows:  ll|)per  parts  chestnut-brown,  each  feather  with  medial 
T-shaped  white  niarkin-i's.     Tail-feathers  ashy,  l)arre(l  with  alternate  pale  l)lack 


ml  white  l)ar.> 


)per  parts  o 


f  th 


breast  bu 


fl\-. 


ra\i 


di 


ich  feather  al 


)OUt 


featl 


ler  witn  a 


th 


the  neck  with  a  V-sliape(l  li^i-hter  area.      Uelly  rusty  l)utV,  trmisversely  liarred 
with  brown.     Sides  of  head  reddish  liuff,  crest  brownish,  each 
narrow  medial  stri])e  of  white. 

Accordiny;  to  Mr.   Llovd  their  call  no'te  sounds  soinethiii"'  like  a  lenu'th- 
ened  "chip-clun-r,  chip-churr;"   the  same,  only  more  rajjidlv  repeated,  is  also 


give 


n  w 


hen    alarmeil,    and  a  •■■uttural  "oom-oom- 


oom 


is  uttered   "hiM  wor- 


THE  SCALEn  I'AUTRIDGE. 


21 


•y, 

('. 
ill 
•ri' 

of 
■rs. 
l.y 

lial 

IH'k 
Dill 

rri'cl 
til  a 

M-th- 
iilso 
wor- 


rit'd  or  cliiiscd  l)y  n  lliiwk.  Tlu!  youn<^'  utter  ii  plaiutivc  "|)eq)-peep,"  very 
niiiili  like  yoimjjf  chickciis.  Like  the  rest  ot"  tlie  l'iirtri(l;re  tribe  tliey  are 
ahle  to  mil  alioiit  as  soon  as  liatclied. 

Mr.  \V.  II.  Colli),  of  Alim(|iuM'(iiie,  New  ^fexieo,  informs  me  "that  in  this 
part  of  the  Territory  this  species  is  a  sort  of  .seiiii-niif^rant.  The  <,n-eater  por- 
tion of  the  liinls  move  to  th(^  hijiher  me.sas  and  foothills  of  the  mountains  to 
hi'eed,  and  during'  the  eolil  weather  return  to  the  river  bottoms  where,  in  favtir- 
ahle  localities,  a  few  remain  tliron^hoiit  the  year." 

.Mr.  W.  K.  1).  Scott  found  this  species  in  >>Teat  alnindance  in  a  little  val- 
lev  west  of  tlu^  Santa  ('ataliiia  Mountains,  which  the  road  from  old  Camp 
(Jraiit  to  Tucson,  Arizona,  (-rosses.  Here,  ht^  says,  they  assoi'iated  with  Gam- 
liel's  (^uail,  apparently  on  the  most  friendly  terms. 

The  nuiiilier  of  e^jis  to  a  set  ranges  usually  from  nine  to  sixteen,  gen- 
erally aliout  eleven  or  twelve,  and  an  egg  is  deposited  daily.  Occasionally 
a  larger  set  is  found.  The  shells  of  these  <'ggs  are  very  thick  and  without 
lustre.  The  ground  color  varies  t'rom  a  \-ery  pale  creamy  white  to  a  pale 
Itiitf.  The  maikiiigs  are  sharp  and  well  delined  in  most  cases,  varying  from 
mere  jiiii  points,  scarcely  iierceptiltle  to  the  naked  eye,  to  the  size  of  No.  12 
shot.  These  sjiots  are  usually  round  and  of  ecpial  size,  and  pretty  evenly 
distrihuted  o\ci'  the  entire  egg.  ( )ccasioiially  a  set  is  marked  with  some- 
what more  irregular,  as  well  as  larger,  sjiots  or  lilotclies,  resenililing  certain 
t\pes  (if  eggs  of  ('i(l/ljiriilii  (/(iiiihili,  imt  these  markings  are  always  jialer  col- 
ored and  not  so  pronounced.  They  vary  in  color  from  a  pale  reddish  hrowii 
or  ocliraceous  to  a  vinaceous  liiitl'  and  fawn  color  in  ditferent  sets. 

The  averag(>  measurement  of  twent\ -eight  specimens  in  the  l'.  S.  National 
.Museum  collection  is  .S2.r»  l>y  2')  millimetres;  the  largest  ^"^|<;  of  the  series 
measuring  .">4  l»y  '21,  the  smallest  ."Jo.")  hy  .T)  millimetres.  In  .shajie  they  vary 
from  short  ovate  to  snhpyriform. 

As  there  is  practically  no  dirt'erence  in  the  eggs  of  this  species  and  of 
the  ("liestnut-hellied  Scaled  Partridge,  the  eggs  figured  as  typical  of  the  latter 
would  also  answ<'r  for  the  jiresent  species  un<ler  consideration.  If  there  is 
any  diU'ereiice  it  seems  to  Ix^  in  size  only,  and  even  this  is  donhtfiil. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  •i.'JKl,")  (IM.  1,  Fig.  4).  selected  from  an  incomplete 
set  of  six  i"^<<:^,  was  collected  i)y  First  Lieut.  11.  C.  iJeiison,  Fourth  Cavalry, 
V.  S.  Army,  near  Fort  lliiacluica,  .\rizona,  .Vugiist  (I,  iSSd,  and  rejiresents  one 
of  the  palest  coloreil  eggs  of  the  series. 

\o.  'i.'???)!  (PI.  1,  Fig.  o),  from  a  set  of  twelve  eggs  collected  hy  Lieut.  M. 
II.  Mariium,  Third  Clavalry,  V.  S.  Army,  near  Marathon,  Texas,  .June  22,  ISSl), 
represents  oik*  of  the  heaxier  marked  eggs  of  this  species,  and  the  remaining 
two  types  figure(l  under  tlu*  next  suli.species  are  still  better  marked  and  ivjire- 
seiit  the  extremes. 


•IS 

,11 J 


Ill 


22  I'll'"!'  inSTOIUKH  OK  NOKTIi  AMERICAN  BIUDS. 


10.     Callipepla  squamata  castanogastris  liKi'.wsi'i.K. 

ClIKSTMT-lir.LMKl)    Sl'AI.KK    l'Al{Tl{ll)(jr.. 

('iillijiflilii  N(iiiiniiiilii  (•(/.s7((//(/;/i(.s7/'/.v  Hkkwstkr,  Hiilli'tiii  Niilt.ill  ( )riiitlii)](>i;i(';il  (Muli. 

VIII,  .faiiiiiiiy,  ls,s:i,  ;14. 
(H— .  C—   H— .  C— .  U  -VXid.) 

OEOdHAi'HlCAi.  KANdK:    Lower  Kio  ( {liiiiili'  N'iillcy  ill  Texas,  s((utli  to  Sail  Luis 
P()ti)si.  castfi-u  iL'xicii. 

Tliis  wi'll-inarkctl  siilispccieH  is  easily  (listiii>>uisluMl  from  tlic  Scnlcd  Piir- 
tri(l}>'(',  hciiify  ii  iiiufli  riclicr  and  diirkcr  coldrcd  bird  tlian  tin-  latter.  Its  I'aiijic 
seciiis  to  \h',  a  xcry  restrictiMl  one,  and  is  continetl  to  the  L()\ver  Uio  (Jraiide 
Valloy  ill  Texas  and  eastern  Mexico.  It  lias  lieeii  taken  near  Fort  Jirown, 
Texas,  l>y  Asst.  Snrji'.  .lames  ('.  Merrill,  l'.  S.  Army,  wliore  it  is  rare,  and  it 
extends  northwestward  tVoiii  this  locality  at  least  t()  Ka^le  I'ass,  Texas. 
Aecordini^'  to  Mr.  (Jeor^c  M.  Scnnett,  tlu*  t'ootliills  of  tlui  Hio  (Jranih',  ahont 
100  miles  hack  from  the  coast,  mark  the  eastern  limit  of  this  l)ird. 

"Mr.  C  W.  Heckham  re])orts  this  snl)S|»ecies  from  Mineral  City,  ahout 
50  miles  northwest  from  ("orpiis  Christi.  Texas."' 

Accordinj;'  to  -Mr.  .F.  A.  Siii<4ley,  it  seems  to  l)e  very  common  about  Kiii;;- 
•I'old  Marracks  and  Uio  (iraiule  City,  Texas,  from  which  points  it  does  not 
extend  more  than  oO  miles  into  the  interior.  lie  reports  them  as  ahnndant  in 
tlm  hilly  country  near  Uio  (Jrande  ('ity,  anil  at  tlie  Las  (Jue\as  Uancho,  lo 
miles  south,  and  as  rare*  at  and  lielow  IIidal<ro,  Tt'xas. 

The  fi'eneral  haliits  of  the  ( 'hestnut-ltellied  Scaled  l*artrid<i(' as  well  as  its 
food  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  |)recedinf;'  sulispi cies.  Tlu^  matin<>'  and 
nestinj;'  season,  Iio\\e\('r,  commences  si>inewliat  earlier.  Full  sets  of  eji-gs  have 
been  taken  near  Uio  (Jrande  (!ity,  and  at  Camarji'o  on  tlus  Mexican  side  of  the 
river  op])osite,  as  early  as  March  11,  and  from  that  time  uji  to  .liily  10.  Two 
broods  are  un(|uestionably  i-aised  in  a  season.  .Mr.  Tliomas  II.  .lackson,  of  West 
Chester,  Pennsylvania,  ji^ives  the  average*  numi)er  of  ejijis  laid  by  this  sjiecies 
as  fifteen,  based  on  data  taken  from  twenty-seven  sets.  Tlu^  larj;'est  numiier 
found  in  on((  nest  was  twenty-three.  I  am  indel)ted  to  him,  as  well  as  to  .Mr. 
Georj'-e  U.  Sennett,  for  tlie  loan  of  a  number  of  sptM-imens  for  examination. 
Their  ne.sts  are  always  placed  on  tlu^  jiTound ;  a  .slight  hollow  in  tin*  sand  is 
scratched  out  by  the  liird,  usually  under  a  clump  of  weeds  or  jirass,  or  a 
prickly-pear  bush.  They  are  very  sli;iiitly  lined  with  dry  jirasse.s.  The  shape 
and  color  of  their  <'<i'ji"s  an*  very  similar  to  tliose  of  ('(illiiir/ilii  .sifiiKiiKita. 

From  th(i  iiian'rial  before  me  it  would  appear  that  mon^  of  the  ej>'^'s  of  this 
subsjiecies  are  jtlainly  ami  distinctly  spotted  than  is  the  casc^  with  the*  former,  and 
tliev  also  averaji'e  a  triile  smaller.  The  avenij^c!  nu*asurement  of  sext'iity-seven 
specimens  examined  is  ,'U  by  1*4  millimetro.s.     The  larjj-est  cj^'ji-  of  tlie  series  in 


"4^ 


'  I'ldri'i'diiins  ir.  ,S.  National  Miihimiiii,  Vol.  X,  If'ST,  p.  tiriti. 


THE  CUESTNUTBKLLIEI)  SCALED  PAUTRIDOE. 


23 


tlitf  II.  S.  NiitioiiJil  Museum  (•(illiictiou  lucasurcs  ;{4  l)y  2'),  the  snialli'st  25  by 
21  inilliinotri's. 

Tlio  tvpc  s])t'ciin("n,  No.  24021  (1*1.  1,  Fiji".  7),  selected  tnmi  i\  s«'t,  of  thir- 
teen e^'ji-s,  WHS  taken  .luno  21,  1H!I(»,  near  ( 'aniar<ro,  Mexico,  an<l  purcliased 
troni  .Mr.  Tlioinas  II.  .lack.son,  of  \Ve.st  ('iu-ster,  IVnn.sylvania. 

An  ei'j'-  (lifiured  on  I'l.  1,  Fi}>-.  (i),  from  a  set  of  Hfteen  collected  near  liio 
firande  (!itv,  Texas,  was  borrowed  from,  and  is  now  in  the  collection  of,  the 
ai)ove-mentioned  ••entleman.  'I'hese  two  e;;'j>s  represent  the  lieavier  marked 
typc^s,  others  res(Mnbl(^  the  two  (^}><>-.s  fiji-ured  under  the  precedin^i'  subspecies  so 
imuli  that  they  an*  practically  indistin>;'uisliable.  Si)e(^imens  marked  likts  the 
four  ejijis  (ij'nred  can  be  found  amonj;'  the  e^-;j,'s  of  either  sul)specie.s. 

II.     Callipepla  californipa  (Shaw). 

C.U.Il'OHNIA    I'AlMKIIXii;. 

Tilniiiralifoniiriis  ^UAW.  Naturalists"  Miscellany.  KiC  (?),  PI.  ercxi.V. 
(Jdllipeiihi  fiilifiiniicii  (ioriJ),  ^liiiiiiy;ra|ili  OdontDpliuiiiia',  ls.")0,  PI.  xvi. 

(H  AU.  V  :i!il.  H  4s-,'.  C  flr.-),  U  -i'M.) 


(iEO(il£AlMIKAI.  I{AN(ii::   ('(i.lst,  ICJjio 

uvcr  Island.  Hritisli  Coluniliia. 


California,  Oregon,  Washington,  and  Van- 


'V\ 


US  handsome 


mil 


viiown   western    a-ame 


bird, 


oominonlv    callei 


dh 


Valley  or  Top-knot  <.^uail,  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  coast  rejiion  of  California 
from  about  latitude  .'54^  northward  alou"'  the  coast  of  Oreji'on,  tlu^  new  State 


.f  Wi 


isMui"' 


ton,  ami  sonu;  of  the  islands  adjacent  thereto,  includini''  Vancouver 


Island,  British  ('olnml)ia.     In   Wasliiiij>ton  and  the  islands  of  I'u<>'et  Soinid  it 


was  ( 


iritiinalK'  inti'odnced,  howi^i^r,  and 


noneei 


naturalists  of  the  Northwest 


accoi 
st,    til 


iliii"'  to   Dr.  SuckleN',  one  o 


f  th 


IS  w 


as  first   doiu-    b\    (Jovernor 


Charles  II.  .Mason  and  Mr.  (Joldsborouyh  as  early  as  ISoT,  when  two  lots 
wer(!  turned  out  on  the  prairies  near  I'ui^ct  Sound,  and  by  tlm  followiufi' 
winter  they  had  increased   lai'i^cly.' 

I'rof  ( >.  I>.  Johnson,  of  Seattle,  Washin^iton,  states:  "This  species  is  very 
connnon  now  on  Whitiiy  Island,  in  INiji'et  Sound,  which  seems  to  be;  especially 
suitable  to  these  birds,  owiuji'  to  the  extensive  prairies  and  open  <.ak  ]iarks 
found  thereon." 


Th 


fii 


ite    h 


.h 


,tl 


launts    are    the    under;iTowtli    and    thickets   alon;;    water 


th 


courses,  brush-covered  side  hills,  and  canons,  freipieutinj;'  the  roads,  cultivated 


tields,  vmevanls,   an 


1    ed 


li'es  ot  ch'arintjs 


to  feed.      It 


IS  a   constant   resa 


lent. 


and  breeds  wherever  found. 

The  matiiiji'  time  conunences  early  in  .March,  sometinu's  later,  dejx'udinjf  on 
the  season.  Then  the  lai'jjc  jjacks  into  which  this  species  <iathei's  in  the  fall  of 
the  year  break  up  <;railually,  each  pair  of  liirds  selectin<i'  a  suitaitle  nestin;^'  site. 
In  tli(^  na>re  denscdy  settled  portions  of  California  this  I'artrid<>'e  is  by  no 
means  as  connnon   now  as  it   was  a  decade  aj^'o,  when   it   was  not  niuisual  to 


'  Mistiiiv  Nciilh  Aiiii'iinin  Hiids,  X^'A,  Viil.  Ill,  p.   I-I. 


24 


LIFK  HISTOUIKS  OF  NORTH  AMKKICAX  lUUDS. 


^ 


■I 


seo  ])a('ks  nunilK'riii;;  five  liimdrcd  and  more  tojictlicr,  \vliilt>  now,  at  least 
near  tlii^  larjicr  cities,  coveys  <'ven  of  lit'ty  l)ir(is  are  rarely  se(Mi.  In  local- 
ities where  not  constantly  harassed  and  inuited  tli(^  ('alif'ornia  l'artridj;e 
luH'onies  surprisinii'ly  tame  and  coniidiny,  in  fact  almost  doniesticatcMl;  and 
under  such  circumstances  many  nest  close  to  houses  and  outhuildinj^s  and  in 
the  shrultln'ry  of  ^'aniens  adjoinin<;  human  habitations. 

J[r.  Charles  A.  Allen,  of  Nicasio,  Marin  County,  California,  writes  me  as 
follows:  "I  found  a  nest  of  this  s|)ecies  undei'  a  hunch  of  >Snowl)erry  hushes 
(^Sifiiii)hi>r''((iriiits),  not  .'}()  feet  distant  from  my  house,  containing'  twenty-one 
efi'H's.  I  watched  this  nest  daily,  and  two  weeks  after  lindin^'  it  the  e}>'};'s 
hatched.  The  female  was  still  on  the  nest,  and  the  little  lieads  of  the  yonnj; 
were  |)ee])in<>-  out  all  arouml  her.  'riie\-  hecame  ^cry  tame,  ran  all  around 
the  yard,  and  took  hut  little  notice  of  tlie  meml)ers  of  my  family  when  ^oinji' 
ninon<>;  them.  1  think  tlie  average  nnml)er  of  ejij;s  laid  Ity  this  s|)ecies  is 
about  fourteen.  While  the  female  is  inciibatin<i',  the  male  usually  mounts 
some  old  stumj),  a  dead  lindi,  or  fencepost  in  the  vicinity  of  tiie  nest,  ami 
every  few  seconds  utters  a  lono-drawn  note  not  unlike  'wliaa-whaa.'" 

Mr.  W.  ( )tto  Kmerson,  of  Ilayward.s,  (!alifornia,  states:  "  I  have  never  known 
the  male  to  assist  in  the  duties  of  inculiation,  but  he  will  make  his  appearance 
twice  a  day  near  the  nestinj;'  site.  First  at  break  of  day,  when  he  ^^ives  his 
Ciill  note,  "kuck-ku,  kuck-ku;"  the  female  then  comes  otf  to  feed  an  hour,  ami 
the  same  is  repeared  at  dusk.  Durinj;'  the  past  sunnner,  ISSI),  I  found  a  nest 
of  this  species  in  a  ]tile  of  i>rush  in  the  chicken  yard,  and  in  May,  ISSO,  a 
nest  was  found  in  a  similar  sitnation,  witliin  If)  feet  of  (,ur  front  door.  Moth 
carriaji^es  and  persons  were  passing'  nearly  every  hour  witiiin  4  feet  of  this  nest, 
and  tlui  bird  was  fretnieiitly  distiu'lx'd,  l)iit  did  not  seem  to  mind  it  nnicii. 
Another  nest  was  i)laced  in  tiu^  short  ;.>i'ass  alouf^side  of  a  highway,  with  noth- 
ing at  all  to  <'onceal  it.  The  food  of  the  down\'  \dnni''  consists  of  insects, 
small  seeds  of  various  plants,  and  chickweed.  When  alarmed,  the  (dd  bird 
^ives  one  or  two  notes  of  warnin;.i-  and  tlies  away.  The  youn^',  when  still  too 
small  to  fly,  hide  (piickly  under  auythin;;'  in  tlie  shape  of  a  leaf  or  in  the  ji'rass, 
and  lie  close  to  the  ji'round  till  the  dauficr  is  passed,  when  they  are  calleil 
together  a^^'ain  by  the  |)arent."' 

The  nest  of  the  California  Partridp'  is  but  a  very  flimsy  affair  at  best. 
Any  place  alon<^'sid(^  of  a  rock,  lojf,  or  an  old  stinnp,  under  a  ])il<'  of  l)rnsh, 
snicall  bush,  or  a  bunch  of  weeds  or  j^Tass  will  answer.  ( )ccasionall\'  the  ejfj^s 
are  laiil  in  a  perfectly  o|ien  situation  without  any  attempt  at  concealment 
whatever,  and  now  and  then  a  hen's  nest  in  the  chicken  house  is  used  for  this 
purpose.  The  site  once  selected,  and  it  does  not  seem  to  be  a  dilHcult  matter 
to  please  them  in  this  respect,  a  slijiht  hollow  is  scratched  out  by  the  l)ird,  and 
this  is  spariuffly  lined  with  any  convenient  mati-rial  near  at  hand,  usually  bits 
of  "Tass.      As  incubation  advances   a  few  feathers  droo  from  the  settinjr  hen 


SI 


nd 


work  ni  anion 


IT  the  eji'jis.     These,    1    i)elie\e,   are  constantly   turned  and 

n    is    variously    stated    to   last   from 


ivarraujfed    from   da\'    to   da\-.       Incnbatio 


THK  CALIFOHNIA  PAUTUIDOK. 


26 


twenty-oiu^  t(^  twiiiity-cifilit  days.     I  l)elit'Vi'  tlin  lirst-iiu'iitioiu'd  iK'rind  is  nearer 


forri'i't. 


Mr.   WaltiT  E.   IJryant,    well   known   as  an  excellent  nrnitlidlofrist,  writes 
as  follows  reyrardinjj  .some   nnnsnal    nestin"'  sites  of  tlie  California    I'artid'fe: 


'!< 


asentiallv  a  <iTound-l»nildinj;'  specie 


lint 


several  cases  have  come  nnder  ni\ 


notice  of  its  nestin;;'  in  trees,  npon  the  npri^lit  end  of  a  broken  or  decayed  lind), 
or  at  the  intersection  of  two  lar^c  branches.  A  few  years  a^o  a  brood  was 
hatched  in  and  safely  c 'nducted  away  from  a  vine-covered  trellis  at  tlu*  front 
door  of  a  popular  seminary.  Mow  the  parents  mana^'ed  to  ^et  the  tender 
voun^'  down  to  the  ^ronnd  is  not  known."' 

The  youn^'  run  abont  as  soon  as  hatched.  Usually  Itut  one  brood  is  raised, 
occasionally  two.  In  the  latter  «'as(^  the  nude  takes  charge  of  the  youn^'  when 
they  are  about  three  weeks  old,  the  female  then  layin;;'  the  e^M.s  for  the 
second.  l)own\-  yonn;;'  haxc  been  observed  as  early  as  May  "JO  in  the 
southern  portions  of  their  ran^i'c,  and  some  broods  are  und(iubte(|ly  hatched 
still  earlier.  In  the  fall,  when  the  youn^  are  full  ^rown  and  ai)le  to  shift  for 
themselves,  they  collect  in  lar^c  jiacks,  a  nund)er  of  coveys  associating-  together 


untd 


sDrni"-. 


hev  are  much 


iver 


then 


I  and   more  dillicnlt  to  approach.     'I'Ik 


usual  call  note,  when  oiu;  of  these  packs  become  scattered,  is  a  rather  unnmsical 
"ca-ape,  ca-ape,"  the  last  .syllalile  drawn  out;  another  note,  like   "ka-knrdi 


IS 


so  used  on  such  occasions. 


1- 


rom  twe!\('  to  sixteen  ei 


seems  to  be  the  nvi'V; 


iiiiml 


)er  laid 


Th 


larp:e.st  number  founil  in  a  nest  of  which  I  have  any  ri-liable  receavl  is  tweiitx- 
one,  but  undoubtedly  more  are  occasionally  found  when  two  hens  la\'  in  the 
same  nest.  Their  ground  color  is  usually  creamv  white,  but  now  and  then  a 
decidedly  initf-colored  set  is  found.  The  markings  vary  from  fine  dots,  usiiall\- 
well  rounded  and  of  various  sizes,  to  irregular  outlined  sjiots  and  blotches  of 
dill'ereut  shades  of  dark  chestnut  brown,  olivaceous  draii,  and  ^dldeii  I'lisset, 
p'lierally  pretty   evenly   scattered   over  the  entire   eii'^'.      In   shape  and   thick- 


ess  o 


f  shell   tlie\'  rese:nble    the 


Ciiliiiii 


X   nrf/iiiKiinis. 


The  average  measurement  of  forty-ei^ht  specimens  in  the   V.  S.  National 
Museum    collection    is    .'i2    by  "Jo    niillinietres.     The   lar^'est  e^'^-  of  this  series 


measures 


a-)  I 


)V 


>(;,  tl 


le  snia 


llest  ;i<>  bv  24   millimetn 


Of  tli((  three  type  specimens  finurefl,  which  are  selected  to  .show  the 
variations  and  dilferent  styles  of  markings,  Xos.  ITU"-*'-'  and  •JIKH)  (from  the 
Meiidire  collection)  w(>re  obtained  lu'ar  Santa  Cruz,  California,  on  .lune  1.'$, 
1S74,  and  July  21,  1S77  (1*1.  1,  Fi^s.  s  nud   Id),  and  No.  2;5!I12  (I'l.  1,  Ki^-.  !)) 


was  taken   near    Ilavwards,  Calif 


oriua,  on 


.\niil    21,    1SS;{,   bv   Mr.   W.   ()tt( 


iiuerson. 


'  lliillctiii  Caliroi'iiiii  Acnileiiiy  of  tJuionvuH,  if,  1887,  p,  4ul. 


^f 


Lil'li  IIISTOUIES  OF  NOllTll  AMliUlCAN  lilKDS 


12.     Callipepla  californica  vallicola  ItiixivvAV. 

VAI.I.KY    I'AKTHIIKiK. 

L'uUipi'pla  vaUj'uniica  vaUiniln  lliixiw.w,  Prociu'iliiigs  U.  S.  Niitiuiwil  Museum,  viii, 

ISS5.  .•iflfl. 
(B  -.  (J  — ,  U  — ,  C  — ,  U  -ma.) 

Okikiraphical  KANOK:  From  wt'stcru  imd  soutlici'u  Oregon,  oxcept  nciir  the 
coast,  soutli  tlii'ouKh  wt'sU'i'ii  Ncvaila  iiinl  tlic  iiilurior  of  Cidil'oruia  to  Ciijn'  St. 
Lucas,  Lower  California. 

This  race,  a  ]iiilcr  iiiid  eraycr-coloreil  Itird  tliiin  the  prcccdiiifi;,  is  iiii  iii- 
liabitiiiit  of  tlic  drier  interior  valleys  and  I'ootliills  of  tiu'  mountains  ran^jin^' 
from  CajMf  St.  Lucas,  Lower  (California,  throu;,''liout  central  (/'alifornia  east  of 
tlio  C'oast  Han;i'e,  tliroui>li  western  Ore^i'on.  It  occurs  on  l)otii  sides  of  tlie 
SieiTa  Nevada,  at  least  as  far  north  as  the  head  of  <  )weirs  liiver,  and  east- 
ward to  the  western  border  of  Death  N'alley,  California,  where  1  met  with 
thi.s  subspecies  iu  lK(i7.  In  southeastern  ('alifornia,  accordinj;'  to  Dr.  Klliott 
Cones,  "It  reaches  nearly  to  the  Colorado  Hiver,  lollowinji'  alon;^'  flu;  course 
of  the  Mojave  to  the  .spot  where  it  sinks  in  the  desert,  then  meetiiiji'  the 
western  extension  of  the  ran^c  of  ('ullijicjiln  i/iiinlirli."' 

In  southwestern  ()re<>(>n  it  does  not  appear  to  occur  anywhere  on  the 
eastern  slopes  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  north  of  Fort  Klauuitli,  uidess 
recently  introduced.  It  is  common  in  the  upper  and  middle  ]mrts  of  the 
Willamette  Valley,  while  in  tlie  lower  j)art  of  this  valley  it  interj'Tades  with 
('iilliliclht  iiiVifiiriticd.  It  has  l)een  transplanted  to  I'tah,  in  the  vicit\ity  of 
<  >ji'den,  as  well  as  in  \arious  ])arts  of  Nevada,  where  it  is  now  found  in 
suitahli'  localities  aIon<i'  the  entire  western  l)order  of  this  State,  from  Car- 
son and  Reno,  alonii'  the  west  shore  of  Pyramid  Lake,  to  the  northern  end 
of  Wai-ner  Valley,  Orej^'oii.  It  is  a  resident  and  lireeds  wherever  found.  A 
few  years  aji'o  the  Valley  Partrido-e  was  exceedin<ily  abundant  al)out  Fort 
liidwell,  in  the  e.xtreme  northeastern  \v,\y\  of  the  State  of  California. 

Mr.  A.  C.  Lowell  writes  nu'  from  there  as  follows:  "These  l)irds  are 
unable  to  stand  the  seven;  cold  of  this  rejiion,  esp<H'ially  wluMi  acc()m])auied 
by  a  heavy  fall  of  snow.  In  the  winter  of  1S,S7-'.SS  about  "_'  feet  of  snow 
fell,  followed  l)y  three  very  sevei-e  ni^ihts  in  which  the  thermometer  reached 
2H°  below  zei'o.  This  killed  most  of  these  l)irds.  In  the  folloMinji'  fall  I 
heard  of  but  three  or  four  coveys  of  (^uail  within  a  radius  of  (iO  miles  ^vherv 
thousands  had  been  the  year  before.  They  ran^'e<I  from  the  north  end  of 
Warner  Valley  south  to  h'eiio,  Nevada,  and  were  especiall\-  numerous  in 
IhdValo  ('afion  and  alonji'  the  west  .shore  of  I'yramid  Lake.  They  were  very 
(•omnion  U])  to  the  sununits  of  the  Warnei'  .Mountains,  which  attain  here  un 
altitude  of  about  (!,()()()  feet,  thoui^h  the  Canons  ami  water  cours»'s  found 
aloufr  tlios«;  slopes  were  their  favorite  resorts.      I  havi;  never  seen  or  heard  of 

'Uinlsdl'  the  Noiiliwi'nl,  1,»74,  p.  440. 


*% 


TIIK  VAKLKY  I'AltTIMDCK 


27 


11  ntvt'\'  () 


r  these  (.^iiiiil  down  in  tlie  ciiltiviited  lieMs  of  tlie  valleys.      Here,  at 


least,  tliev  prefer  ti)  live  exclusively  on   tlie  Iti  iisli-coveied   liillsides.' 

'riiat  tlie  N'allev  Tartrid^'e  ditlers  very  iiiiieli  in  its  -jfenend  liahits  in  certain 
localities  lias  lun^^  lieen  known  to  iiie,  still  I  did  not  tor  an  instant  suppose 
that  I  would  meet  with  this  species  in  a  place  like  Kort  Klamath,  (he^jon. 
Anxoiie  at  all  acipiainted  with  these  liinls  would  certainly  not  Itxtk  tor  theiii 
in  this  localitv,  and  I  was  jjreatly  surprised  to  lind  a  covey  here  in  Novem- 
lier,  ISS-J.  TIk^  |iost,  situated  in  the  upper  Klamath  N'alley,  is  nearly  sur- 
rounded   liv   larjre    pine    forests.     In   winter  the    snowfall    is    liciierally    (piite 

heavv    and    the    summer    climate   is   varialile,    usually    < I  and   damp,    frost 

occurring'  sometimes  every  month  in  the  year.     To  make  sure  of  tlieii-  iden- 
tity   I    shot   two  of    these    birds,   and    found    them    plump    iiinl    in   excellent 


condition 


Til 


e  renianiiler,   a 


hoiit 


a    (|o/eii    I 


II    niimlier,  seemed   to  stand  the 


ivinter  well,  the  thermoineter  fallin;;'  more  than  once  cousiderahly  helow  zero, 
ind  in  tiie  summer  of  1SS;{  I  noticed  two  cove\s  of  halt-^rowu  hirds.     Tliev 


were  excessi\('Iv  sli\-   at   all    times,    iniii;:',  as   a    rule,   iii    the  more  open   pine 
timiier,    and    when    disturlied    tlviii"-    at    once    into    the    densest     "Towtli    of 


youn;4'    ) 


lines    and    liidiii"'    in    the    tree: 


never    saw    them    on 


th 


tl 


e    o 


meadow  oi 


\alle\'  lands.      1 


pen 


am   c( 


rtain   that  tliev   were   not   introduced    here 


and  as  tliev  ar(i  often  known  to  travel  loii^-  distances  on  foot,  I  lielieve  they 
ftdlowed  ii|)  the  waj^im  road  to  the  post,  and  this  eiidiii;^-  at  that  point,  they 
settleil    down    )iermanentl\-,  the   mountains    1)\-    which    the    fort    is    licmme(|    in 


jarriny:  a 


furti 


ler  ailvanci 


<  )n   the    lower   Klamath    l»i\cr  the\'  are  ci 


■nouj;li,    hut    the   character  of  the   country   is  (piito   flilVerent   there,   and   eiiii- 

le  said  of  the  localit\    where  the 


nt 


ntl\'  suited   to  these  birds,  which  can  not   1 


post 


IS  situated 


The  X'alley    I'arti'id^cs  found  alonji'  the  coast  in  southern  < 'aliforiiia  are 


ntermediate  between  the  two  I'aces,  while  the  birds  found   in    L 
lia  are  t\pical    Cnllijiriild  ((ilijiiniird   nillicdiii 


Calii; 


Jfr.  A.  \V.  Antlionv  write 


about  the  Lower  ("aliforiiia  bii'ds  as  follows 


I  found  the  N'allcv  i'artridy'e  ver\'  common  in  the  mountains  of  Lower  Cal 


•riiia,   nil  to  an   a 


Ititude  of  about   9,(Mio   t'eet.      Moth   ill   southern  and   Lower 


Calif 


ornu 


I 


told    b\-   the   Indians  and    native   .Mex 


leans 


that 


uurni<<'  ver\' 


dr\-  seasons  the  \'alle\   (,)iiail  did  not  iiest,  but  n 


d  in  larii'e  Hocks  durii 


tl 


le  entire  summer. 


Tl 


lis  statemeii 


t   I 


ble  to  \erif\-  b\'  iiersona 


1    ol 


lli' 


)ser\a- 


lioiis  (Uiriiiii'  the  summer 


1SS7.     T 


bir.1 


s  were  seen  li\    me  111  laru'c  Hocks 


lliroiijihoiit   the   spriiiji'  and   summer  months,  and  onl\'   two  or  three  broods  of 
youn^'  were  noticed.      Birds  taken   duriii;^-  April,   .Ma\,   and  .lime  showed  but 

Slltli- 

cieiit  to  insure  an  abundance  of  seeds  and  jiTasses,  the  coveys  bejiin  to  break 
iil>  early  in  .March,  and  from  every  hill   in   the  land   the  loud  challeii^i-e  of  the 


little  develi>piiient  of  the  ovaries.     Slaaild  the  winter  rains,  however,  b 


male   is  hearil.      Tl 


le  call   notes  < 


.f  tl 


lis  siHisiK'cies  a 


re  (iiiite  xarieil,  fre(|Ueiitl\' 


the  same  bir<l  clian^inj;-  his  call  six  or  seven  times  within  half  an  hour. 

".\  call  heard  fre(|m'iitl\'  diirinii'  the  nestiii"'  season,  and  \vhicli  seems  to  b 


I  challeiiu'e    from   the  male,  is   a    clear,  loud    'tliee-h 


ooo,    or     oiieli-ooo 


Cstr( 


w^ 


m 


^ 


28 


LIFE  IIISTOIMKH  or  NOKTII  AMKItlOA.N   IIIIM)8. 


lit'iii^'  ImhI  oh  tlic  lust  HvUiililf)  'riii.s  is  iismilly  iittcn-il  wlicii  tlit-  hird  in 
IxTt'llt'd  till  tint  toplMiist  lulic  III'  :i  Ciicliis  nr  dtlicl'  cniiiniilliilili;^'  |inillt,  ;lllil  is 
rcpoiitt'il  at  iuttu'vals  ut'two  or  ilncc  iniiiiilis  I'or  lioiirs.  'I'ln'  cull  from  tiic  iiuilc 
to  liis  Miutc  is  11  sot't-tiiiiiMl  'iili-wiili'  or  'iili-liooli,'  tender  and  (dear,  and  is 
li<'ard  diirin;^'  the  entire  nestin;,^  season.  'I'lie  alarm  note  of  liotli  sexes  is  a  I<im 
'(|iiit-(iiiit-(|nit,'  nsnally  uttered  as  tlie  Imds  ejnster  nniler  tlie  slielter  of  a 
iinsli  liefoi-e  tliey  he^iii  to  scatter  and  rmi;  and  it  seems  to  lie  ratlier  more  of  a 
discnssitin  as  to  tlie  extent  of  tlie  dan^rer  and  the  liest  method  of  avoiding-  it 
than  the  note  which  is  heard  a  moment  later  when  they  ha\'e  decided  that  the 
case  is  serious  and  re(|iiires  a  jirompt  retreat.  TheM  a  sharp  'chip-chip,'  or  'pip, 
pip-pip'  is  nttered  liy  each  liird  as  it  dashes  iorward  a  few  feet  liefore  taking' 
win;;  or  till  hidilen  in  the  nearest  inan/.anita  tlii(dvet.  Hy  far  the  nio.st  common 
call  at  all  seasons  is  one  resemlilin^'  'ci-ia-ho,'  repeated  t'onr  or  live  times, 
and  tlio  acrent  shifted  from  one  syllalile  to  another  as  suits  the  fancy  of  the  per- 
former. This  note  is  often  heard  when  the  co\c\-  has  lieen  snddeiiK-  surprised, 
and  sounds  very  much  like  an  an^ry  remonstrance  against  the  intrusion. 
Sometimes  when  the  covey  is  scattered,  or  the  old  liird  is  callin;^'  her  lirood 
together,  a  call  sometliiiiy'  like  'ca-raw'  is  used." 

Mr.  William  I'roiid,  who  is  (piite  familiar  with  the  lialiits  of  the  \'alle\ 
I'artrid^re,  writt-s  mo  from  Ihitte  ('onnty,  ( 'alit'ornia,  reoardinn-  them  as  folhiws: 
"Hundreds  of  these  birds  roost  every  iii^iht  in  the  shiMihliery  aioinid  m\  house. 
Some  of  them  ai'o  very  tame,  feedin;i'  anion^'  the  tdiickeiis  and  coming'  on  the 
veranda.  They  a]ipear  to  know  that  they  are  prote<'ted.  They  mostly  rodst  in 
thick  lirnsh,  and  on  tho  ground  when  the  hrush  is  not  at  hand,  in  early  .sea- 
sons they  hefjfin  to  jiair  in  the  last  week  of  Kein-nary,  liut  the  time  varies  some- 
what according'  to  tlai  season.  Unrin;.;'  this  period  there  is  consideraldc  fi^l;tin}>' 
amoiiji'  the  males  for  the  favor  of  the  coveted  female.  This  is  kept  up  until  tliev 
iire  suitalilv  mated  and  the  nesting  season  arrives.  This  nsiiallv  hejiins  here 
aliont  the  last  week  in  March,  when  the  ])airs  scatter  amon^'  the  shrnhiierv 
aloii^'  the  hanks  of  creeks  and  in  adjacent  I'avines,  aloUjH'  lied^c  rows  and  linish 
fent^es  and  on  the  borders  of  cultivated  tields.  The  earliest  nest  I  ever  found 
was  on  Mandi  15,  and  on  April  lo  I  met  youu^'  liirils  proiialily  a  coiiph^  of  davs 
old.  1  consider  foiu'teeii  e^'^'s  to  be  about  the  average  number  laid  1)V  these 
binls,  and  have  found  as  many  as  twenty-four  in  a  nest.  The  lar;.;e  sets  I  attri- 
bute to  other  lums  layiiiff  in  the  nest,  probably  youn^'  birds  vvliieh  have  failed  to 
niakti  ]ireparation  for  their  own  e^'^s.  ( )n  May  21  uiy  do;;'  pointed  a  \'allev 
I'artrid^'-e  on  her  lU'st  which  containeil  twenty-two  e;j';;'s,  and  every  one  hatclieil. 

"  Durin^f  incubation  the  male  is  very  attentive  and  watchful,  nsiiallv 
takin;.f  an  elevated  jiosition  near  the  nest,  where  \v  ith  crest  erect  and  tail 
spread  he  bids  defianc(f  to  all  intruders,  utterinu'  an  ott-repeated  '  whew-wliew- 
wliew.'  When  the  brooding;  hen  leaves  the  ye.st  to  feed,  slauild  he  be  absent 
from  the  post  of  duty,  her  cry  o\'  'tobacco,  toiiacco,'  very  jilaiiily  ^^iven, 
l»rin;rs  him  up  at  once.  In  fact,  their  call  notes  are  very  varieil.  I  fre(pi<'iitly 
heard    an    old    cock  call   out  at  niylit    '  ah-houh,   ali-liooh,'   iiie   (irst   note   in  a 


i 


low 


'Y' 


THl-:  VALLKY  I'AUTKIIKli;. 


99 


"Ah  huoii  hk  llic  ymm;;  iin*  liatt^liiHl,  tlity  iiimuiliiitcly  lciiv(*  tim  ncKt, 
kccpiii;;  iiiulcr  covcm"  mm  iiiiu-li  iih  posMildo.  SlioiiM  the  liiund  \h>  ilistiirlit'd,  the 
old  Itinls  will  rmi  niid  lliitfcr  ii1(iiim'  tlii«  n;r(iimd  ta  diiiw  tlu^  iittfiitiuii  til'  iIik  dtij(, 
(ir  wlialovcr  iiiiiv   liiivn   iVi'ililciu'd    ilu-ni,   In   iIiciiihcIvch  mid    iiwiiv   IVom   tlu' 


Vdll 


u<r.      ill  iiliuiit   tell  diiyrt  flifsi'  call  lly  a  slimt  dislaiicc.      'I'lit-  Valley  V 


ai- 


trid^i'i'  I'ci'd.H  (III  insects  and  tlie  yniiii;;'  and  leiiiler  leaves  oi'  clover  and  ;,'reeii 

•(•(Is;   ill  llie  fall  tliey  eat  wild  y;ra|ies 


1  lease 


atei 


(III  trfaiii  ami  varidiis  small  s( 


and  are  also  \<'i"y  |mrtiiil  to  the  seeds  ol'  ilie  aiiiaraiitli,  also  tlioso  <if'  Mcutzilia 
l((!i'ic<(itlis.  Here  only  one  iirood  is  raised  in  u  season,  and  incubation,  as  iiuiirly 
as  1  can  ascertain,  lasts  almnt  twenty-ei;;lit  days." 

The  nests  and  ej,';fs  ot'  tlie  \'alle\    l'artiid;;t!  are  similar  in  evia'y  respect  to 


tlume  of  file  (,'aliioriiia  l'artrid;i'e,  and  tlie  niimher  of 


nsnally  laid  is  about 


tlie  same.     Ill  soiitlierii  ( "alit'oriiia  tliey  ot'teii   nest  under  siinill   juniper  buslies 


ami  III  i>ri( 


•kl\ 


near  or  cai 


tiis  I 


atclies.      I'siialU'  lint  one  Iirood  is  raised,  but 


under  tavorable  ciri-uuistances  two  are  not  uiicomiiioii.  .Mr.  .Vntliouy's  state- 
ment that  the  N'alley  l'artri(l;;e  does  not  iicNt  in  exceptionally  dry  sea.soiis  in 
portions  of  its  raiij^e  has  been  fully  verified   by  me  through  other  observers, 


and  appears  to  be 


a  well-estalilislied  fact. 


None  of  the  ei,''i,'s  of  this  I'artridge  are  lifiiired,  as  they  ar*-  iiidistiii;.,'iiisli- 
able  from  those  of  the  preceding;'.  A  nuinber  of  the  e;i'gs  from  ( ^ajie  St.  Lucas 
of  this  subspecies  avei'a;;(^  a  trille  smaller  than  (Jalifornia  and  Oregon  spuei- 
inons,  reducing  the  average  measurement  soiiievvhat. 

Sescnty-si.'i  .speciineiis  in  the  II.  S.  National  Miiseiim  colliM-tion  average  31 
l»y  "J  I  millimetres.  The  largest  egg  of  the  series  measuring  [i\  by  2.'),  the 
Hiiiallest  '2H  bv  -«5  inillimt'tres. 


13.     Callipepla  gambeli  (Xirn\u.i.). 


(lA.MllEI.  .s    I'AinUIDdK. 


Ijopliiirhir    cjniiiliili    "  Nl'TTAl.l. "    (lAMTiKl..   I'roceediiigs  Acadciny  Niituriil  Sciences, 

Phiiii.,  isi:i.  -ido. 
(^itllipi iiloiidiiihcii  (U>VIAK  Mim()i;ra|pli  ()iloiiti)|ilii)i'iiia'.  1S,")().  I'l.  XVII. 

(H  i:.-..  V  -m,  \i  ts;{.  c  'i:n,  u  -iuo.) 

OKO(iitAi'H!t:Ai,  UAN(iK.  Nort  li wcslei'ii  McKJcd  iiinl  (roiit ii^iious  portions  (if  Uiiitc(l 
States  from  wtislorii  Toxas  to  sdulluirti  California,  north  t(j  soiif  hern  Nevada  and  south- 
ern Utali. 

Tli(»  home  of  this  graceful  and  interesting  species  includes  that  ])ortion  of 
.southern  (Jalifornia  commonly  known  as  thi!  "(ireat  American  Desert."  Here 
rSambers  Partridge  reaches  the  most  western  point  of  its  range,  near  Sail 
Gorgouio  Pass,  in  San  Heruardiuo  County,  California,  where  it  overlajis  that  of 
the  Valley  Partridge  and  hybrids  an;  f(Uind;'  thence  it  ranges  ea.stward  through 
Arizona  and  tlio  greater  part  of  New  Me.xico  into  western  Texas.     'J'o  the  north 


m 


'Auk,  Vol.11,  1H«5,  p.  847. 


so 


LII'K  lllSTOltlKS  OF  NOUTII  AMKKIOAN  1UUD8. 


it  is  toiuul  in  soutlMvostcru  Utah  iind  the  Doutli  Valley  r('<jri<)ii  of  snutliprn 
Nevada,  as  wt'U  as  in  parts  of  northern  Now  .Mo>ico,  wliere  Dr.  C  .J.  Newborr}-, 
jr.,  tni't  with  it  a  few  mile  south  of  Santa  Fe.  South  it  extends  into  western 
Mexieo.     It  is  a  resident,  and  breeds  wherever  foiniil.' 

In  southern  Arizona,  alon^  the  valley  of  the  (Jila  Hiver,  it  used  to  l)e 
exoeoilinjifly  abundant  before  the  day  of  railroads,  and  is  yet,  I  presume.  In 
those  days  Gambel's   I'artrid^je   was  one  of   the  most   pleasinj;  si<;fht:<  to  the 


earv  traveler  over  Arizona's   hot  and  dustv   plain 


w 


statrnant  water  holer 


1' 
ivere  few   iuid   far  In'tween 


IS,   wliere  snrni"s  and  even 


an( 


1   stretches  of  oO   miles 


ittl 


0  srame 


without  water  were  not  unusuid.  The  presence  of  these  handsome 
birds  always  indieateil  tliat  this  nmch-needed  tluid,  poor  as  it  often  mif^'ht  be, 
was  not  far  ot^',  and  this  cheered  yun,  for  which  reason  alone,  if  for  no  other, 
their  appearance  was  doubly  welcon 


X 


umerous  we 


alou"- 


th 


pr 


incipa 


hifjhways  ai\d  railroails  have  chan^'e(l   all    this   n()w,   and   a    jdurney  throu}>h 
Arizona  to-dav  has  lost   alxmt  all   its  terrors,  and  can  be  made  in  compara- 


tive condbrt  and  even  lu.\ur\-. 


ipi 


For  one  of  the  most  ex(|uisite  pieces  nf  word  paintiuff  of  Arizonn,  as  it 
a|)pcared  thirty  \  iirs  a<fo,  and  at  tin*  same  time  ^ivin^'  an  exceediuf^ly  interest- 
in};  and  accurate  .'count  of  the  life-history  of  (linnbel's  Partridi^e,  I  refer  the 
reader  to  an  article  in  the  Ibis  of  .Fanmny,  ISfK!,  entitled  "Field  Notes  on  Li)^)h- 
ortjix  f/(iiiilirli,  l)y  Flliott  ("ones,  .M.  I).,"  which  will  not  fail  to  prove  attractive 
to  the  most  critical  observer.  Concerninj;'  the  relative  alamdam-e  of  Gambel's 
I'artridjie  in  Arizona  at  |>resent,  Mr.  IIeri)ert  Hrown,  of  Tucson,  writes  me  aa 
follows:  "Tliere  is  no  diminution  in  their  numl)ers;  if  anytiiin};,  they  have 
nndtiplied  in  proportion  to  the  extent  of  increased  cidtivation.  I  hav'3  l)een 
told  that  some  farmers  on  the  Salt  and  Gilii  Rivers,  al)out  Florence  and  Phtenix, 


loi.soneil 


tl 


u'Mi  MS  ii  nuisance,  and  m  a 


me  bill,'   introduced  in  the  Arizona 


lejiislature  in  issf),  Partridges  had  to  be  .stricken  out  from  protection  before  the 
bill  could  pass." 

Wheri'ver  water  is  found  Ciamljel's  Partridj^e  is  common  thvoufi'hout 
southern  .\rizona  up  to  an  altitude  of  r),0(l(»  feet;  and  in  Xew  Mexico,  Mr. 
W.  II.  ('ol)b.  of  Ali)U(iuer(pU',  informs  me  of  meeting  with  young  tledglings 
in  the  pine  forests  jit  an  altitude  of  S,(K»o  to  '.t,()(>0  feet,  in  1S72  I  f(mnd 
this  species  very  alnmilant  near  my  camp  on  Kiliitto  Cri-ek,  the  present  shv 
of  Fort   Lowell,   7  miles  northeast  of  Tucson.      During  the  winter  and  e.n'ly 


si)rmj>'  covi'vs  c 


>f  tl 


lese  Ou'ds  nnii 


ht   b 


•icen 


ilmost  (biilv,  feeding  and  dusiini: 


tlarnseKcs    in   tlie    immediiitc   vicinity   of    my    ciimp.    inid    especially  on    th 


w;i"' 


on  roads  leiiding    to  it.     They    freipiented  thi'se   mostly 


and  occasioujillv  m  the  evenings 


tl 
tile  birds  scratchiui;  al)out  in  th 


le  mormnu-s 


dust 


mi-- 


th 


lemselves    like   domestic 


fowls.     Tl 


ley   appeiired    very   socitinle,   at 


■■.\]\i 
i>l( 


and 


were   constantlv   calliu"-   to    each   otlirr   as   llie   scattered    covev   moved   from 


'  I.iriit.  1{i>1pi>'  C.  Van  Vlii't,  T.  S.  Anny,  telU  mi'  lliitt  hr  tiiiMl  to  iiitr-iiliiiK  tlii»  Hpcoii'H  in  tlio  viciiiily 
of  Kdi't  t'liiiiii,  N'i'w  Mrxiii),  llbrratiiiK  lifty  of  iIiuhh  liirilNin  I'ldiriiiiry,  l-'^'l.  Tlicy  nil  ilixappeHroil  wlllini  a 
year.  Vhu  liircl.t  mot  wilb  liy  Ur.  Newburiy,  uoar  .Sauta  tV,  may  have  liooii  stragglerH  or  deuouuJaulB  of 
tbh  lot. 


OAMBEL'S  l»AUTUIl)(JE. 


Si 


iliifc    to   plncc. 


TIlis  iiott!  ivstMnl»li'(l  tlio  <;riuitiiijr  of  a   siickin;,''   pifi'  more 


than  aiiytliiuf;-  vUv,  ami  it  is  ratlu-r  (lilliciilt  to  rcprodmc  tim  exact  sound  in 
print.  Any  of  tlic  folIo\vin<>'  syllal)l<'s  ivsemlilcs  it,  "4Uoit,"  "oit,"  "wort," 
nttc'rtMJ  rapidly  l)nt  in  a  low  tone.     During;  tlio  m.uin^-  and  hrocdinjr  soas<>n, 


the   f 


oriniT  ('(nnmi'niMn<j 


nsualiv  in  the  latter  part  ttf  Keltniary,  tlic  latter 
altout  tlie  lirst  week  in  April  and  occasionally  later,  iccordiii};  to  the  season, 
the  male  fre(piently  utters  a  call  like  "yuk-kiie-ja,  yuk-kiie-ja,"  each  syllable 
distinctiv  articulated  and  tht^  last  two  somewhat  drawn  <mt.  A  trim,  hand- 
some, and  proud-lookinji'  cock,  whose  more  sond)er-colored  mate  had  a  nest 
close  Ifv,  used  an  old  mes(piite  stump,  about  4  feet  hij;h,  and  not  more  than 
■_'0  feet  from  mv  tent,  as  his  favorite  perch,  and  I  had  many  exc.'Uent  oppor- 
tunities to  watcli  iiim  closely.  .Standiu};:  pert'octly  erect,  with  his  beak  straight 
up  in  tlie  air,  his  tail  slightly  spread  and  winj;s  somewhat  droopina",  he  uttered 
this  call  in  a  clear  strou"-  voice  evi'rv   few   minutes  for  half  an  hour  or  so,  or 


until   disturlied   l)v  somethiu"',  an( 


consider  it  a  cal 


.f  .•! 


lalleu'i-e  or  ot  exu 


d   tl 
f 


US  lie   reiH 


dtat 


ated 


severa 


ion,  an( 


I  it 


was 


1   ti 
take 


mes  a  day 


u 


"1 


)  usua 


I 

11 V 


bv  an\'  otiier  male  in  the  vicinity  at  the  time.     Durinji-  the  matin<r  season  th 


males 


iiji'lit  each   otlu'r  |) 


■lis 


tenth',  and  the  victor  defends   his  chosen   h 


affainst  intrusion  with  min-h  valor.     It  is  a   pleasin<i'  and  interestinji-  sijrlit  to 


watch  the  male  courtmy  his  ma 


te,  uttering-  at  tlu-  time  some  low  cooiim-  notes, 


an 

int; 


il  strnttiiiii'  around  the  i-oy  female  in  \\u\  most  stately  manner  po.ssible,  bow- 


his  I 


lead  aiK 


1  iiiak 


ill"- 


his  olx'isance  to  her,     While  a  handsome  l)ird  at  all 


times,  he  certainly  looks  his  liest  during'  this  love-iiiakin^'  jieriod.  The  alarm 
note  is  a  sharji  discordant  "criier,  criicr,"  several  times  rajiidly  rei)eate(l,  and 
is  usiiallv  uttered  liy  tiie  eiilir<*  covey  almost  simultaneously.  Altliou^i'h  they 
nested  aliunilantiy  in  close  proximity  to  my  camp,  I  saw  but  a  sinjrle  brood 
of  birds  that  were  probalily  not  iiiori^  tli.iii  a  day  m-  two  old.     Small  as  tlie.st* 


til 


ie\-  nevertheless  managed   to  run   am 


1  hide 


■kl 


e   so  (piickly  m  the  under- 


th 


arnwtli  in  which   I  found  them   that   1   failed  to  catch  one  for  clos^'r  examina- 


tion.    The  lien  tried   to   dr 


iw    me   away 


b 


he    usua 


1    d 


evices, 


am 


1   si 


lOWlMl 


coiisidcralile  anxiet\'.  lialf-jirown  binls  were  much  more  freipieiitlv  met  with 
liy  me,  and  not  until  lliey  are  well  able  to  tly  do  they  make  I'xcursioiis  in 
the  more  open  country,   awiiy  from    the    tangled 


<h 


,ll 


undertrrowlli   ami    vnu'-cov 


creil    chaparral    of  the    creek    liottoiiis.     'riu'ir    food,    like   that  of    tlit^    other 


snecies    o 


f   tl 


IS    <;-ellUs, 


consists  i>{'  insects   of  various   kinds,  es| 


lecialiy  "rrass- 


loppers  and  ants,  small  seeds,  j^rain  when  obtainable,  the   tender  leavi-r  ami 


buds  ot' 


leiiMimuioiis   plant 


aiK 


1    I 


lerru's. 


th 


rlv  f 


and   winter  tliev 


pack,   and  from   two  to  five  hundred  may,  at   times,  be  met   with  on  favorite 
fe»'dinji'  <:roiiiids. 

Diirinji'  the  intense  heat  of  the  .Vrizoiia  summers  (Jambers  (^)iiail,  like 
most  other  bird.s,  prefers  to  nniaiii  in  the  shady  and  cool  spots  in  the  creek 
bottoms,  fre(piently  perchiiifi:  in  the  trees,  and  I  believe  the  majority  of  these 
birds  sjiend  tlui  nijilits  in  them  as  well.  They  take  to  trees  very  readily  at 
all  times.     The  nestiiiji-  .sea.son  of  1S7l*,  «'ompared   with  subsecpient  ones,  was 


nyiT 


w 


32 


hU'lO  IlISTOUIES  OF  NOKTll  AMKKICAN  151111)8. 


I 


ail  uimsuiilly  liiti'  one,  and  tliouj^li  I  searcluMl  caretully  for  tlu*  nosts  of  tliis 
81)eck's  (luriu<jif  both  April  and  May,  I  faik'd  to  lin<l  a  singK-  onu  heforo  May 
21).  Tliis  contained  ten  fresh  e<f<fs.  Durinj;'  June  1  found  a  number,  liow- 
(fver,  also  two  in  July,  and  one  as  late  as  Au<(ust  17.  I  belio\<?  two  broods 
are  re<fularly  raised  in  a  season.  In<'ul)ation,  as  near  as  1  was  able  to  learn, 
lasts  from  twenty-one  to  twenty-four  days,  and  does  not  begin  until  all  the 
eggs  are  laid,  and  these  are  deposited  daily. 

The  nest  of  (Jambel's  Partridge  is  simply  a  slight  oval-shaped  ludlow, 
scratched  out  in  the  sandy  soil  of  tiie  Imttom  lands,  usually  alongside  of  a 
liunch  of  "sacaton,"  a  species  of  tall  rye  gras.-*,  the  ilry  stems  and  blades  ot 
last  year's  growtii  hanging  down  on  all  sides  of  the  new  growth  and  hiding  the 
nest  well  from  view.  Otlu-rs  are  |)lace()  under,  or  in  a  j)ile  of,  Itrush  or  drift 
i)rouglit  down  from  tlu^  mountains  l)y  freshets  and  lodged  against  some  old 
stump,  the  roots  of  trees,  or  otiier  obstructions  on  sonu^  of  the  numerous  islands 
in  tlm  now  dry  creek  l»ed.s,  refreshing  green  spots  amid  a  dreary  waste  of  sand. 
(It  is  perhaps  as  well  to  mention  that  niiuiy  of  the  .so-called  cri'cks  in  Arizona 
are  drv  for  about  ten  months  of  the  year,  the  water  sinking  below  the  sand  foi' 
a  foot  or  or  two,  l)ut  running  Itelow  this  through  the  coarser  gravel,  digging 
Iteing  necessary  in  order  to  reach  it.)  These  so-called  islands  are  alwa\s  «'ov- 
ered  with  a  luxurious  vegitation,  and  it  is  in  this  that  most  of  tiie  Partridges 
nest.  According  to  my  observations  only  a  comparatively  small  numlter  resort 
to  the  cactus  and  yucca  covered  foothills  and  nu'sas  some  distance  back,  where 
the  nests  are  usually  placed  under  the  spreading  leaves  of  one  of  tlu-  latter- 
named  jilants.  If  grain  tields  are  near  \>y  they  nest  sometimes  amidst  tlic 
grov.ing  grain  in  these,  and  sluudd  the  latter  l)e  surrounded  l)y  l)rush  fences, 
these  also  furnish  favorite  nesting  sites. 

Among  the  nests  oltserved  l»y  me  two  were  placed  in  situations  al)o\-e 
ground.  One  of  these  was  found  .Fuue  '2  on  top  of  a  good-sized  rotti'U  willow 
stump,  about  'J.l  feet  from  the  gnuuid,  in  a  slight  decayed  dei»ression  in  its 
center,  which  had,  perhaps,  been  enlarged  by  the  liird.  The  eggs  weri'  laid  on 
a  few  dry  cottoiiwood  leaves,  and  were  partly  covered  l»y  these.  Another  pair 
appropriated  an  old  Uoad-runner's  nest,  (rcocixrifr  ciilifnniiinnis,  in  a  mcsipiite 
tree,  about  o  feet  from  tlic  ground,  to  which  apparently  a  little  additional  lining 
ha<l  been  added  by  the  bird.  The  nest  containi'd  f«'n  fresh  eggs  when  found  on 
June  27,  is 72. 

Mr.  Herbert  Hr(»wn  found  a  pair  of  tiiese  birds  occupying  a  newly-made 
nest  i»f  a  Palmer's  Tin'asher,  IfiiriiniiniiicliiiM  riiniro'>tri'i  ftdliiicri,  in  which  sexcn 
eggs  had  lieen  deposited.  'I'his  nest  was  placed  in  ami  near  the  top  of  a  cholla 
cactus  al)out  4  feet  from  the  ground,  lie  says:  ".\Iy  tirst  im])ression  was 
that  an  Indian  had  prolialily  placed  them  then',  but  I  was  soon  convinced  to 
the  contrary,  as  I  foimd  it  impossilde  to  get  my  head  near  the  nest  without  (irst 
breaking  down  a  part  of  the  cholla  with  the  barrels  of  my  gnu.  The  eggs  were 
fresh  and  finely  marked."' 


< 


i 


'  KorcHt  1111(1  Strt'iiiii   June  4,  1885. 


GAMHEL'S  PAltTRIUGli;. 


33 


Hinls  rcsortiiifj  to  ii('«tiii<j'  sito.s  in  tnn's  or  cacti  liavc  iindoubtt'dly  lost  tlicir 
('{i-irs  or  small  youii<i'  on  t'oriiu'r  occ^asioiis,  and  learned  from  oxperiuncc  that 
such  a  situation  is  in  many  ros|K'cts  a  safer  one. 

Durinji'  the  nesting;-  season  of  IST'J,  I  found,  upon  a  second  visit,  that  sev- 
eral iiu'oniplete  sets  of  ef^ji's  helonj'inji-  to  tliis  species  had  Iteen  destroyed  or 
removed.  The  numerous  larjjc  snakes  of  various  kinds,  especially  the  rattle- 
snake, nuist  be  counted  amon;>-  tlie  worst  of  their  enemies. 

On  one  occasion  1  found  a  (landiel's  Partridf^e's  nest  in  the  sidc^  of  a  saufl- 
l»ank.  A  portion  of  this  had  JH^en  washed  away  by  a  former  freshet  and  a 
sod  of  yTa.ss  havinj>-  l)een  undermined  thereby  fell  over  it,  beiujf  stid  firmly 
held  in  place  by  its  roots.  The  bird  had  scratched  out  a  hole  in  the  sandy 
l)ank  l)ehiu<l  this  sod  and  depositcul  her  ej;};s  therein,  and  it  appeared  to  me 
to  be  an  extremely  well-selecteil  nestin<f  site.  It  proved  othi-rwise,  however, 
for  a  few  days  later,  when  passinjjf  by  the  spot  a<fain,  1  put  my  hand  in 
the  cavity,  the  contents  of  which  were  not  visil)le  without  raising  the  .sod,  i 
came  in  contact  with  somethin<j  cold  which  I  at  iirst  supposed  to  be  a  snake; 
and  lu'ing  curious  to  sin*  what  it  really  was  and  not  aide  to  dislodjri^  it,  I 
raised  the  sod  witii  a  stick  and  found  a  laud  terrapin  takinjif  its  ea.se  in  tiie 
nest,  y.ii  the  sijin  of  an  ejij;'  remained,  neither  were  any  Itroken  shells 
visil)le  Whether  tiie  rejjtile  had  eaten  the  e<"<>s  or  not  I  was  unable  to  de- 
citK',  IS  I  found  no  remains  of  them  in  the  stomach.  That  reptiles  of  various 
kinds  are  not  adverse  to  an  v<>-<<;  diet  is  shown  l»y  the  tollowinf>'  instance 
kindly  furnished  by  Mr.  Heritert  Urown.  A  (Jila  monster,  //cloilfniid  s/fs- 
pcrtiim,  had  lieen  caujiht  alive  near  'i'ucson,  Arizona,  on  Aja-il  14,  IHbO,  and 
was  placed  in  a  packinji'  liox  for  safekeepinf;-  over  nifflit.  Next  morning  Hve 
eggs  were  found  in  the  l»ox  with  tlie  occupant,  'i'wo  of  these  were  forwarded 
to  UK'  for  identification   l)v   .Mr.    lirown,  who   wished  to  know    if  thev  were 


tl 


le  eggs 


of  tl 


ns  rei) 


itih 


or 


of  (iandiel's    I'artridue,   1 


le  8unmsui;f   the   latter 


'i'here  was  no  difficulty  in  solving  this  problem,  for  the  shells  of  the  eggs, 
although  consideraldy  injured,  plainly  showed  the  peculiar  markings  of  the 
egg  of  (JandH'I's  I'artriilge,  and  even  the  shapi-,  leaving  no  possilile  doubt 
that  they  were  the  product  of  one  of  these  l)irds  and  not  of  the  (iila   mon- 

allowt'd   them  whole  on  the  day   it  was  caught 


ster,  wincfi 


had 


1  tVi  > 


l)abl 


\-   sw 


and 


th 


uowu  tnein  ui>  durm"-  the  inu' 


th 


•ht. 


•1 
The  nests  of  (Jambel's  Partridge  are  liii' d  usuallv,  but  very  sliglitlv,  with 


Itits  of  di-v  grasses  or  leaves,  and  often  c  ■    -in  no  lining  whatever. 


U 


ving  on    the   <lrv,   sandv    soil.     Tliese    usuallv    numl»er    from    ten  to  twelve 


in  a  set,  but  occasionalK'  doul)Ie  these  nundiers  are  f 


tiunil,  whic 


are  untpies- 

tionably  the  product  of  more  than  one  hen.  1  havi-  several  times  found 
ordinary-sized  sets  placed  in  two  layi'rs,  one  egg  on  top  of  the  other,  the 
cavity  being  in  smdi  cases  deep,  narrow  and  lot  rounded. 

A  set   found   iiy  me  .luiU'  '20,    IS72,  contained   nineteen  fresh  eggs,  evi- 
dently laid   l»y  two  different  birds,  as  the  eggs  sliowed  two  radically  different 
2(i!ir»7— Mult.  1 3 


I  '• 


84 


LlFii  UlSTOltlKS  OF  JJOUTH  AMliKlCAN  BIRDS. 


*  ■■■* 


I 


autl  distinct  types  »»t'  niiirkiiif's.  Tlit'so  were*  likewise  pljiced  in  two  Ifiyers. 
In  tlu!  hot  Gila  River  Vjilley  in  suntliern  Arizona,  nidification  eoniiuences  in 
some  sensons  by  the  middle  of  Mnirli. 

^fr.  John  Swiidmrne  informs  me  of  lindiii;i'  a  fnll  set  of  ej><fs  on  March  lit, 
near  IMuiMiix,  in  Maricopa  (*onnty.  In  the  vicinity  of  Tncson  tliey  lay  some- 
what later,  '^riio  earliest  <late  at  which  ejj'^is  of  this  species  have  hoen  foimd 
there,  act-ordin^f  to  the  observations  of  ,\[r.  Hrown,  is  April  4,  usnally  ab(»ut  the 
latter  part  of  this  month  and  the  bejiinnin<i'  ot^  -^'ay,  the  nestin;i'  season  con- 
tinninji'  into  .\njinst  and  sometimes  even  to  September. 

The  e^jfi's  of  (Jandjcl's  Partridi^'e  are  short  ovate  in  form,  and  the  ^iionnd 
color  varies  from  a  dnll  white  to  a  creamy  wiiite  and  pale  buff  color.  The 
e^;;s  are  spotted,  clonded,  and  blotched,  sometimes  wvy  heavily,  with  irrejiidar 
niarkin<>s  or  blotches,  and  aj;ain  with  well-detined  and  ronnded  spots  of  dark 
seal-brown  and  ecrn  dral».  DifVnsed  over  these  Idotches  is  fomid  a  pecnliar  pnr- 
plish  or  pinkish  i)loom,  difHcnlt  to  desci-ibe,  rest'nd>liii;;-  somewhat  the  rich 
l)loom  fonnd  on  bine  <;irapes  and  \arions  kinds  of  phnns  when  first  picked. 
These  markin<;s,  when  touched  by  watei-  or  moisture  of  any  kind,  chan<;'e 
radically,  becominji'  seal  brown,  or  chestnut  l)rown  of  diU'erent  shades,  accord- 
inji'  to  the  varialde  amount  of  pifiinent  on  the  shell  of  the  e^<r.  Carefully  Idown 
specimens  will  retain  this  pecnliar  l)loom  for  years,  and  some  ejjfjfs  collecte<|  b\- 
me  and  now  deposited  in  ihe  l'.  S.  National  Mii.s«'um,  one  of  which  is  fijiured, 
show  this  as  jtlainly  to-day  as  when  they  were  first  taken,  fully  ei^ihteeii  years 
ajro.  K^i'fi's  of  ('(lUipritlii  f/KiiihcH  are.  as  a  rule,  moi-e  lusivih'  sjiotted  than  those 
of  the  two  California  l'artridji:es,  and  the  color  of  the  markings  in  the  majoritv 
of  specimens  is  decidedly  dillerent.  Tiie  jteculiar  ji'olden  russet  shade  so  often 
present  in  tlie  e}i<;s  of  the  latter  is  almost  entirely  wantinjj:  here,  and  is  replaced 
by  darker  and  more  bluish  l)rown  tints. 

The  axcraf^e  measurement  of  ninety-seven  specimens  in  the  C  S.  National 
Museum  collection  is  ;{I.."»  l)y  "J 4  millimetres,  the  larf^est  e^fi'  of  the  sei'ies  nieas- 
nrinj;'  .'U  ity  '_'(!,  the  smallest  "JS..')  l>y  2\  millimetres.  The  ty|)e  specimens,  Xo. 
U;4H0  (IM.  I,  Fi;;-.  11),  selected  from  a  set  of  ten  e^j:s,  taken  .lune  14, 
1S7"2,  and  No.  2111(!.  two  coos  .selected  from  a  set  of  nineteen  (I'l  1,  I''ij;s.  l.'{ 
and  14),  one  showin;^'  the  i)ecnliar  Itloom  before  mentioned,  and  the  other  a 
decideil  difference  in  the  style  of  markinj^s,  taken  dune  \!0.  |.S7'_>,  near  Hillitto 
('reek,  Arizona  (Hendire  collection),  were  found  ity  the  writer.  No.  2.'{0.'<S  (I'l. 
1,  Fifi'.  12),  from  a  set  of  ten  ejij^s,  was  taken  by  Mr.  Herbert  Hrown  at  the 
Lajiuna,  near  Tucson,  Arizona,  May  ID,  isyy. 


I 
I 


I 


* 


TUH  MASSENA  PAKTiaiKiE. 


86 


14.    Cyrtonyx  montezumae  (Vkiors). 

MASSKNA   PAKTUlDCiE. 

Orli/.r  mnnlrzinmv  ViooRS,  Zoological  Jouriml,  v,  IHIJO,  -,'15. 
('i/iioiii/.r  iiionhzainai  Ste.inkoek,  Auk.  11,  Jaimary,  lx«">,  t''. 

(B  477,  (J  ;m,  It  ■tsA,  c  r,7s,  u  -.".mi.) 

GEociRAPHicAl^  HAN'OE:  Wost(!ni  iiiiil  ('(mtr.il  Miixii'o,  from  Maziithiii  iiiul  valU'y 
of  Mexico,  north  to  western  Texas,  New  Mexico,  and  Arizoiiii. 

Tliis  lifuulsoinc  iiiid  peculiiirly  marked  I'artridfje,  hotter  kiinwn  in  west- 
ern Texas  as  tlie  "Hlaek"  or  "  MIaek-l)e!lied"  Quail,  and  in  Ari/,oiia  as  the 
"Fool"  Qnail,  inlial)its  the  r(»ui;h  mountainous  rej^ions  of  the  last-nientiontid 
Tenitoiv  nortli  to  at  least  the  vicinity  ot"  Fort  \Vhi|ti»le,  wliieh,  as  tar  as 
known  at   present,   marks   the   western    limit  of  its    ran;i-e,  and  where  it  was 


lirst  obtained  l)v  the  well-known  ornithologist,  Dr.  Flliott  Cones.  Thence  it 
extends  eastward  throujih  New  .Mexico,  north  to  al)out  latitude  .'{(i^,  where 
('apt.  William   L.  ( !ar|K'nter,  Ninth   Infantry,  U.  S.  Army,  observcMl  it  in  the 

Taos.     It  is  also  found  in  suitable  localities 


UDDcr 


Uio   (' 


ranue 


Vail 


ev,  near 


in  tlu^  interveiiinj;'  country,  in  a  southeasterly  direction,  thronjihont  portions 


of  western  and  southwestern  Texas.     .Mr.  Dresser' 


l)tii 


(1 


s  specnneii,  oDtamed  in  tlie 
Handera  Hills,  al)out  40  miles  northwest  of  San  Antonio,  marks  about  the 
most  easterly  known  point  of  its  ran^(\  Accordinj>'  to  ,\[r.  William  Lloyd, 
it  ran;i-es  south  from  the  Llano  Fstacado  an<l  mountainous  rej'Mons  of  west- 
ern Texas  to  tile  Sierra  .Madre  .Mountains  in  Sonora,  Chihuahua,  and  Sinaloa, 
and  the  mountains  in  Jalisco  in  northwestern  -Mexico,  inhal)itin<>'  regions  from 


an 


altitude   of  4,()0(>   to  !•,()<)(»  feet.     In   the   le.s''.  elevateil    parts  of  its  ran 


mi 


it  is  a  constant  resident  and  breeds,  but  at  tlie  hij^her  altituch's  it  is  onlv  a 
summer  visitor,  retiring;'  to  the  lower  footinli.s    )n  the  approach  of  winter. 

Althouji'h  sixty  years  have  passed  since  the  ^^assena  l^artridf^e  was  lirst 
dcscrllied  i»y  \'i<;'ors,  nothing;'  absolntidy  relial)le  was  known  about  the  nest 
and  e^'^s  of  this  i)ird  up  to  the  season  of  ISIM).  Not  a  sinjile  ])ositivelv  iden- 
tified eeij'  was  to  lie  found  in  any  of  the  larji'er  and  well-known  oiilof^'ical 
collections  of  the  country,  and  u|)  to  the  time  of  tliis  writing-  no  description 
of  them  has  i)een  iiultlished.  Tliis  is  rather  remarkaiile  when  tlui  extensive 
ran<;c  which  this  species  occupies  within   our  borders  is  consid(>red,  and   also 


the  fact  that  in  many  localities   it   is    by    no    means   rare.     N* 
Massena  l'artrid"-e,  next  to  the  l-esser  Prairie  lien,  7 


rtl 


evertlieless 


the 

)liii}i(i)iii(lnis  i)iil/iiliriiirfii.% 


is  still  one  of  the   least-known  jiame   bii'ds  of  the   llnitecl  Stat< 

.Mr.  William  Lloyd  writes  me  from  Marfa,  Texas,  that  "the  favorit<' 
resorts  of  the  Mas.sena  l'artrid;i.;-e  are  tiie  rocky  ravines  or  arrovas  that  head 
well  up  in  tin'  mouiUains.  'I'liey  tpiicki\-.  however,  adajtt  themselv(^s  to 
chanyetl  conditions  of  lite  and  are  now  to  I 


ite  seen  arouiKl 


til 


e  rauclies  iiii 


inji'   up  jii'ain  and   scratchin<j:   in   the   tields.     In   the   vicinitv   of    Fort    Davi 


flrt»' 

i 

if 
1 

11111 


86 


LIFE  HISTOK1E8  OF  NOUTH  AMERICAN  lUltlKS. 


Ti'xas,  tlioy  liiiv('  been  cxccptioiiiilly  nuincroiis  mikI  lUiiy  tVcfjuciitly  l)o  soon 
Hittiiijif  on  the  stouo  wiills  siUTouiuliu;^  jiTiiinlu'lds  in  Linii»i!i  (!an(»n.  In 
Moxico  I  liavo  soon  tlioni  several  times  livinj^-  (•ontenteilly  in  oaifos.  In  Mos- 
quito (^ifKin  tliov  are  tlio  only  l'artii(l;io  t'omul,  ami  in  Juno  and  July,  18H7, 
I  spent  sumo  time  tiler*'  tryinji'  principally  to  locate  tlio  nest  and  ojijj^s  of 
tliis  species.  I  i'ound  a  sinj;le  e;^';^'  in  a  de])rossion  at  the  roots  of  a  tasaca 
caotus,  presumably  liolonjiin;^'  to  this  species.  It  was  wliito,  without  any 
markinfi's  whatever.  While  there  I  was  intorinoil  by  two  ditVoront  parties 
livin;>-  in  the  vicinity  that  each  of  them  had  found  a  nest  the  previous  year, 
1SS(),  coutainiiifi'  eiji'lit  anil  ton  o^-^^s  rospoctivoly,  whicii  they  had  eaten. 
They  descril)od  tlio  oju'^s  as  bein;;'  wliite  in  color.  Moth  said  that  the  nest 
was  simply  a  slijjht  liollow,  one  under  a  small  shin-oak  bush,  the  other  alon;;- 
sido  a  .sotol  ))lant.  The  call  note  of  this  l)ird  is  a  low  nuu'nnn'iny-  whine, 
more  like  that  of  tlio  rock-stpiirnd,  .S'.  firiiiiiinKnis,  than  a  bird,  and  it  can  bo 
hoard  (piite  a  distance.  I  can  not  imitate  it  in  syllables.  riiey  are  very 
fond  of  acorns,  moimtain  laurel,  ar))Utus,  cedai',  and  other  berries,  and  raufi'o 
in  coveys  from  oi;iht  to  twelve." 

('a|>t.  I'latt  .M.  Thorno,  Twonty-socoiid  Infantry,  IT.  S.  Army,  writes  mo: 
"I  found  the  Massena  I'artridji'e  common  at  l)i)th  Forts  M(d\avett  and  ("lark, 
Texas,  wheri'  they  apparently  liked  the  same  kind  of  ji'romid  as  the  Texan  Hob 
White,  yet  the  lines  of  their  habitat  seem  mysteriously  restricted  for  somt;  rea- 
son. Can  it  lie  that  their  food  is  peculiar?  All  tlus  stomachs  I  have  oxamined 
(fall  birds)  contained  little  else  than  lar^c  (piaiitities  of  white  shiny  bullions 
roots,  rounded  at  iioth  ends,  and  aliout  the  size  of  French  pease.  I  roj;'rot 
now  that  I  novel-  forwarded  any  of  these  roots,  that  it  mifi'ht  be  dotorminod 
what  they  were.  You  are  aware  how  well  thost?  iiirds  are  adapted  to  scratch- 
inj;-  and  I  have  an  idea  that  this  root  fo<id  mifiht  account  for  their  restricted 
distriliiitiou.  I  also  found  them  abundant  on  a  divide  near  Nueces  Hivor, 
but    I    never  snw   any  within  20  miles  of  the    liio  (Jrando." 

laont.  b'obert  ('.  Van  Vliet,  Tenth  Infantry,  IT.  S.  Army,  also  mot  with 
the  Mas.seiia  I'artridjie  in  western  Texas  jmd  northern  Now  Mexico  (Fort 
rnion),  usually  alon^-  the  sides  of  rocky  ravines.  He  tells  me  that  tlmy 
were  fairly  comimni,  and  that  their  food  (at  least  durinji'  the  fall  and  early 
winter),  consisted  almost  entirely  of  a  small  an^i-ular  brownish-lookin<i'  bulb, 
with  a  white  kernel,  the  ro<it  of  a  short  j^rass,  their  crops  containin^i'  scarcely 
anything;'  else  oxcoiitiiij;'  small  partiides  of  ^raNol.  Ho  often  saw  whoro  tluiy 
had  sci-atchod  <nit  holes  to  the  dejitli  of  2  inches  in  search  of  these  roots, 
and  such  evidences  were  always  abumlant  in  localities  froipiented  by  those 
birds.  Their  call  note  is  a  dear  "dsiup-chiur"  He  rarely  saw  coveys  con- 
sistin^f  of  more  than  eijiht  birds.  Polecats  seem  to  lie  one  of  their  principal 
enemies. 

( 'a|it.  William  L.  Carpenter,  V.  S.  ArmV,  states:  "I  have  oliservetl  this 
s|iecies  in  the  Wio  (Jrando  \'alle\',  near  Taos,  \ew  .Mexico,  and  more  fre- 
(luontly  on  the  headwaters  of  the  Mlack  and  White  Rivers,  whoro  it  undoubt- 


% 


THE  MASSKNA  PAKTltlDGE. 


91 


edly  breeds,  and  I  liiivc  often  looked  tor  their  nests  unsneeesst'nlly.  In  tlie 
snrinjy  luid  snninier  tliey  lire  usimlly  toinid  in  pairs;  the  l)alanee  of  tlie 
year  tliey  ran<;-e  all  throufiii  tlu*  White  Mountain  re<;ion  of  Arizona  above  an 
altitude  of  4,(MK)  feet,  in  coveys,  lait  these  are  never  mnnerous,  and  usiudly 
snail  in  size.  They  are  |»rol)ai)ly  njore  sui)jeet  to  the  attacks  of  preilatory  ani- 
mals than  anv  other  species,  owinj^-  to  their  contidiu}''  disposition,  which  has 
•I'iven  them  the  nanu'  of  'Fool'  Quail.  I  onct^  stopped  my  horse,  when  about 
to  step  on  one,  and  watcluMl  it  tor  some  time  without  creatinj'-  alarm.  After 
admiring:  it  for  several  moments,  sipiattin}"'  clo.sc  to  the  ;>round  within  a  yard 
of  the  horse,  and  watchinj--  me  intently,  i)Ut  apparently  without  fear,  1  dis- 
mounted, and  almost  cau^iit  it  with  my  hat,  from  under  which  it  Huttered 
awav.  The  tli<iht,  which  is  remarkaldy  rapid,  is  accompanied  by  a  peculiar 
cbickin;;'." 

According;"  to  .M'-.  John  Swinburne,  of  St.  .John's,  Apa«'he  ('ounty,  Ari- 
zona, the  favorite  localities  freipK-nted  i)y  this  species  duriu}>-  the  l)reedin<i' 
sc^asoii  are  thick  live-oak  scrui)  and  patches  of  rank  "^rass,  at  an  altitude  of 
from  7,tMtil  to  !l,00()  feet,  lie  says:  "  Here  they  are  summer  residents  only, 
desci'udin;;'  to  nnich  lower  altitudes  in  winter.  They  lie  very  close  at  all 
times,  allowinji' one  to  almost  step  on  them  licfore  they  move.  1  have  seen  this 
species  on  the  White  .Mountains  durinji'  the  breedinj>'  season,  and  saw  yomiji' 
birds  of  the  year  shot  there.  I')ven  the  adidts  seem  very  stupid  when  sud- 
denly flushed,  and  aftei'  tlyin^-  a  short  distance,  alijiht  and  attempt  to  hide 
in  most  consjticuous  places.  1  have  seen  men  follow  and  kill  thi'Ui  liy  throw- 
in<i'  stones." 

.Ml-.  K.  W.  Nelson  writes  me  as  follows:  "Tn  Septendu'r,  lHS-_>,  I  fiumd  this 
bird  rather  couuuoii  near  Chloride,  and  Kair\iew,  New  .Mexico.  Old  birds  with 
lialf-^rown  youn^'  were  found  late  in  the  afternoon  each  day  in  the  roads  lead- 
ing;- down  the  bottoms  of  open  l»rush-l)ordered  canons  that  extend  down  the 
flanks  and  foothills  of  the  Mlack  Uanjic  in  this  vicinity.  A  small  stream  was 
usually  found  in  these,  which  disap[»eared  in  the  sand  a  mile  or  two  below  on 
reaching;- the  open  barren  country. 

"The  Massena  l'artridf>'es  were  connnonly  f'oinid  dustin<i'  themselves  in  the 
roads,  and  usually  stood  and  watched  our  approach  until  we  were  within  a  few 
yards,  and  then  flew  into  the  ixtnlerin^i'  thicket  and  laid  very  close.  When  a 
co\ey  nas  sin-prised  amoiiji-  the  <rrass  they  arose  .-it  our  feet  and  scattered  in 
every  direction,  Itut  never  went  very  far,  ami  while  llyinji'  off  they  would  utter 
low  notes  of  alarm,  soimdinji-  like  'chiik-chiik-chiik.'  I  also  found  them  not 
uncommon  in  the  Santa  Rita  .Mountains  of  southern  Ariziuia  in  ,liilv,  1X,S4.' 
Here  they  occupieil  the  li\('-oak  i)elt  below  the  lower  limit  of  the  pines.  On 
the  nia-theastern  slopes  of  the  White  Mountains,  near  Sprinji-erville,  Arizona, 
a  pair  has  raised  a  brood  durinji-  several  successive  seasons  at  the  lower 
edo-e  of  the  pine  forest,  at  an  altitude  of  about  7,r»0(»  feet.  After  the  voiinj'- 
are  hatched  they  are  often  led  up  amonjj-  tla;  pines  to  an  altitude  of  iietween 
H,UOU  and  !>,00(l  feet,  where  I  have  seen  them. 


m 


^"Hl 


w 


'  i'  ,'£Jiil.«-« 


ill 


88  lilFE  HISTOUIKS  OF  NORTH  AMKBICAN  BIRDS. 

"The  birds  Invediii};  alon<!:  tho  niHtluTii  limit  of  tluMi'  lial)itiit  iniffratc 
soutliwanl  ii.  OctiiiKT.  lit  soiitluTU  Arizinia  tlic  saiiu^  rt'sult  of  a  wariiicr  wiii- 
t»'r  rliinato  is  olitaiiicd  i)y  dcsciMidinj;'  tlu^  Hanks  of  tlui  mountains,  'I'iic 
sunnuer  nui^o  of  this  species  is  just  ahove  and  l»or(h'rin<>'  tiiat  of  (lamliel's 
Quail  in  parts  of  Arizona  and  New  Mexico.  The  fact  that  (Jamliel's  Quail 
chanifes  its  ranfj^e  liut  little  in  winter  results  in  tiiese  hirds  heinji'  found  v«'ry 
fre(|uently  occupyiu};'  the  same  ground  at  this  season.  1  liave  never  seen  the 
Massena  l^artrid^e  in  coveys  lar}>er  than  would  lu-  attriliuted  to  a  pair  of  adults 
with  a  small  hrood  of  yoiui<i'.  Kre(iuently  a  pair  raise  hut  three  or  four,  ami  I 
do  not  renu'Uiber  having'  ever  seen  more  than  six  or  seven  of  the.se  birds  in 
a  covey." 

Personally  I  met  with  this  species  several  times  in  the  footliills  and 
cafions  of  the  Santa  Rita,  Pata^yonia,  and  iluaciuu-a  .Mountains  in  ,><outhern 
Arizona  in  the  early  part  itf  Auj;ust,  IS?-',  wiiile  scouting-  after  hostile  Indian.s, 
but  had  no  tinu'  then  to  study  tiieir  habits  nor  to  look  for  their  nests.  A 
small  covey  of  younj;-,  less  than  half  j>T(»wu,  were  seen  l)y  ine  on  Auj^ust  14 
in  a  canon  of  the  l*ata<>'onia  Mountains,  about  12  miles  from  ( 'am|)  ('rit- 
teiulen,  and  an  addled  ejij^-  was  picked  U))  from  an  abandoned  nest  under  a 
small  yucca  in  the  .same  vicinity  i)y  one  of  my  packers,  whose  attention  was 
drawn  to  the  jdace  by  seeing-  several  l)roken  e^j,'  shells  lyiu""'  about  the  yucca, 
and  dismountinji'  to  investi^iati*  he  found  the  ej'j''  under  the  bush  and  con- 
ceiiled  by  it,  wiiicii  he  handed  to  me  .some  two  hours  atU'iward.s.  The  nest, 
lu?  saiil,  was  within  o  teet  of  the  trail  I  had  previously  pas.scd  over.  While 
not  absolutely  certain  of  the  identity  of  this  (■;>•<>■  I  always  felt  cimtident  that 
it  beloufi'ed  to  this  s])ecies.  and  sini-e  I  have  had  an  opportunity  of  examin- 
in;^-  the  ejz'^i's  taken  duriiij;'  the  season  of  \A'.)()  I  have  no  further  (hiubf  of  it. 
'i'iie  ejiji'  in  (piestion  is  ovate  in  sliajx-,  ditlcrinj;'  in  this  respect  from  all  the 
eji-ji-s  of  the  <>'euus  ('uliiiiis  1  have  ever  seen,  wliicii  are  usualK'  rounded  o\ate, 
or  subpyritorm.  The  ('<••;••  is  pure  white  in  c(dor,  tiie  shell  is  smooth  and 
(dose  <>rained,  and   it   measures  ;{'i  i)y   'Ili  millimetres. 

Mr.  ( )tho  (!.  I'oliu"'  writes  me  that  he  founil  the  Massena  I'artridjfo  in 
parts  of  the  Whetstone,  tiie  Santa  Rita,  I'ataji'onia.  and  lluachuca  Momitains 
of  southern  Arizona,  where  they  were  fairly  common,  lie  says:  "l)urin<>- 
most  of  tlie  year  the  .Massenas  remain  in  coveys  of  from  four  to  a  dozen  liirds 
in  niunber,  and  even  at  tlu^  heiji'ht  of  the  nestiufi'  season  I  have  several 
thiu's  found  coveys  of  half  a  <lozen  to<retlier.  while  I  have  siiot  pairs  in 
the  month  of  Kel)niarv. 

"On  .Iinie  \'2,  lS!l!»,  I  shot  a  female  and  foiuid  a  fully  devidoped  t'trrr 
in  her  ovidu<t  which  would  have  been  laid  soon.  It  measures  ."Jo.")  b\  2") 
millimetres,  and  is  pure  white  iu  color,  in  another  female,  shot  tlie  same 
da\',  the  o\ary  contained  small  ova  al»out  the  size  of  No.  <i  siiot,  whi(di 
would  not  have  been  lai<l  tor  some  weeks,  '  On  .luly  lo  1  found  my  first 
productive  nest.  1  was  climbin^i'  up  a  steep  mounlain  side  on  the  northeast 
ot   the   lluachuca   .Mountains,   some   10  miles  iiortli  of  the  lita-der,  when  at  an 


4 

A'' 

I 


I 


I 


TIIK  MA88KNA  PAKTUIDdK. 


39 


olcvntion  of  nlmut  H,000  fret  I  fluslicd  tlic  female  iilmost  directly  under  my 
feet  iiiid  hliot  it.  'I'lie  liillside  was  eovered  in  places  with  i)atcli('S  (if  pines 
and  aspens,  us  well  as  with  low  hushes  and  jjrasses.  Tlu*  nest  was  directly 
uufler  ii  dead  limb  which  was  <>Town  over  with  dead  j^rass,  and  so  <'oni- 
pletelv   hidden  that  until    1   had    removeil  the  lind)  ami  some  of  the  "^Tass  it 


was  lit 


.t  (1 


iscerni 


l)l( 


at  a! 


lie   nest   was   sunken    ni   the   <{Tounu,  and  com- 


posed of  small  {{Tiws  stems,  arched  over,  and  the  bird  could  only  ent«'r  it  hy 


lon^i'    t 


around  it. 


unni 


1    leadiiifi'  to    it    from    under    the    limh    and    the   <^rass  j>Towin^- 


Tl 


e  ey"s   were  eijf! 


ht 


ui  n 


umber  and  natiirallv   white,    but    tliev 


w 


ere  liadlv  stained  l»y  the  damp  j;ronnd,  their  color  bein<>'  now  a  brownish 


,liit( 


'I'l 


lev   were    ahiiost    h 


Itch 


ten 


lale    inns 


t    1 


lave    remainei 


on 


tl 


lein    al 


tiie   time   to   lia\e    caused    such    uniform    incubation   and   preserNcd 


'tpoili 


bv  tl 


le  excessne  (laniiiness. 


"<)n  .Inly  27  1  met  with  a  female  and  brood  of  aiiout  a  dozen  youii;^. 
The  entire  family  was  in  view  when  I  at  lirst  saw  them  crossing;'  an  old  trail. 
They  at  once  entered  some  dense  bushes,  and  I  faileil  to  ca|)ture  or  even  see 
anv  of  them  ajiaiii.  The  yonn<;'  were  piolialily  about  a  week  old.  On  Au<>iist 
.'51   I  discovered  another  brood,  about  a  dozen   in  nnmber,  which   were  but  a 


i\'\v  davs  out  of  tin 


-t. 


seciireu  one  o 


.f  tl 


le   Nouii"'  w 


hicl 


I  must  have  lieeii 


hat 


th 


ith 


clied   lat«-  in  the  moiitli 
Mr.  <>.  W.  Todd  writes  me  as  follov 


"1  first  met  with  the  .^^asseua  Par- 
tridji'e  in  Handera  County,  Texas,  in  l.ss.'5,  where  they  ver\  scarce,  and  1 
learned  but  little  of  its  haiiits  for  a  loii}''  time,  'i'l 
luisiispicious,  and  appan 


lev  are  verv  simple  am 


itlv  Ii 


•h 


I'll  I 


ive  so  iiiiK  Ii  in  such  harreii  aiiit  waste  places 


that 


tliev  do  not  see  eiiou^ili  of  man  to  make  them  afraid,     (hi  seeiiif''  a  person  tlie\' 


Th 


l^cnerally  sipiat  at  once,  or  run  a  little  way  and  liidt 

until  one  is  almost  on  them,  imt  when  tlie\'  linallv  do  llv  tliev 


■v   will  hardlv  tiv 


than   either  the  Texan    Mob  White  (a-  the   Scaled    i'artridt 


;o  mile 


fnrtl 


ler 


tl 


ley  run  ra] 


H< 


llv  f. 


d  tl 


(',  and  on  ali<>;litin<'' 


or  a  little  ilistance  and  then  sipiat  a<>ain,  jjcnerallv  flushii 


ili' 


easier  tli(*  second  time.      It  is  rare  to  see  more  than  six  toj^-ether;   t\\^>  or  tlin 


are  mon*  often  met  with,      in  the  fall  of  l.SH(;  i  found  a  cov 


ev  of  live  on  a  wet 


and   misty  day,  and    kllleil   three  of  them  with  a   \\'incliester   ritle   before   the 
remaiiiiiifi'  two  tle\\ .     i  never  found  their  nest  nor  met  with  small  N-oun"-  until 


this   vear. 


i 


saw 


but  a  siii'-le  \oiinii-  bird  th 


IS  season,  and 


tl 


IIS  seenuM 


1  t.>  b 


entirely  aloiie.  'I'liey  are  not  very  abundant  here,  and  are  alwavs  found  in  the 
most  barren  phn-es,  amon;^'  rocks  and  wastes,  where  even  the  prickh'  pear  is 
stunted,  and  no  bush  ;^tows  over  .'5  feet  liifi'Ii.      When  scared  tliev  utter  a  kind  of 


wliistlin<i'  sound,  a  curious  ciaiioination 


bet 


ween  a  ( 


hucklt 


e  and  a  wliistN 


am 


will 


md  le 


le  Hyiii^i'  they  make  a  noise  a  j>dod  deal  like  a    iVairie  ileii,  tlioii<'h  softer 


loud,  lik 


e  'cliuc-cliuc-chiic'  rapidh'  rejieatei 


"The  only  nest  of  this  species  i  have  ever  .seen  was  situated  under  the 
edjic  of  a  bi<i'  bunch  of  a  coarse  specie  of  jirass,  known  as  'hickorv  >ira.ss.'  'i'his 
ji'rass  ^Tows  out  from  the  center  and  Iianji's  over  on  all  sides  until  the  blades 

roiiiiil,  hard-stemmed  j^rass,  and  only  m-ows  on  the 


toll! 


h  tl 


le  "round 


It  i^^ 


40 


LIFK  IIISTOllIKH  OK  NOKTII  AMKItlCAN   lUUDS. 


it^ 


most  storilo  soil.  AtH-ordiu^  to  mv  oliscrviitiitiis  tlic  MnsHcim  I'arti'iiljrt^  \n  scMoin 
seen  in  other  lociilitics  tluiii  when*  tliis  ;>'niHs  ;jro\vs,  I  wfin  n(liii<f  iit  a  walk  \i\> 
tlic  slopn  of  a  liari'cn  hill  whrii  my  hors(*  almost  stcpitcd  on  a  nest,  toiicliiiiji' 
just  tho  rim  of  it.     Tla*  bird  fjavc  a  startled  flutter,  ali^htiu},'  ajjain  within  li 


feet  of  the  nest  ai\d  not  over  (i  feet  fn 


im  me 


Meiice   sue  wn 


(Iked 


away  witli 


>}' 


her  crest  slif^-htly  erected,  uttering-  a  low  chiicklinji'  whistle  until  lost  to  view 
Itehind  a  Spanish  bayonet  plant  (yucca),  aiiout  .'5(t  feet  oH".  I  was  ridinjf  a 
rather  unruly  horse,  and  had  to  return  alxiut  ilo  yards  to  tie  him  to  a  ymca, 
Itefore  1  could  examine  the  nest.     This  was  |)laceil  in  a  sli<iht  depression,  pos- 


si 


l>l 


V  fiujr  o 


)\'  some  aiumal 


rtl 


earth  aroun( 


.S1V( 


Iv,  tl 


ut   I 
I  it.     It 


the  tl 


.f  tl 


H'  n<'s 


t  lieiu"'  on  a  level  with  th 


was  we 


linecl  with  fine  stalks  of  wire-yrass  almost  exclu- 


H'  cavi 


MMUjr  a 


l)OUt 


')  inches  in  diameter  and  2  ini 


lies  d 


cell 


At  th 


hack,  next  to  the  <irass,  it  was  slijihtly  arched  over,  and  the  overhanyiiifj'  blades 
of  {i'rass  hid  it  entirely  from  sijiht.  The  nest  was  more  carefully  made  than  the 
averafi'e  Hoh  White's  nest,  and  very  nicely  concealetl." 

The  e>ijis,  ten  in  nundter,  were  fresh  win  n  found,  jture  white  in  color, 
rather  <;lossy,  and  th<'  majority  of  them  are  more  elonjiated  than  those  of  the 
Molt  White.  A  few  of  these  ejf<,''s  resemble  thoso  of  the  latter  somewhat  in 
siiape,  but  the  ;^reater  number  are  distinctly  ovate*  and  nnich  more  jjlos.sy. 
Sol 
die  t 


lie  are  slinlitlv  "ranulated,  and  corru"'ations  converji'e  from  near  tl 


le  niK 


I- 


o  the  small  end. 

This  set  of  e<i';is  of  the  Masseua  Partridge  is  now  in  Mr.  Thomas  II.  .lack- 


son  S  C( 


illecti 


on,  a 


t  West  Chester,  Peimsvlvania,  who  has  kindiv  allowed  me  to 


examine  tlmiii  and  lifiiire  one.  They  were  taken  Ity  Mr.  (i.  W.  Todd,  near  the 
head  of  Turkey  ('reek,  in  Kinney  ('ouiity,  Texas,  dune  22,  tSltO,  and  are,  as 
far  as  I  am  aware,  the  first  fully  ideiitiiied  ejiji's  of  this  s]iecies  that  have  lieeii 
found. 

Mr.  Todd  has  kindly  sent  me  a  cou]ile  of  skins  and  stomachs  of  these 
birds.  The  latter,  accordin;>'  to  the  rejiort  of  Dr.  ( ".  Hart  Merriam,  in 
cliar;i'e  of  the  Division  nf  ( >riiitlioloo-y,  l'.  S.  Deiiartmeiit  of  Ai^riculture,  eou- 
taiued  principally  cactus  seeds  (^()j)inifi(i),  a  few  liits  of  cactus  prickles,  a  lot 
of  finely  }>roimd  \-e^etable  matter  with  a  trace  of  insects,  and  a  lar^^c  amount 
of  coarse  sand,  mainly  iron  ore. 

veiau'e  measurement  of  the  ei^lit  ejifi's  fomiil  b\'  Mr.  Poliii".''  is  .'52  b\- 


Tl 


le  a 


24  millimetres.     The  largest  ejiji'  of  Mr.  .lackson's  set  measures 


;;;i  i 


)V 


a  niilli- 


uu'tre.s. 
ill 


lis  is  fiuiu'eil  on   IM.  1,  Fi"'.   1;'»,  the  smallest  measuriutf  JMt  bv  'j.liJ> 


nillimetres;  thev  average  lil.')  bv  24  millimetres. 


Till'}  DUSKY  (JHOUSI'}, 
15.     Dendragapus  obscurus  (Say). 


41 


DISKY    (IHolSi:. 


Tflrnii  tih.ifuvux  Say.  Loiik"'*  Exiicdition.  u,  ls-,>:t.  11. 

Ih  iiili-iiiinpuH  nhsrui-Hs  KhMOT.  F^VDcct'ilinns  Aciuli'iiiy  Nivtunil  SciciicfH,  Pliiladi'lpliiii, 


isci.  -iW. 


(H  \M.  V  :)H|.  U  .in.  ('  .'■,.^r.  V  •,".i7.) 


(Ieoorahiiicai.   KAN'fiK :  SdiitliciM    Uni'kv  Mniiiitiiiris,   I'r'iiiu   ci'iitval    Arizona  mid 


New  .Mcxi( 


itli  til  SDiitliciistciii  Idiilii)  uiid  ci'iiti'Ml  NVyiiiniiiK.  t'li^^t  t(i  .soiitliwcstiTii 


Simtli  Dakotii.  wi'st  to  iiorlhciisti'i'ii  Nevada. 

Witli  our  present  limited  kiiiiwle(l};e  it  is  rather  11  ditlienlt  matter  to  <lerme 
accurately  the  riinj!(»  of  the  Dusky  (Jrousc;  from  that  of  the  two  suhspecies,  the 
"Sootx 


aiu 


1   "  {{icharilson's"  (Jrouse;  this  cau  only  lie  done  approximately  as 
yet.    'I'iie  three  forms  are  well  known  ami  rank  as  the  linest  of  ;iame  l)ii(is,  and 


n( 


\\  to  the  Safi'e  Fowl  are  the  lar^i'est  (irouse  foimd  within  the  I'nited  State 


{{('•••imiinii'  with  the  northern  raufie  of  the  Dusky  (Jrouse  as  well  as   I   can 
ileline  it,  this   includes  a  small  portion  of  southeastern    Idaho,  where  it  inter- 


grades  with    />.    tili.sniniK  JiiHi/iiiosKs,  thence  eastward    tlu'ou 


W 


vonnim'    aUM 


western  South  Dakota  (Hlack  Hills),  south  and  west  throiijjh  northeastern 
Nevada  (Hast  lluudioldt  Mountains),  I'tah,  central  and  western  ( 'olorado,  as 
well  as  northern  and  central  Arizona  ami  nearly  the  whole  of  New  .Mexico, 
I'xceptin^'  the  extreme  southern  jiortion  south  of  the  U'io  .Mindires,  which  marks 
the  most  southern  limit  of  its  iNumc. 


It  IS  more  or  less  a  conunon    resn 


lent 


ni  sui 


tal.l. 


locauties, 


tl 


le   outer 


l)orders  of  the  timliered   mountain   ref^ions  of  the  .States  and   Territories  men- 
'd,  and   hi'eeds  wherever  found.      It  is  iiest    known  as  the  IJlue  Oi'ouse,  and 


tion( 


IS  also  calie( 


II. 


ine  (irouse  and 


nie 


II 


<'!!. 


Mr.    Denis    (jiale,    of  |{,)uliler    ( 'ouutv,    Colorado,    a    careful  and   relialile 


ol)server,  writes  me  as 


toll 


ows: 


Here  in  Colorado  the   Diiskv  (irons 


•ant-es 


from  an  altitude  of  al)out    7,0()0  feet  to  tindier  liu 


axui!'-  (tnce  sele( 


ted 


ilace  to  raise  ji  hi 


no  li'rea 


t  disti 


(|  they  do  not  stray  far  from  the  nei^hliorliood.     Water  at 
The  lower  liulches  and  side  hills  are 


nice  IS  always  kejit  m  view 


mostly  chosen  tor  their  summer  homes.  Diiriiiii'  the  matinji'  season  if  you  are 
anywhere  near  the  haunts  of  a  jiair  you  will  surely  hear  the  male  and  most 
likelv  see  him.  lie  mav  iiiterxiew  you  on  foot,  struttinji'  alonji'  iiefore  \  on,  in 
short  hurried   tacks  alternatin<>'  from  ri^lit  to  left,  with   widespread  tail  tipped 


forward,  head  drawn  in  and  iiack   and  \vi 


nil's  (Irauiiin 


aloii 


}■•  th 


•Tonml,  mile 


in  tlu!  style  of  a  turkev  "obhler.      .\t  other  times  von  mav  hear    his    miii 


thunder  overhead  ayain  ami  ayain  in  his  Hii;ht    from    tree    to  tree, 


A.« 


lie 
you 


walk  alonji'  he  lead.s,  and  this  reeounoiteriiiii-  on  his  part,  if  you  are  not  familiar 
litli  it,  may  cause  you  to  siijipose  that  the  trees  are   alive  with   these  (irouse. 


le  manner  alreadv 


He  then  takes  his  st;iiid  upon  a  rock,  stump,  or  lo^-,  and  in  tl 

de.scrilied   di.stends  the  lower  part  of  his  neck,  opens  his  frill   of  white,  jMl^^-ed 


wi 


th  tlio  darker  feather  tijis,  sliowini;-  in  its  center  a  pink  narrow  line  descrihi 


11  "• 


42 


lAVK  IIISTOKIHS  OP  N()HT[I  AMEUK^AN  HIiilJS. 


■| 


HonHMvliiit  tlio  Mcfriiicnt  of  II  fiiclc,  tlicii  witli  viTv  littlc  ii|i|iiin'iit  iiiotii»n  li»>  pcr- 
foriiiH  liis  jiTiiwliii;!'  (tr  {fniiiiiiiiji',  1  tlon't  know  wliicli  to  nill  it,  liiiviii;;'  the 
Htrim^rc  pcciilinrity  of  seeming'  quite  distimt  wlu  ii  ,'|;ii'n  n.  .ir,  iiud  iii'iir  when 
iliHtant;  in  t'lict,  ii|i|H'arinjf  to  come  from  every  direction  hut  the  tnie  one.  Tlie 
tirst  time  I  heard  the  simumI  I  con(  liided  it  waH  the  distant  hdionn<;  of  (Mu^  of 
our  small  mountain  sawmills  wrestliu};'  in  ajiony  with  some  cioss-;> rained  saw- 
lo>i'.      It  a|i|»eared  to  me  like  it. 

"As  near  as  I  can  judji'e  l»y  nieetiiiH"  with  the  younjf  ItroodH,  these  birds 
nest  at  tlie  lowest  points  aitout  May  1'),  at  the  highest  ahont  the  Itejiinniny  of 
iJune.  The  numlier  of  chicks  seen  liy  me  in  a  l)rood  i'an;;'ed  from  three  to 
eij>ht.  The  yoiin<i'  in  tiie  downy  sta^jc  arc  heantifnl,  delicate  little  olijects. 
Upon  one  occasion  1  met  with  a  covey  which  had  jnst  lieen  hatched;  they  were 
(piito  nimhle,  and  witii  the  exception  of  one  wliicli  I  caught  they  hid  themselves 
with  ;^Teat  address.  I'ntil  I  released  the  little  prisoner  the  female  showed  jjreat 
distress,  cluckinj;'  in  the  most  heseechin^'  manner,  accompanied  with  suitaltle 
ji'estiM'es,  similar  to  hut  more  tender  and  ;;raceful  than  those  of  our  domestic 
hen.  She  stood  within  (i  or  7  feet  of  me  pleadiuj^  her  cause  and  easily  «iin  it. 
in  her  beautiful  sununer  <lress  of  brown,  handsonudy  plume(l  as  she  was,  she 
looked  very  interesting'. 

"In  a  sinji'le  instance  only,  with  a  brood  about  ten  days  old,  have  I  noted 
the  i)resence  of  both  parents.  Perched  n})on  a  fallen  tv.  c  the  male  seemed  to 
lie  on  the  htokout,  while  the  female  and  youn;^'  were  feedin;;-  <'lose  i)y. 
This  seemin^i'  inditfereuce  of  the  male  while  the  Itrood  is  very  youn<i',  allow- 
iui>'  his  mate  to  jnotect  them,  if  he  really  is  always  near  at  hand,  looks  very 
stran^^'e,  and  yet  it  may  be  the  case,  since  he  is  •••enerally  with  tlu^  covey  when 
the  yoimji'  '"•'  ^\'<'ll  }i'rown.  Directly  the  yoim<i'  are  able  to  trav(d,  the  hen 
<ironse  leads  them  to  sona^  desirable  o]icnin;i'  skirtiuj;'  the  tindter,  or  ;;'ulch 
where  bearla-rries,  wild  raspberries,  fi'oosidieri'ies,  antl  cui'rants,  as  well  as  jirass- 
hoppers,  worms,  and  j^Tubs  inv,  abundant,  manaf;iii};'  them  just  as  the  domestic 
hen  does  hi-r  brood.  I'he  yonnji'  <^row  ra]»iilly,  and  when  aliout  two  weeks  ohi 
can  do  a  little  with  their  win;;s;  then  instead  of  hiding;'  on  the  }>Tound  they  Hush 
and  endeavor  to  cou<'eal  themselves  in  the  standini;'  tindier,  I'util  almost  fully 
;;rown  they  are  xcry  foolish;  tlushed,  they  will  tree  at  ouce,  in  the  silly  l»elief 
that  they  are  out  of  dan;icr,  and  will  (piietly  sutler  themseUcs  to  be  ptdted  with 
chdts  arid  .stones  till  they  are  struck  down  one  after  another.  With  a  shot- 
gun, of  course  the  whole  co\ey  is  ba^ij^ed  without  miu-h  trouble,  and  as  they 
are,  in  my  opinion,  the  most  delicious  ot  idl  (ironse  for  the  table,  they  an- 
ji-athereil  >ip  inisparinjily." 

.Mr.  dohn  Swiidiurne  informs  me  that  in  southeastern  Arizona  thel' 
(•rouse 


quel 


sp 


an   altitude  of    about    !t,(l(t()    feet.      He   sav: 


■W  f 


oinid   on 


th 


"•round  tl 


almost  invariablv  tl\'  into  the  nearest  tree  and  sit  there,   moviu"'  their  heads 


from  side   to  side,   uazintr  at   the   intruder   lirst  with 


one  eve   then   wi 


ith    th 


ither.      1   have  shot  at  them  repeatedly   with  the  ritle  aiul   pistol  before  they 


I 


4 


TllK  DUHKY  UUOIJHK. 


48 


H(nv  from  the  In-niicli  on  wliicli  tlicy  lind  scttlcil.  UroodH  uC  yoiiii;r,  on  \u-\\\>^ 
ilistnrltfd,  scattt-r  iiml  liiilc,  tlio  old  Itird  tlyin<r  into  a  n<'i<r|d)onn^r  tr«>«*. 
Tiii'mt  hroncU  usnidly  ninnltcr  from  cij^lit  to  ton." 

A  in'>*t  foiniil   lu'ar   l''ort  (iarland,  Colorado,  is  dcscrila'd  l»y   Mr.   II.  W. 
A  nest   foinid   Juia-    1(1  contaiiu'd  seven  ('j;);s  on  tlir 


llfiisl 


anv    as  tollows 


point  of  hatcliiii};.  Tlu*  nfstin<^r  site  \\>\h  a  ix'fidiar  one,  being  in  an  open 
f^lade,  where  tla^  j;rass  had  heen  recently  liurned  olf.  The  nest  j)roper  was  a 
sli;ilit  colleelion  of  ilried  ;;rass  placed  in  a  tlt'iiression  between  two  tussocks, 
there  apparently  havin<>'  la-en  no  attempt  made  at  coneeahneiit."' 

The  Dnsky  CSrouse  rai.ses  bnt  a  Hini^le  brood  a  season,  and,  as  a  rnl(>,  tlio 
nest   is   well   concealed.     A    nlij>ht   depression    is   scratcbeil   out    by    the    bird, 
Id   lo^',   under  a   small    thick    bush  or  a  tall   biuicli  of  gras.-t; 


alon<>'sal(«  an  o 


this  is  ,sli}>htly  lin«'d  with  pini)  needle-i,  bits  of  dry  },'rass,  or  whatever  snital)le 
material  is  most  convenient  to  the  site  selected.  Tht^  ninnber  of  tf^i'^js  to  a 
set  varies  from  seven  to  ten,  rarely  more,  althon;;li  they  have  j;ciierally  been 
ci'edited  with  lar^^cr  nmni)ers,  np  to  lit'teeii.  .Sncli  lar;;<f  sets  are  very  excep- 
tional,   and    eij-iit    or   nin(<    are    tla*   innnbers     most   often    found.      An    euy' 


IS    de|Hisited 


daily 


nid  incubation   does    not    commence    till    the  set   is  com- 


pleteil.     Niditication    be^iins    usually    about  the    middle    of  May,    and    varies 
somewhat,  both  accordin;^-  to  season  and  altitude,      liicultatioii  lasts,  as  nearh 


as   I  can  determine,   from  ei^ihteen  to  twenty-four  dav 


Tl 


ic  ej>';>s  resend)l( 


in  shape,  size,   and  markin;(s    those;  of  the  Sooty   (ironse;    and  as  the  IT. 
Natiiaial  Museum  collection  contains  a  much  Ix-tter  series  of  this  race,  sin 


inii'  consK 


leral 


lie  variatatn 


both 


I   m   the   •rroimi 


I   col 


or  anil    the   markmi>'s, 


•  w- 
ind 


.IS  the  same  ditfereiices  wiadd  uiupu'stioiiably  be  found  in  an  eipial  number 
of  tilt*  e^i'^i's  of  the  Dusky  (iroiise,  1  have  had  laily  a  series  of  the  former  fi;iured. 
The  averajiv  size  of  the  few  specimens  in  the  II.  S.  National  Museum  col- 
lection is  fiO.")  by  y")  millimetres. 


i6.     Dendragapus  obscurus  fuliginosus  HinriwAY. 


sooi'v  (iKorsi;, 
Cntirwr   iihsTiira    v;ir.  fiilifiiiKisii    liiiKiw.vv.    Hiiili'tiii   Essc\-  Institnto,    v,    Dopomhor, 

isr;i.  mil. 

hi  liilnujitiiits  iihsriinis  fidiii'niiisiix   UiixiW.w.   l*r(p('ee(liiij;s   U.   S.   National   Jliiseiiiii, 
VIII.  l,ss,">.  :i.".."). 

(H  — .  V  :\^Ui.  11  4:i('.  V  .'■).'•)!).  U  -iWii.) 

Gkookaimiicai.  kaxok:  Nortliwest  Coast  .Moimtiiias.  tVoiu  (-.ilit'oriiia,  north  to 
.\laska  (Sitka),  fasi  to  western  Nevada,  we.stern  hlaho.  .iinl  iniilille  Hritisli  {!o]iiinlii.i. 

The  Sooty  (irouse,  as  line  a  ^i'ame  bird  as  the  precedinji',  is  an  inhabitant  of 
the  mountains  of  the  Northwest.  It  has  been  taken  as  far  north  as  I'ortajie 
Hay.  Alaska,   near  latitude  (it)'",  and   probably  reaches  farther  in  this  direction 

'ExpluiiilidiiM  uimI  .Siiivoju  Wf.stiit  liKMli  iiiiiHliaii,  WIum^Ii  r,  l."?:),  p.  U'.'. 


1-  ■;( 


i-'i 

l'  l' 

t  ''i 

1' 

1; 

■i: 

■1 

I 

!• : 

i  ■ 

( 

I 

■  \ 

44 


LIFE  UISTOllIBS  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  HIItDS. 


wl»orov»»i'  <;fio(l-sizt'(l  tiinbci*  is  found.  South  it  riiuffcs  throu},'h  Hritish  Colum- 
l>ia,  Wasliinjrtoii,  Orcffon,  and  tlif  ^n'catcr  jiortion  ot'  C'alit'omia,  to  about 
latitude  3r)°  (viciuitv  of  Kort  'rcjou  in  tlic  soutluTU  Sierra  Ncvaila).  Kast  it  is 
found  t(t  tlio  western  slopes  ot'  tlie  Hitter  Root  Mountains  in  Malio,  interjjrad- 
inj;  in  tlie  nortliern  an<l  central  portions  ot'  this  State  with  Ifiiiilnii/dinit  ahsi  iirxs 
riclianlsoHi.  It  also  oectirs  in  western  Nevada,  and  is  fairly  alnnidant  in  Huit- 
able  localities  throu;;hout  its  ran^je.  at  altitudes  varyin^jf  from  2,r»(IO  to  ;t,(l(Kt 
feet.  It  is  a  constant  n-sident  and  Itreeds  wherevt'r  found.  All  the  Sooty 
tJrouse  from  Alaska,  and  I  presiune  from  tiie  Northwest  <'oast  <>'enerally,  are 
nuicli  darker,  almost  a  sooty  hlack,  than  specimens  from  eastern  Washin;;ton 
and  ()re;>on,  which  resendde  the  Dusky  Clrouse  nuuh  more  in  their  ^'eiu'ral 
coloration  than  the  northern  1»ird. 

I'ersonally  1  have  met  with  the  Sooty  (irouse  in  various  .sections  of  the 
ic  coast,  such  as  Mount  Kearsaru'e  in  In\<'  ("ountv,  near  the  headwaters  of 


l'aciii( 


the   K\u<x  and   Kern    Rivers,  ('alif< 


irniii 


aiKl 


ni  numerous  localities  ni  ( )re<'(»i 


Wi 


ishm^l'ton,  am 


1  Idal 


lo. 


The  t'(dlowin<r  account  of  this  species  is  taken  from  an  article  of  mine  puli- 
lished  in  the  Auk  (Vol.  vi),  January,  lSSi»: 

"1  first  met  with  the  Sooty  (Jroiise  on  Craiji's  Mountain,  near  Fort  L.ipwai, 
Idaho,  on  the  Nez  i'erc('  Indian  Reservation,  and  w.is  told  hy  hnth  trappers  and 
Imlians  that  these  Itirds  did  not  remain  there  dinlii<>-  the  winter,  in  which  belief 
i  consetiueiitlv  shareil  at  that  time.  I  was  also  told  that  when  a  covev  had 
been  located  in  a  tree,  by  beiiiy  careful  always  to  shoot  the  iiird  sittin;^'  lowest, 
the  whole  lot  mijilit  be  successfully  secured.  This  may  be  so,  but  somehow  it 
always  failed  with  me;  usually  after  the  second  shot,  often  even  after  the  first, 
and  certainly  at  the  third,  the  remaiiiiuj,''  birds  look  \\\n</,  and  jicnerallv  flew 


a<>'am,  near 


Iv  al 


ways  placiiiii-  a  deep  canon 


ipiite  a   distance   before  ali^htiiii;- 
iietweeii  themselves  and  me. 

"At    Fort    Kajiwai,  in   the  early   fall    of  1S70    and   of  1S71,   on  two    or 
three   occasions    I    found    a    few    of    these     itirds    feediii"'    with    larye    packs 


Ins    must,    iiowfver, 


b 


colisiilereit     an     1111- 


of    the   Sharp-tailed    (Jniiis<'. 

usual    behavior,  as  I  never   noticed  it  anywhere    else    siiiisei|ueiitly,  although 

both  species  were  eipially  abimdaiit   in  other  localities  where   I   met  them  f're- 


(iiii 


'iitly  in  after  \'ears.  The  fax'orite  locations  to  hmk  tor  the  Sootv  (Jrous 
duriiifi'  the  spring-  and  siimiiier  are  the  sunny,  upper  parts  of  the  foothills, 
bonlerin^T  on  the  heavier  timbered  portions  of  the  mountains,  amonji-  the  scat- 
tereil  ]iines  and  the  various  berry-bearinji-  liiishes  found  in  such  situations,  and 
ahtii"'    the    sides  of   canons.      .Vi'cordiuii'    to    mv   observations    these   birds   .-ire 


scarcely   eve 


toun<l  anv  < 


list; 


nice    within    the    realh    lieav\- 


timi) 


middle  of  the  da\'  they  <an   usually  be   looked   Ibr   with  success  amonjis 
deciduous  trees  and  shriiiibery  found  alon^-  the  mountain  sti'cams  in  can 


t  th 


oils. 


especialK  if  there  is  an  occasi'.nal  ]tiiie  or  fir  tree  mixed  amongst  the  former. 
The  cocks  sepanite  from  the  hens  after  incubation  has  commenced.  I  believe, 
ami    keep  in  litflt^  companies,  of  from  four    lo   six,  by  themselves,   joiiiiii;;-   the 


V.'t  '-7S, 


;^'^^ 


4 

i 

a 
'k 


THE  SOOTY  (JKOIJSE. 


45 


o  (ir 
cks 
mi- 

tr.-- 

■oilsc 

.ills, 

SC!lt- 

iiinl 
;irc 
tlir 
tllr 

mils, 

MIT. 

irvc, 

tlu' 


voiiiifr  Itroods  ii;;Miii  in  tlic  early  Jiill.  At  any  rate,  I  liavc  iiiDrc  tliaii  once 
(•(imc  ii|Min  srvcral  cocks  in  .Finic  and  .Fuly  witlmiif  sccin;;  a  sinfjflci  hen 
amon^^st  tlicni.  Iiij;li  rocky  |Miints  near  tlm  cili^cs  of  tlic  main  timlicr,  ainon<,rsf 
jiniiiicr  and  nionntain  inalioj^any  thickets,  arc  tlicir  favorite  altiilinjf  places  at 
that  tini(*  of  the  year.  The  youn}jf  diicks  are  kejtt  l»y  the  hen  ftu-  tim  first 
week  or  two  in  clos(f  pro.viinity  to  the  place  where  they  wen^  hatcheil,  .-nd  not 
nntil  they  havt^  attained  two  weeks'  }>Towth  will  tiiey  lie  fotuul  alon;jf  the 
willows  and  thickets  horderin;;  the  inoinitain  streams.  Their  fciod  consists  at 
liist  principally  of  fiiasslioppers,  insects,  and  tender  plant  t<M)s,  and  later  in  the 
sea.M.n  of  varions  species  (»f  l>erries  tonnd  then  in  ahnndanco  everywhere,  as 
well  as  th(f  y.'cds  of  a  species  of  wjld  snntlower,  of  which  fliey  seem  to  he  very 
foml.  It  is  astonisliin;^'  in»w  soon  the  yonnj;'  chicks  learn  to  tly,  and  well,  too. 
and  iiow  (piicklv  they  can  hide  and  scatter  at  the  lirst  alarm  note  of  the  mother 
liird,  which  invariaiily  tries  liy  varions  devices  to  <lraw  tlm  attention  of  the 
intruder  to  lierself  and  away  from  her  yonnj>-.  A  comparatively  small  leaf,  a 
linnch  of  ;;iass,  anything-  in  fact  will  answer  their  pnrpose;  yon  will  scancly 
lie  !\\)]i-  to  notice  them  liefore  ihev  are  all  secm'cK'  hidden,  and  nnless    von 


shoulil 


liavi 


a    W( 


ll-tr 


MIUM 


1    .1 


o"'  to  assist   \on 


tl 


e  chances   are 


that 


you  wil 


fail   to  tind  a,  siimle  one,   even   wiieii  the  immi 


dial 


e    siirronn(hii;rs    are    coin- 


parativelv  open.  After  the  \oiiii^'  in'oods  are  alioiit  liali'  ^i'rown,  tlie\'  spend  the 
j;reater  portion  of  the  day,  and  I  iieiieve  the  ni;ilit  as  well,  amoiijj'  tlu'  shriili- 
Itery  in  the  creek  liottoms,  feedin;>-  alonj^-  the  side  hills  in  the  early  hoiiis  of  the 
morninjf  and  evening!'.  Duriiif;'  tlit;  lu-at  of  the  day  they  keep  close  to  the 
water,  in  shady  trees  and  the  heavy  undergrowth.  They  walk  to  their  feedinj;- 
jiroimds,  lint  in  j>oin;;-  to  water  they  usually  tly  down  from  the  side  hills. 

"The  l(i\('  nottf  of  the  cock  has  a  very  peculiar  sound,  hard  to  ch'scrilie. 
It  can  he  heard  at  almost  any  hour  of  the  day  in  the  spriiijn-,  otteii  in  the 
lie;;innin;j:  of  .March,  when  there  is  still    jileiity  of  snow  to  he  found,  and  it 


vept  lip  till  w( 


II  into  the  month  of  .Ma\.      It  is  known  as  hootin 


'■  or  hoom- 


iii"-. 


Th 


le  cocks  when  eiiL;a;^'ed  in  this  aiiinsemeiit  mav 


I..-  f 


omul 


per( 


hed 


on 


lie;I/,ontal  limhs  ol"  lariic  pine  or  tir  trees,  with  their  air  .sacks  inflated  to  the 
iitmost,  winii's  drooping-,  and  the  tail  cNpanded.  They  then  present  a  \n-y 
hiilicroiis  appearance,  especially  ahoiit  the  head.  When  at  rest  these  air 
>acks,  of  a  pale  oran;i'e  yellow  color  in  the  sprinj;-,  are  only  noticeahle  hv 
separatin^i'  the  feathers  on  the  iiei'k  and  upper  parts  of  the  hreast,  hut  when 
iiillated  they  are  the  size  of  a   medium  oran;i'e  and  somewhat  resemhle  one 


cut    in 


Tl 


IIS    call     IS    repeated    sev( 


il     t 


lines    in    rapid    succession 


decreasing'  gradually  in  volume,  hut  can  a'  any  time  he  heard  at  ipiite 
distance.  It  appears  to  he  prodiiceil  hy  the  sudden  forcinji-  of  a  portion  of 
the  air  in  t!ie  sack  tliroiij;h  the  throat,  and  is  ipiite  misleadiu};'  as  to  the  e.\act 
locality  whence  uttered,  the  hirds  heinj>'  expert   ventrilo(|uists. 

"I  have  freipieiitly  tried  in  vain  to  locate  one  while  so  eiij;aji'ed,  where 
there  were  hut  few  trees  in  the  vicinity;  and  althoii^ih  I  searched  ejich  one 
throufiii  carefully,  and  with  a  powerful  iield  {•lass  to  assist  me,  1  had  to  •••ive 


TW 


ii 


1 

11 

:  -; 

'1 

46 


UVK  IIISTOUIKS  OF  NOUTH  AMKUICIAN  lUUlKS. 


it  up,  nimplt'tcly  Itiitllcil.  It  is  licyoiul  my  pow*-!'  to  drscrilK'  tliis  lovo  «'iill 
iircunitcly.  Some  niitiiiiilists  state  tluit  it  ivsciiildcs  tin-  soiiiid  iiiixlc  liv 
hlowiu^j  into  the  l)iiii^liolt'  of  iiii  empty  Imrrcl;  others  timl  a  lesemblaiiee  to 
the  fooiii<>'  of  a  pigeon,  ami  some  to  the  noise  made  l»y  wliirriiiff  a  rattan 
cane  ra|)idly  tln-oujih  the  air.  'I'lm  hitter  sound  comes  nearer  to  it  in  niv 
opinion  than  anytliinj;  else.  The  closest  approacli  to  it  1  can  yive  in  K'tters 
is  a  deep  ;juttural   'nndnun,'  the  lirst   letter  scarcely  souniled. 

"'I'he  accounts  of  the  nestin>;  hahits  of  the  Sooty  (Jrouse  are  soniewliat 
va<rue,  the  miml»er  of  e^jj^s  to  a  set  Iteinjr  \ariously  }riven  as  from  «'ifiht  to 
fifteen.  I  have  personally  examined  (piite  a  nundier  of  the  nests  of  this 
(Jrouse  Itetween  May  (i,  1X71,  and  Juni^  2"i,  iHHii.  Tlu'  lar<icst  innnher  of 
(.jros  found  l»y  me  in  a  set  was  ten  in  two  instances;  three  sets  contained 
nine  each,  seven  sets  contained  i-i^lit  each,  and  live  .sets  sexcn  ej>-;;s  or  less. 
The  last  were  proliaMy  incomplete,  althouj;h  some  of  these  sets  were  ad- 
vanced in  incidiation.  I  think  that  ei<>-lit  e<^'^'s  is  the  ordinary  numher  laid 
l)y   these  liirds. 

"|",nns  may  he  looked  for  from  April  lo  to  the  latter  part  of  Mji\-. 
accordin;;-  to  altitude.  The  earliest  date  on  which  I  oliser\ed  ej;';:s  of  this 
(Jrouse  was  April  \X,  1S77,  when  a  set  was  found  l»y  Lieut.  (J.  I».  ISacon, 
First  Cavalry,  containin;;'  seven  fresh  specimens.  The  nest  was  placed  on 
the  jiiound  amou^-  the  roots  of  a  willow  liush  ^iiowin;:  under  a  suliiiirv  pine 
tree  in  a  small  ravine  ."»  miles  northwest  ot  ('amp  Harney,  ( >rej;-on.  The  nest 
was  composed  entirely  of  dry   pine  needles  picked   up  in  the  vicinity. 

"A  nest  found  l»y  me  .\piil  -2,  1^77,  alioiit  1  miles  west  of  ('amp 
Harney,  was  placed  under  the  routs  of  a  fallen  jmiiper  tn-e,  in  a  <>rovc  of 
the  same  species,  ;i-rowin;:'  on  an  elevated  plateau  close  to  ti.e  pine  licit.  Thi.-» 
nest  was  well  hidden,  a  mei-e  depression  in  the  ;^romid.  and  composed  of  drv 
grasses,  a  few  feathers  t'ro.n  the  hird's  iireast.  and  ilrv  |iine  needles.  The 
nine  e;i';;s  were  aliout   half  wav   iudiedded   in   this   mass,   and   nearly   fresh. 

'•.\s  a  rule,  most  ot'  the  nests  fouml  hv  me  were  placed  in  similai-  situa- 
tions, under  old  lo^^s  oi'  the  roots  of  t'allen  trees,  and  ^ieiierally  fairly  well 
hidden  from  view,  and  amon;;st  the  im  'e  open  pine  timlier  alon^'  the  out- 
skirts of  the  forest  pl-oper.  <  ►ccasioiiall  v  ,  liovvevir,  ;l  Uesf  iiiiiy  In-  found 
some  litth'  distance  from  timlier,  and  in  the  lower  parts  of  moimtain  valleys. 
I  found  siuh  a  nest  on  Aja-il  "Jii,  is7H,  junon;:' some  liunches  of  tall  I'vc-jirass, 
in  a  comparatively  opiii  |ilace,  and  within  a  yard  ot  ( 'o\v  ('reek,  a  small 
mountain  stream  ahout  I  miles  inst  of  Camp  Harney.  There  was  no  tindter 
of  anv  si/e,  onlv  small  willow  liuslies,  within  'i  miles  ot  this  nest,  which  was 
placed  under  one  of  these  r\c-jirass  liunches,  and  the  liird  sat  so  close  that 
I  actnallv  steppeil  partiv  on  her  and  liroke  two  ot  the  e;;';:s  in  doin;^'  .so. 
'This  nest  containe<l  ei;iht  slightly  incnliated  e;;';is.  It  was  com|io.scd  of  dead 
■i'rass  and   a   few   feathers. 

"The  most  exposed  nest,  without  anv  attempt  at  concealment  whatever, 
that  canai  under  my  oliservation,   1   fouml  on  .June  H,    1X7(1.  on  the  northern 


i 


■<at 


■« 


•I 
'ft 

I 


i 


THE  SOOTY  (IROUSB. 


47 


«Iope  ami  near  tlm  summit  of  tlic  Cailoii  ('ity  Mountain,  in  rJrant  County, 
()r('},'on,  at  an  altitudt*  of  about  G,HO(>  fw-t.  I  was  rcturnin<f  from  t'scort 
ilutv  to  Caflon  Oity,  and  si-nt  tho  party  witli  mi^  around  liy  tlic  stafjn  road 
wiiicli  wound  in  zi^zaj;-  turns  up  tho  stocp  momitain,  wliilc  with  out!  of  my 
men  [  took  a   nnich   shorter,  but  far   stft'pi'r,  Indian  trail   which   intt'i-secttMl 


lie  wa^fon  roa( 


1  a-ifi 


lin  on  tlu^  suiiunit. 


'Near  this  intersectin<>-  point  tlu!  trail  passed  throu<ifli  a  beautifid  oval- 
shaped  mountain  meadow  of  about  an  acre  in  extent,  near  the  sunnnit  of 
wiiich  stood  a  solitary  younjf  fir  tree.     No  oilier  trees  were  frrowiii;;'  nearer 


tlian    M)   yards    from  this  ( 


•lie. 


T\ 


le  meailow   i 


tself 


was  covered  with  a    lux- 


uriant ;;Towth  of  sjiort,  crisp  mountain  fi'rass  and  Alpinif  flowers,  altoficther 
as  lovelv  a  spot  to  take  a  rest  as  could  well  lu^  found.  Arriviii}^  at  tiiis 
poini,  and  knowing-   that    the    party   would  not  Itc   alonir  for  mon;   than   half 


Ml  nour 


at    least,  I    dismounteil    and    unsaddled    my  hor.se   to  let  him  have  a 
roll    and    a    ptod    chance    at     tiie    sweet     mountain    j-rass,    of    which    oppor- 


tunui 


h 


as    not    slow    to    tak(f    aflvantaye, 


Tl 


n'owmji" 


th 


saddle    m 


the  shade  ma<le  liy  the  little  fir  I  laid  down  to  take  a  re.st  myself.  !  had 
a  line  setter  doy-  with  me  who  had  Itei-n  raii;;in<i'  alon;>'  bdtli  sides,  of  the 
trail  and  who  came  up  wa^r^jin;;'  his  tail  just  as  1  iuid  .settled  myself  com- 
fortal)lv.       Kock,    my   setter,    had    approacheil     perhaps    within   "J   feet  of  me 


at   a    pretty    Inisk    lope,   when   all  of   a    sudden    he   came   to  an   a 


i»rupt 


Malt, 


fairly  freezing'  and  stiiVenin<f  in  his  tracks,  and  made  a  dead  point  aloii<;side 


)t    m( 


I 


coll 


1.1 


not  under.stand    at    first    what    this 


meant;    even  mv  liorse 


tlioiijilil  it  worth  the  while  to  stop  eatin;^',  and  with  his  ears  p(>inte<l  foi-ward 
was  looking-  in  the  .same  direction.  l{ock,  was  fairly  trem'  lin;^'  with  excite- 
ment. Iiiit  kept  to  his  point.     .Ium|iin<>-  up  (piickly  I  looked  to  the  ri^rht  and 


tl 


le    rear. 


think 


III"- 


that 


Iterhaiis 


ra 


ttl 


esnaKe 


rlit   1 


le   collect    III)    III 


th 


}jfra>s,  and  saw  at  once  the  cause  of  my  dojj's  straii;;e  behavior.  It  was  onl\- 
a  poor  Sooty  (Jroiise  sittinji;  within  .'{  feet  of  me  on  her  nest,  containinjf  two 
cliicks  and  seven  ejijjs  on  the  point  of  hatchiiifi'.      It  was  as  touching'  a  si^iht 


as    I    hail    e\-er  .seen;    the 


1» 


bird,    althoiiiih   scare(|    nearlv   to   death,   witli 


e\ciy  feather  pressed  close  to  her  liody,  and  fairly  within  reach  of  the  do;;-, 
still  pc-rsisted  in  trying-  to  hiile  her  treasures;  and  her  tender  biown  eyes 
looked  eiitreatiii^ly  on  us  rude  iiitiiiders,  jind  if  e\-es  can  speak  hers  cer- 
tainly pleaded  most  eloiiueiitly  tor  mercy.  She  let  me  almost  touch  her 
liefore  she  fliittereil  olV  her  nest.  fei;;iiin^  lameness,  jiiul  disap|»eared  in  the 
iiiider;>rowtli.  ('ountiii;i'  the  e^-^s  ;ind  exainiiiiii;n'  one  of  the  chicks,  which 
apparently  had  only  left  the  shell  a  few  minutes  before.  I  at  once  vac;iti'd 
the  vicinity  and  took  up  a  position  some  fiO  \-arils  in  an  op])osite  direction 
I'roni  that  the  liird  had  taken,  to  watch  further  proceed iii;is.  The  ^rass  was 
so  shia't  that  it  did  not  hide  the  bird,  which,  after  waiting',  perhaps  ten  min- 
utes, came  slowly  creepiii;;'  and  croiichiii^f  towanl  the  nest  and  covered  the 
^>jr^s  a^aiu.  I  did  not  disturb  her  further,  and  lio|ie  that  altlioii;;li  her  s<'le<-- 
tion  of  a    nesting   site  so  tliorouMfJily   exposed   was   not    judicious,   she  may 


'  i' 

! 


48 


LIFK  mSTOKlBS  Ol''  NOKTU  AMKIilCAN  HIUDS. 


more  <li'iii<iiistriitiv(f  ;ii  his  ;ictii>iis.  Ins  iiioilot  mate  tli'W  up  ti>  an  t>\('rliaii;;iii;r 
limit  tM  oscapi'  liis  t'amiliaritics,  ami  we  dnivn  away,  l(;aviii<i-  liim  still  striittiiii>- 
on  tlic  jji'i'iiimil  iiiidcnu'ath  the  tree  wluTf  liis  mati'  sat  pcrclicil.  'I'lu-  (■omb,  I 
slidultl  jiitlfi'e,  was  pmduciMl  l)y  tin-  spots  over  tlu^  I'vcs  Itccomiiiji'  cularjicd  ami 
iiitlami'd  \ritli  uassioii."' 


rilc  noil  >v  niii',  pisi  uciimc  m  imisucs.  ^vi  mis  iiiik',  liisi  in  iiii<iiiM,  iiir  iniiis 
were  well  jiTowii.  I  have  always  t'liiiinl  tlicsc  liir<N  near  water.  In  is.sl,  wlijlc 
•  rninii-  to  Indian  Vallcv,  Idalio,  I  rmlc  jias'i  sdnic  nnt'  Ix'in^i'  near  endUji'li  to 
touch  with  a  switch  1  had  in  my  hand,  yet  they  all  walkcil  out  of  the  trail  as 
(juii'tly  as  domestic  fowls  would  have  done,  and  then  resumed  their  diistinj;-."' 


I 


1 


I 


I 
I 


THE  SOOTY  GROUSE. 


49 


But  ctuv  Ih'ooiI  is  nuHcd  in  ii  sciiMtii.  Iiitiiltiitiitu  lusts,  accordin^r  to  dilfcr- 
ciit  idiscrvcrs,  from  t'ij,'liti'nu  ti>  twcnty-t'tmrdiiys.  Kciiiiik's  ;('ciii  ti»  prt'ilomiiiatc 
in  iuuuIhts.  liiit  I  (lt»  not  think  tliiit  these  liirds  are  itolyifaniiiiis.  Tlieir  (trdi- 
narv  note  resuniljK's  tlie  cackHnji-  of  the  doinestie  lien  very  nuuli.  1'he  Indian 
name  of  the  Sootv  (Jrouse  on  tlie  Northwest  coast  is  "  T;/lt(r-('itlli(ir-Ciilliiir," 
"Chief  liird." 

Acfordin<f  to  my  own  ol)servations,  ma<h'  in  various  portions  of  Orejfon. 
Washinji'ton,  and  Idaho,  the  usual  niuuiter  of  ej^j^s  hiid  l»y  tlu-  Sooty  Orouse  is 
aliout  eij^ht,  and  oceasionall\' as  many  as  ten  are  found  in  a  set.  I'rof  (>.  1$. 
.lohnson,  of  tlie  Tniversity  of  Wasliinjiton,  Seattle,  Washinjiton,  informs  me, 
however,  that  he  fomul  as  many  as  sixteen  e<>'fis  in  a  nest,  and  ^ives  tho  averajje 
number  from  eif^ht  to  twelve.  Tho  former,  I  think,  will  as  a  rule,  eome 
nearer  to  the  correct  avera^jc. 

The  e<ijfs  are  ovatc^  in  shape,  and  the  jiround  color  varies  from  pale  cream 
to  a  cream-l)utf,  the  latter  heinj;  more  common.  In  a  sin;;le  set  liefore  me  it 
is  a  palii  cinnamon.  The  e^r^is  are  more  or  less  spotted  over  their  entire  snrface 
with  line  (h»ts  of  ciiocolate  or  chestnut  i)rown;  these  spots  vary  consideraldy 
in  si/A)  in  ditl'ereut  .sets,  ran;fiu;f  from  the  size  of  No  .-{  shot  to  that  of  umstard 
seed.  Tlies(f  markin}.^s  are  <ifeuerally  well  roundeil,  re;;nlar  in  shape,  and  pretty 
e\cnly  distrilaUed  (»ver  the  entire  v^jx.  They  never  run  into  irre^^ular  and 
heavy  blotches,  such  as  are  fre([U('ntly  found  in  the  «'<;'^s  of  the  (,'anada  Urousc, 
Priitlnii/ttpiis  ((iiKiiliiisis,  which  a|)])roacli  the  pattern  usually  found  amon;;  those 
of  the  Willow  I'tarmi^iiin.  Lniiii/Hts  Idi/ojiiis,  nmch  nearer  than  the  former.  All 
of  these  markinji's  can  i)e  readily  washed  off,  as  well  as  the  overlying-  jjiouml 
color,  while  they  are  still  ipiite  fresh,  leavinj-'  the  shell  a  delicate  pale  creamv 
white.  In  fact  this  colorin;>'  matter  rulis  otf  very  reailily,  and  occasionallv 
tVesh  e;;';is  will  not  stand  even  a  fiooil  wipin;^'.  .\n  v<^>j:  is  usuallv  <K'posited 
daily  and  incul)ation  does  not  l)ej;in  until  the  set  is  completeil,  the  male  takin;'- 
apparently  no  |tart  in  this  duty  nor  in  the  care  of  the  youuf'  after  they  are 
hatcheil. 

The  averaf^'c  size  of  ninety-six  specimens  in  the  I'.  S,  National  .Miiseiun 
collection  is  4^.;")  by  'MS)  millimetres.  The  larj^cst  ('<;}•■  of  the  series  measures 
;"»2  by  .'57,  the  smallest  4.")  liy  iJ2..")  millimetres. 

The  type  specimens  show  the  dilVereiit  variations  fonnd  in  the  efrjjfs  of  the 
Sooty  (Jrouse,  and  are  all  from  the  hendire  collection,  havin;j'  b"en  col- 
lected l)y  the  author.  No.  -.MOTa  (I'l.  I,  Kij;.  1(1),  is  from  a  set  of  t«'n,  taken 
nearCamp  Harney,  ( )reyon.  May  10,  lH7(i;  No.  •_>1(»74  (PI.  I,  Ki^i'.  17),  from 
a  set  of  ei^ht  collecied  on  the  Canyon  ("ity  .Mountain,  (Jrant  Countv,  Ore- 
jion,  dune  H.  1X7(1;  No.  ■Jl(>7;»  (I'l.  1,  Kin.  IK),  from  a  set  of  nine,  taken  .May 
10,  1H77.  near  ("amp  Harney.  ( >ref--on.  and  No.  I'KtHO  (IM.  1,  V'v^.  lit),  from  a 
set  of  .seven  e^ifi's  fomul  near  Fort  Klamath.  Urejion,  and  taken  May  2"_',  iS.s.'J 
The  majority  of  the  ef.jis  of  this  subspecies  resendde  the  specimen  li}iure<l  on 
IM.  1,  i'i;;'.  IM,  more  than  the  other  types. 
i;»i!».J7— Bull.  1 4 


m 
ill 


.f'! 


60 


LIVK  ULSTOUIEH  OF  NOltTH  AMKUKUN  BlUDS. 


17,     Dendragapus  obscurus  richardsonii  (Saiunk). 

RICIIAKDf-  »n's    (iUol  SK. 

T'lnii)  rirliontsitiiii.  "Sabixk  MS,,"   Doriii.AS.   Ijiiiiifaii  Traiisactiims.  xvi.  iii,  \H-V.K 

III. 
IhnilmijiipitN  ithsiiinin  rifliiii-ilsiDiii  UiixavAV,  l*ri)('t'tMliiij{s  U.  W.  Natiouul  Museum, 

VIII,    ISS."),  .M\f>. 

(H  -.  C  ;iK|((.  H  .»;i/,.  C  .'1.58.  U  ;•!•:/-.) 

nK<KiKAiMii('Ai.  UANiiK  ;  Niii'l jii'iii  Rocky  .Mi)iiiil!iins.  mainly  <>n  castfru  slnpcs, 
fi'iim  sdutlimi  Miintaiia.  iiiirllicastcrn  Iclalm,  uuil  oastcru  British  Columbia,  uurtli  into 
Hi'ilisli  AnuTica  (Liiinl  River). 

Tlii-s  (listiiu'tly  marked  race  <it'  Dusky  (Jron.se  iulialtit.s  t!ie  timlieretl 
rejfioiiH  aliiiifi'  tlit^  eastern  slopes  of  tlie  IJocky  Moiintiiiiis,  Iroiii  soutlierii 
Mdutaiiii  aii'l  eoiiti<>°uous  parts  ot'  lilalio  iiortliwai'd,  tliroU}>'li  the  interior  oi° 
Hritish  North  America,  to  alioiit  hititiide  <iP.  It  was  in  th(*  latter  vicinity 
(IJard  IJiver)  tliat  Mr.  .1.  Lockhart,  ot"  the  lliidstui  liay  ('(•mpaiiy.  olitained 
tlu>  most  nortliern  specimens  of  this  l»ird  tiiat  are  in  the  U.  S.  National 
.Museum   collection. 

l-ike  tiu'  precedinjf,  it  is  a  resident,  and  i»ree<ls  wherever  found,  and  its 
iialiits  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Dusky  ( Jronse.  in  northern  Wyomiii;;- and 
the  eastern  parts  of  central  Idaho  this  (Jrouse  inter;;nules  with  its  more  south- 
ern relative,  and  in  uoithrasteru  Maho  inid  western  Montana  it  does  the  same 
with  the  Sooty  (ironse.  It  is  a  common  enoujili  l)ird  in  suitahlc  localities 
throughout  the  mountainous  portions  of  Montana,  especially  in  the  hi<>'  Horn 
Mountains  and  ajouj;'  the  headwaters  of  the  Musselshell  Kiver,  where  I  per- 
sonally met  with  them.  .Still,  in  some  sections  of  this  .State,  ap|iareiitlv  (piile 
suited  to  these  iiirds,  where  an  aiiuiidaiice  of  yood-si/,ed,  pirn-  timber  is  found. 


U'V  are  ciitirelv   wantiii"-.      I   iiave   l>een   uualile  to  a<'c«mnt  for  this   fact,   or 


itin 


»'    . 

to  ascertain  a  ;;ood  reason    therefor,   as  plenty  of  <;immI  water  and   an   ai 

dance  of  U^^)^\  is  to  lie  found  tlierealMMits. 

Mr.  |{oli(.rt  .S.  Williams,  of  (Jreat  Kails,  Mont.ina,  writes  me:  "On  .lime  21, 
IMS;"),  while  crossiu};  over  the  almost  liare  snunnit  of  a  small  knoll  in  the  foot- 
hills of  the  Belt  Mountains,  I  suddeidy  almost  ran  into  a  hrood  of  yonnj;'  Kich- 
ardsoii's  ( Jrouse,  which  had  e\identlv  lieen  hatched  out  hut  a  \erv  short  time. 
The  yonnji',  ahoiit  ten  in  numi)er,  were  closely  huddled  to^icther,  the  old  liinl 
standing;-  liy  their  side,  with  head  up.  ami  eyes  fairly  l)la/.iii;i-  i<t  the  iinex|M'cted 
intruder.  1  was  almost  within  reach  of  them,  Init  neither  old  »>r  younj^'  made  a 
Motion   or  uttered    a   souml,    while    I    stood   watchiu"    them   for  several 


;il. 


sni 


moments 


MKl 


eft  them   in  the  .same  position. 


"I  have  often  met  with  coveys  a  little  older,  lint  have  iievt-r  seen  the 
parent  hird  attempt  to  draw  olf  the  .ittention  wf  any  one  hy  the  feints  so  (•uii- 
niiijily  carried  out  hy  the  Untied  (Jrouse.  These  birds  feed  larj^elv  on  ^jrass- 
lioppers  when  such  are  abundant." 


i 


«. 


:  I- 


UIC'IIAUDSON'S  (lUOUSi:. 


51 


Like  tlic  Sdolv  Onuisc,  utter  tlic  yoiiiijf  arc  t'iiirly  ^^niwii,  tlu-sc  Itirds  sikmkI 
till-  ffn-atcr  |Mtrtii>M  of  tlic  late  suiimicr  ami  aiitiiiiin  uhtw^  tlio  creek  hottcaiis, 
tViiMfcil  with  dense  thickets  of  cdttoinvonils,  ami  many  heiTV-bcariii^j  hushes, 
ami  at  such  times  thev  l)ecome  excecilin^^ly  fat'.  I  havo  seen  them  fully  10 
miles  a«i(V'  fiiaii  au\'  pint*  timlter  at  this  Hmc  <if  tlie  year,  and  cicctisionally 
i(uite  a  distances  from  tindicr  of  any  kind.  Their  nesting-  haltits,  as  far 
as  known,  as  well  as  the  e^';;s,  are  similar  in  ev«'ry  respect  to  tlioso  of  the 
l>ni«kv  and  Sootv  (Jrouse.  The  latter  seem  to  averajfo  ii  tritlc  smaller,  tlic 
iiMMii  itein;.''  47  Ity  .'54  millimetres.  'Pho  lar<>;cst  s|)ecimeii  measures  al  l»y 
;M..'),  the  smallest  4;5  Ity  'M\.'>  millimetres.  This  apparent  ditferencc  in  size 
can  scarcciv  lie  taken  into  account,  and  is  du(*,  no  doiiht,  to  the  small  num- 
lier  (eleven  specimcn.H)  in  the  l'.  S.  National  Museum  collection;  the  majority 
of  tliese.  all  from  one  set,  laid  proltalily  hy  a  youn;>'  liird,  aro  very  small, 
ami  tlie\  reduce  the  ^icneral  averajio  consideraldy.  As  these  ej^fys  aro  iudis- 
lin;iuishal)le   from  those  of  the  preceding  race  none  are  figured. 

i8.    Dendragapus  canadensis  (I^ixx.tus). 

(ANADA    (ilMISK. 


Tilniit  ciinniU  iisi.s  Li.w.Kis,  Systcnia  Niilmic.  cd.  in,  I,  17."»s,  l.Mi. 
IhiiilriKjaiiu.s  riimiil(  iisis  ItiniavAV.  I'l-occciliiij^s  I'.  S.  Natiuiiiil  Museum,  Viu,  ISho,  ;i.55. 

(B  4i;o.  C  :tSO,  R  AVi,  C  .'>,55.  U  .'08). 

( iK.oiiKAi'UK  Ai,  K\N(iK:  Xinllicrii  N'orlli  Aiiifrii'ji    cast   nl'  tlio  Rocky  Mountains, 
ridiu  I  lie  imi-tliiTii  I M  .nil  IMS  III'  the  Xi'W  Kii;claiiil  States,  New  Vnrk,  Miclii)ian,  aiiil  Miii- 


nrsiila  iinrlhwi'st  ward  In  .Maska  (icai'hiii).' i 


si  al  Ka.liak.  Si.  Mi 


•I.  fic. ). 


'I'lie  lirecdiii;i  ran;i-e  of  tla^  Canada  (Jroiise,  oi"  tlu^  Spruce  I'artriilire, 
(•\tends  from  nortlnvestein  Alaska  (Kowak  or  I'utnam  IJivfr)  southeastward 
lliroiijihoiit  hriti>h  Nortli  .Vmcrica  from  ocean  to  ocean,  south  to  central  Miiiiie- 


ita,  northern 


\N 


i>consin,  northern  .Miclii<i'an,  northern  New  ^'o|•k,  and  norther 


New  hln^land.      It  must,  li 
dciit  within  the  I'liited  Stat( 


w  consii 


lered 


n 
iis  ratlier  a  rare  summer  resi- 


es,  excejitiiiii'  northern  iMimiesota,  wlieie  it  is  sanl  to 
lie  common  in  the  immense  forests  of  the  northeastern  jiarts  of  the  State,  ami 
e\tcndin;i-  westward  to  the  ed^c  of  the  prairie  at  White  Kailh.- 

'I'lu^  ( 'anada  (Jroiise  is  iisuallv  re>ident,  and  lireeds  wherever  found.  .\i 
liiiics,  however,  it  is  partiallv  miiirator\-  duriii;:'  tlie  winter:  prolialilv  Aw  more 
to  lack  of  .siiitalile  food  than  to  cold,  a.-<  it  has  iieeii  found  in  consideralile  num- 
lieis,  durin<;  the  severest  kind  of  wtatlier,  as  far  iiorih  as  latitude  <!7°.  Its 
favorite  aliidin;^'  places  are  the  dense  thickets  of  tamarack,  l.<i)i.v  inmi 
also  called  hackmatac.  and  in  jiro\es  and  swamps  of  evcr^i'reen 


inniii, 


Woods 


Mr.  L.  .M.  'rinner.  in  his  rnaiiuscri|it  on  the  jtinls  of  I.alirador  and  I'lmava, 


III! 


kes   the    followini;'    statement: 


ri 


e   iiiatiii' 


asoii   occurs   in  this  locality 


(Fort   ('liimo)   in   the   latter  part  of    April    or  early    Mav.      It    is  said  that  the 

'  Ai'i'iiriliii^  III  IM.  r.  ILitt.  Mi'iri  iiti.  Iliii  Oi.him-  I'i-.-iU  hum-ly  nii  tin*  liiTrifs  of  Arftimtaphfitnn   ura-urni 
iiuil  Itibt'M  rntiim,  licsiilrM  ym-ii  Inivi'M  iil"  tin*  xvillnw  ami  oiImt  liimlirs. 

-' lliilli  till  II,  Di'pl.  iif  AkiIdiiIiiiii',  llinl  MikhXihii  Mi»simi|i|ii  Valli'V.  l-i",  |i.  llKt. 


w 

1 1* 


52 


MI'K  lil.STOUIKH  Ol''  NOKTIi  AMKKU'AN   lUKIKS. 


wt'iillit?r  rtt  tliis  scjisoii  iMJiy  iiilliiciu'c  tlic  pairiiijr  ul"  tliis  s|K'cics  lor  two  or 
tluiMf  W()L'ks  later.  The  mules  t-xercise  nmcli  iutiM-iiie  to  secure  tlie  oitject  of 
their  elioice  for  the  se.isoii,  iilliioii;rh  1  h;ive  reiisoii  to  siis|»eet  that  some  of 
these  l»ir<!s  retiiin  their  nmle  for  more  than  one  season,  as  j  have  fi(M|nently 
fouui}  a  |)air  to;i;ether  in  tlie  ilcpth  of  winter,  lliese  two  iteinj:;  the  only  ones  of 
the  kind  to  lie  found  in  the  \ii'inity. 

"Layin;;'  lie;;'ins  altoni  the  .'itli  of  .Inne,  and  ineultation  alioni  tlut  I'JtIi. 
The  yonuf^f  aro  hatched  in  aluuit  sevenleen  days.  Youn^  birds  aitont  li\e  days 
old  wei'e  obtained  -Inne  'JS,  mid  others,  aide  to  (iy,  were  secured  .lidy  !<•. 
'I^hroui;li  the  exertions  of  Miss  Lizzie  Ford  i  was  enabled  to  secure  two  sets 
(,f  ejiji's  of  this  s|iecies.  The  nest  consisted  merely  of  a  few  stalks  and  blades 
of  ji'rass,  loosely  arraii;icd  aiion^'  the  moss  of  a  lii;'lier  spot,  under  the  droo|iiii;i' 
limbs  of  a  spruce,  .situated  in  a  swamp.  A  few  feathers  from  the  parent  biid 
were  also  in  the  nest.  The  number  of  ej^'ji's  in.  this  nest  was  seven,  all  (piili' 
fresh.  .V  second  set,  also  of  seven  eji-;;s,  was  found  in  a  similar  situation,  and 
near  the  location  ot   the  nest  pre\iously  described. 

"The  food  of  the  Spi'uce  I'artriil^e  consists  of  the  temler  terminal  buds  of 
the  spi'uce,  and  in  winter  this  seems  to  b  •  tlieir  only  food,  in  a  <ireat  iinm- 
iier  of  birds  examined  dnrinji'  that  seas  ai  this  was  tlie  only  sidistance  found 
in  their  jiizzards,  mixed  at  times  with  an  astonishin;^  (piantity  of  gravel.  I 
was  siu'prised  tt>  find  these  stones  of  such  nniformitv  of  size  and  material. 
( "I'ystallized  (piarta  fra^iineiits,  in  certain  instances,  formed  alone  the  trituratiii;;' 
sulistance,  and  rai'cly  were  there  Irauineiits  of  ;;ranite  or  other  stones.  In  fact 
many  of  the  birds  had  not  a  discoloreil  stone  in  their  ;;izzard.  in  the  spring' 
and  snnmier  months  tlu-se  birds  consume  ipiantities  of  berries  of  Kniji'tnini  and 
I'diriiiiiim." 

Mr.  .1.  W.  Uanks,  of  St.  .lohiTs,  New  Mrunswick,  writes  me:    "Mr.  .Fames 

Linji'ley,  an  old  backw Isman  and  close  oliserxer,  found  two  nests  of  the  ('an 

ada  (Jrou.se,  one  on  .May  I,  which  was  partially  hidden  uniler  the  trunk  of  a 
fallen  tree,  lie  killi'd  the  female  with  a  stick  of  wood,  not  knowinji'  she  had 
a  nest  close  liy.  t  )n  pickin;i'  her  up  he  found  an  f^'i:  she  had  just  laid,  and 
looking;-  around  found  the  nest  with  seven  e^';;s.  .Mii\-  "JO  he  found  a  second 
lii'st.  This  was  placed  lietween  two  small  tir  bushes  that  ;irew  tpiite  clo.se 
to;;'ether.  anil  contaiiie(l  thirteen  eiiLfs.  In  liotii  eases  the  nests  were  com- 
j)ose.l  ol  dried  leaves,  lie  also  describes  the  di'ummin;^'  ol'  the  male  dm'in;;" 
the  inatin-i'  season,  as  follows:  'After  struttiii;;'  back  and  forth  for  a  few  min- 
utes, the  male  Hew  straiji'lit  up,  as  hi^ih  as  the  surroimdin^'  trees,  about  1  I 
feet;  here  he  remained  stationary  an  instant,  and  while  on  sus]»ended  win;^ 
dill  tho  drumming  with  the  win;;s,  resemblinji'  distant  thunder,  meanwhile 
dropping,'  down  slowly  to  the  spot  tiom  where  he  started,  to  rejieat  the  s.iine 
thin;;  over  and  over  a;iain.  The  only  food  he  noticed  them  take  was  the 
needles  of  the  tir.'" 

On  the  other  hand,  Mr.  .1.  11.  Varnall,  who  has  examined  tho  crops  of  a 
{Treat  numlier  of  these  birds  "never  fomid  anything  in  them  but  the  needles  of 
the  hackmatack." 


t 


1 

■3 


TIIK  CANADA  GltOUSU. 


68 


iiini's 

Ciiii 

of  M 

'  liinl 

,  tiliil 

'Cnllll 

rlosc 

citm- 

uriii}-- 

iiiiii- 

>ut    I  I 

wihjr 

iwliilc 

Sllllll' 
IS     lilt' 


m 


Mr.  Miiiilv  Iliinlv,  of  Hrcwt-r,  Maiiit',  a  n-liiililc  aiul  ran'fiil  nlwcrvcr, 
writes  iiic  as  follows:  "1  liavt-  hccii  ovi-r  cvcrv  |»art  of  this  State  where  this 
Itiril  is  likelv  to  he  aliiiiulaiit,  east  iVoiii  i'eiioliscot,  iVom  the  sea  to  the  North 
Corner  .Moiiiimeiit,  Init  1  have  always  CoiiikI  the  Canaila  (Jrouse  very  scaree 
evervwhere.  Five  once  anil  six  at  another  time  are  the  larjjest  iiiinilier  I 
ever  saw  together.  I  have  many  times  trav<>leil  a  month,  ami  sometimes 
two  months  ronstantly  in  the  woods,  where  they  on^iht  to  lie,  without  seeinjr 
over  one  or  two. 

"A  Micmae  Iiulian,  whom  I  eonsiiler  reliahle,  tells  me  ol'  havin;;  seen  a 
park  ol' nianv  thonsamls  somewhere  east  of  Ilalitax,  Nova  Srotia,  on  which  their 
wliole  \illaj;e  liveil  for  weeks,  iiio\  iiij;'  after  them  when  they  nioveil.  'i"he 
males  "^leatK  prepoiiilerate  over  the  females,  at  least  two  to  one.  'IMiey  feed 
almost  entii'elv  on  the  needles  of  spruce  and  lir,  also  hackmatack  and  lienies 
ill  summer.  They  show  a  preference  for  some  lir  trees  over  others,  as  1  have 
seen  them  return  to  the  same  tree  until  it  was  nearly  stri|iped.  When  di.s- 
turhed,  thev  alwavs  take  to  the  trees,  wfdkinj;-  alioiit  in  tlnMii,  from  one  liraiich 
to  aiiotlier.  .M\  fatiier,  who  had  opportunities  to  see  them  drum,  told  nie  they 
drmiimed  in  the  air  while  descending-  Irian  a  tree.  'I'lioy  would  tly  up  on  a 
tree,  then  start  oH"  and  drum  on  the  way  to  the  jrroiind,  like  a  (Quaker  jirass- 
liopper.  When  on  the  ;iroimd  they  scratch  a  j^reat  deal  more  than  other 
( iroiise  do." 

Another  description  of  the  druiiiniiii;i'  is  as  follows:  "'rhe('anada  (iroiise 
performs  its  •ilrumminj;'  upon  the  trunk  of  a  staiidiiiji-  tree  of  rather  small  size, 
preferahly  one  that  is  inclined  from  the  perpendicular,  and  in  the  following;' 
manner:  ('oiiimeiicin<r  near  the  liase  of  the  tree  .selected,  the  liird  thitters 
upward  with  somewhat  slow  proi^ress,  hut  rapidly  lieatinji'  wiiijis,  which  pro- 
duce the  drumming'  sniiiid.  lla\iii;;'  thus  asieiided  l.'i  or  'JO  feet  it  <j'lides 
(piielly  on  wiiiji-  to  the  ^iroiind  and  repeats  the  maiio'inre.  l-'avorite  places 
are  resorted  to  lialtitiiall V,  and  these  'drnmmin;:'  trees'  are  well  known  to 
oliservaiit  woodsiiieii.  I  ha\('  seen  one  that  was  so  well  «orn  ii|)oii  the  hark 
as  to  lead  to  the  lielief  that  it  had  iieeii  used  for  this  purpose  for  iii.-iny 
years.  This  tree  was  a  spruce  of  ti  inches  diameter,  \\itli  an  inclination  of 
aliout  !.'>  de<>'rees  t'roin  the  perpendicular,  and  was  known  to  have  heen  used  as 
a  'driimmin;!'  tree'  lor  several  seasons.  'Tlie  upper  surface  iind  sides  of  the 
trunk  were  so  worn  hy  the  feel  and  wiiij^s  of  the  liird  or  liirds  nsin;;'  it  for 
driimmin;;',  that  for  a  distance  of  1.*  or  !.'•  feet  the  hark  had  liecome  ipiiti- 
smooth  and  red  as  if  rnhlteil."' 

.\!r.  Watson  L.  Uishop,  of  Keiitville,  Nova  Scotia,  has  succeeded  in  doines- 
ticaliii;f  the  ( !anada  (Ji-oiise.  and  he  has  piililislied  ^^everal  verv  interestiiifi' 
accounts  of  their  haliits  as  oliserved  l>y  him.  in  the  "  Korest  and  Stream."  ;ii\in;i- 
Is  many  readers  a  <>'reat  deal  of  new  and  valiiahle  information  alioiit  the  life- 
history  of  these  liirds,  a  portion  of  which  I  extract,  lli'  sa\s:  ".\s  the  iiest- 
in^f  sea.soii   approaches   I   prepare   siiitalile   places   for  them    liv  placin;>'  spriu'c 

'IliiilNur  Maiiii',  Kvitrvtl  .Smith,  Knrrnl  uml  Slri'iiiii,  K<'l>riiiiry  H,  ISsll,  p.  2li. 


I  '     ' 


54 


lAVK  HISTOIUIW  itV  NOinil  AMHUICAN  iuuds. 


iMiujilis  ill  such  a  way  sih  to  tann  in/,y  little  Hlicltcrs,  wlit'ir  tlic  Itinis  will  l»c 
prt'ttN'  well  cuiu-ciilt'tl  Iroiii  \i('\v.  1  tlnii  ojitlirr  up  sniiit'  old  dry  Iciivcs  iiiid 
p'liss  iiiid  sDittiT  it  jilinut  nil  till-  ^nniiid  iit-iir  wlicrc  1  have  |irf|iiir)'il  a  plarc  tor 
till-  iK-st.  Till'  liird  |)iiy>«  im  iitttiitioii  to  tliis  until  slu-  wniits  to  Iny.  Slic  will 
tlifii  sclcrt  OIK-  of  tlicsc  jtliu-fs,  mid,  iit'tiT  siTiiti-liiii<r  ii  di-i'|)  fU|)-sliii|icd  pliin-  in 
the  ;iioiiiid,  dt'|iosit  ill  it  licr  cfiiis.      Wlini  tin-  licii  is  on  tlic  nest  hIic  is  coiitin- 

iiiilly  iiiiikin;;  ii  kind  of  ( iuo'    sound,  wliicli  1  li:i\<-   iifvcr  heard   tlieiii   iiiiike 

oil  liny  otluT  oetiisioii.  if  there  should  he  siinieieiit  inateriiil  within  ensy  reiieh 
of  the   nest    tlu-   liinl  will   soinetinies  eovcr  the  e;;'}i'H    up,    hut   not  in  all  ctises. 

"No  nestin^i'  nuiteriid  is  tiikeii  to  tlie  nest  until  at'ttT  three  or  tour  e;ij;s  me 
laid.  After  this  niinilier  has  lieeii  deposited,  the  hen  after  layin<>'  an  e<>M>',  and 
while  leavinif  the  iiest,  will  pick  up  straws,  ;;rass,  and  leaMs,  or  whatever  siiit- 
aiile  material  is  at  hand,  and  tlirow  it  hackward  o\er  her  iiack  as  she  leaves  the 
nest,  and  hy  the  time  tin-  set  is  complete,  (piite  a  ipiantity  of  this  litter  is  collected 
ahoi^t  the  nest.  She  will  then  sit  in  her  iiest  and  reach  luit  and  gather  in  the 
nesting  material  and  place  it  ahoiit  her,  and  when  completed  the  nest  is  very 
deep  and  nicely  hordered  with  ;>'rass  and  leaves. 

"So  stron;^-  is  the  haiiit,  or  instinct,  ol  throwing;-  tlie  iiestiiifi'  materials  over 
the  iiack,  that  they  will  treipieiitly  throw  it  away  from  the  nest,  inste.id  of 
toward  it,  i:s  the  lien  will  sometimes  follow  a  trail  of  material  that  will  turn  her 
'lijilit  aliout'  so  ;!iat  her  head  is  toward  the  nest,  hut  all  the  time  she  will  con- 
tinue to  throw  what  she  picks  up  o\er  her  liack.  This,  of  «'ourse,  is  throwing 
the  material  away  from  the  nest.  IMscoveriiij>'  her  mistake,  she  will  then  'rifilit 
alioiit  face'  and  |iick  ;ip  the  same  material  that  an  instant  hetoi-e  was  heiii;^' 
thrown  away,  ami  throw  it  o\er  her  i»ack  a;iiiiii  toward  the  nest. 

"The  way  they  will  steal  c-fiji's  from  one  another  would  do  credit  to  a  Lon- 
don pick|»ocket.  Two  hens  had  their  nests  near  together,  perhaps  '2  feet  apart, 
and  as  eaili  hen  laid  every  other  day.  one  nest  would  lie  \acant  while  the  other 
W(aild  he  occupied.  The  hen  that  laid  last  would  not  >xi>  away  until  she 
had  stolen  the  nest  e;iy  from  the  other  nest  ami  placed  it  in  her  own.  I  once 
saw  a  hell  attempt  to  steal  an  e;^';:-  from  another  nest  that  was  2(1  feet  awa\ . 
She  worked  t'aithfully  at  it  tor  hall'  an  hour  or  more,  hut  di<l  not  succeed  in 
mo\in<^'  the  coveted  e;i;;-  more  than  alioiit  S  t'eet,  it  hein;;'  up  hill.  The  ejj"fi'  so 
fre(|uently  j;ot  away  from  her  and  rolled  hack  a  foot  or  more  each  time,  that 
she  at  last  fiot  dis;iusted.  and  }jave  up  the  task.  I  h.id  in»  fear  of  ;>ettinj;- the 
sets  mixed,  as  each  was  .so  dilVereiit  in  color  and  shape  from  the  other. 

"( (ii  ^oiii^-  to  the  pen  one  evening;'  I  foiiml  one  of  tlie  hens  on  the  lU'st,  and 
I  knew  she  was  he^iimiii^-  to  sit,  as  all  the  others  had  ;ione  to  roost.  Slippin<i 
my  hand  iimler  her  I  luund  three  e;i';is,  the  m-st  eji;;-,  the  one  just  laid,  and  the 
one  stolen  from  the  other  nest.  I  pickeil  two  ot' them  up  and  held  them  hetore 
her,  when  she  all  at  once  placed  her  hill  over  the  one  held  hetweeii  my  thiimii 
and  forelin;'er,  and  tried  to  pull  it  out  of  my  liainl:  I  did  not  let  her  have  it. 
however,  and  she  immediately  stepped  upon  the  side  of  the  nest  and  placing:- 
her  liill  over  the  lemaiiiiii;.;-  ej>j;-.   drew  it  lip  out  of  the  ni'st  and  |iusiied  it   hack 


THK  CANADA  OltOUHK. 


65 


i 


4 


4 


out  of  siu'lit,  IIS  nuK'li  iih  to  siiy  ' yoii  liiiv<-  two,  niiil  tliiit  is  all  you  can  lant-.'  I 
must  coiit'i'ss  that  it  was  with  ^rn-at  rfliictaiiiM-  I  took  thcsf  cff^s  I'l-oin  li(>r,  hIk* 
jilcailt'il  so  hard  for  thfiii. 

"Aiiyoiic  wlio  has  seen  t-^jis  of  the  ( 'aiaula  (Jroiisc  only  after  they  ha\f 
liiiii  ill  tho  lU'st  until  th«-  whole  set  is  coiiiplete,  can  have  no  idea  of  the  Iteauty 
of  a  fresh-laid  e;;;^'.  I  have  now  in  my  collection  alioiit  ei;«hty  of  these  ej>-;js, 
all  perfect  specimens. 

"The  male  hinl  lie^jins  to  stmt  in  March.  I  rememlter  very  well  the  first 
time  1  saw  one  strnttin;^'.  1  had  olitained  the  liird  in  the  fall,  and  he  used  to  sit 
alioiit,  lamched  up  almo.st  in  a  ronnd  hall,  as  the  female  diil,  initil  one  niornin;*', 
when  I  went  to  feed  them  I  found  him  strutting-.  His  attitude  was  .so  dilferent 
that  one  wonid  scarcely  have  known  it  was  the  same  liird.  I  went  in  the 
house  and  told  my  wife  to  come  and  see  him,  remarking'  that  \\hether  the 
female  laid  any  e^'';is  or  not,  1  was  well  paid  iiy  this  si^ht  for  all  my  tronlile. 
I  was  so  interesteil  in  seeing-  him  strut  that  I  had  the  photo;;rapher  lirin;;  his 
cameia  in  and  tiike  some  stereoscopic   views  of  him   while   strutting;'. 

"I  will  descrihe  as  nearly  as  I  can  his  conduct  and  attitude  \\hilostruttin<>': 
The  tail  stands  almost  erect,  the  win^is  are  slij;htly  raised  from  the  Itody  and  a 
little  droo|ied,  the  head  is  .still  well  up,  and  the  feathers  of  the  lireast  and  throat 
are  raiseil  and  stamlin;;'  ont  in  re;!idar  rows,  which  press  the  feathers  «»f  the 
nape  and  hind  neck  well  hack,  formini.>'  a  smooth  kind  of  cajie  on  rhe  hack 
of  the  neck,  'i'liis  smooth  cape  contrasts  licautifidly  with  the  rutHeil  Idack 
and  white  feathers  of  the  throat  and  fore  liicast.  The  red  com!)  over  each 
eve  is  enlar;^ed  until  the  two  nearly  me«'t  over  the  top  of  the  head.  This 
condt  the  hird  is  aide  to  enlarge  or  rednce  at  will,  and  while  he  is  struttiujf 
ihe  exjtanded  tail  is  moved  from  sidt^  to  side,  'i'he  two  center  feathers  do 
Mot  move,  hut  each  side  expands  and  contracts  alternately  with  each  step 
as  the  iiird  walks.  This  movenuMit  of  the  tail  pi-oduces  a  peculiar  rustlin;:', 
like  that  of  silk.  This  attitude  <;ives  him  a  very  di-iiiilied  and  even  con- 
ceiteil  air.  lie  tries  to  attract  attiiition  in  every  possible  way,  l>y  tivin;^' from 
the  ^roinid  up  on  a  perch,  ami  hack  to  the  <irounil,  makin;;'  all  tluf  noi.se  \h-  can 
in  doin^'  so.  Then  he  will  ihum|)  some  hard  stdistance  with  his  liill.  I  liav(t 
had  him  tly  up  on  my  shoulder  and  thump  my  collar.  At  this  sea.soii  he  In 
very  i)old,  and  will  scarcely  keep  enoii^fh  out  of  the  way  to  avoid  hein^- stepped 
on.  lie  will  .sometinu's  sit  with  his  breast  almost  ttaichin;;-  the  e.arth,  his 
feathers  erect  as  in  sti'uttin«j',  and  makin;i'  pecniiar  noddin;;' aial  circular  motions 
of  the  head  from  side  to  side:  he  will  remain  in  this  position  two  or  three  min- 
utes at  a  time,  lie  is  a  most  beautiful  l)ird,  and  shows  by  his  actiiais  that  he 
is  perfectlv  aware  of  the  fact. 

".\s  th(!  s|)rinji' and  suunner  advance  the  fooil  j,nven  these  ( "anada  (Jron.se 
umst  be  chanjicd  with  the  season,  and  it  is  oidy  with  a  perlect  knowledfi'c  of 
their  waiUs  and  with  constant  care,  that  they  can  lie  safely  carried  thron;>li  the 
heat  of  the  snunner  and  the  monltin;;'  season.  In  the  nesting-  .season  tin* 
lemales  are  vciy  (piarrelsome,  and  at   this  tinu'  more  than  two  or  three  i-aniiot 


4 
^ 


5(i 


lAVK  IIISTOIMKH  OK  MOKTII  AMI<:i{l(!AN  HIUDH. 


ht'  k*'|>r  in  tlu*  sniiii'  pni,  Itiit  in  .lulv  tlii*y  iiiiiy  Ih>  all  tiinwil  tonctluT  ii^riiiu, 
and  tJH-y  «iii  a^frci-  very  well  initil  the  rnllnwin;;  Marcli."' 

'I'lii-  Canaila  ({i-oiisc  IicitiIh  rally.  D'iH'^  imw  in  tin-  l'.  S.  N'atiiaial 
Mn.Hcnni  ntlltM-tion  liavc  liccn  taken  liy  Mr.  It.  |{.  Kusm,  nt'  tiif  llmisun  liny 
(Niinpany,  near  Fort  Sini|Htin,  Hriti.sli  N'urtli  America,  north  of  liititiule  i'r2^,  as 
(•ally  as  May  'J'.\.  lint  a  .ninjiie  itrood  is  raised  in  a  season.  'I'lie  ninnlter  of 
i'trir-t,  to  a  set  varies  fnini  nine  to  iliirti  en,  rarely  more,  nsually  altont  eleven, 
and  in  exeeptional  eases  us  many  as  sixteen.  An  e;;;;  is  deposited  every  other 
•  lay,  and  iniidiatioii  does  not  lie^in  till  the  eluteh  is  completed.  In  form  the 
(.jrus  vary  frniii  nxafe  to  eloii;iiile  o\ate.  Their  ;rround  i-olor,  wiiich  is  oidy 
superficial,  is  also  very  variai)le,  ran^iin;;  from  a  pale  creamy  ImiH'  to  a  decided 
reddish  laill'  or  pale  cimiamon,  and  a^^ain  to  itrownish  lailV  with  intermediate 
shades.  The  e;;;;s  are  irri'^inlarly  spotted  and  hlotched  with  reildish  brown  or 
linriit  umlier.  The  spots  \ary  consideraitly  in  si/e  and  sha|)e,  l)iit  are  neser 
idose  enon^i'h  ton-ether  to  hide  tla*  ground  color.  An  occasional  specimen  is  hn' 
very  sli;;Mtly  marked,  aiul  now  and  then  one  may  he  entirely  nnspotted. 

The  avcra;;)'  measnrement  of  fifty  specimens  in  the  ('.  S.  National  Mnsemn 
collection  is  4,'{.")  I»y  ,'M.'i  millimetres,  the  largest  ej^ff  measmin;;'  4H  l»y  .'{,'}, 
the  smallest  II  hy  .'tl  millimetres. 

Of  the  type  speeimeiis  selecteil  to  show  tln'  variations  in  ctdia'  and  mark- 
in;rs.  No.  -Jthm  (]'].  I,  Fiy.  20),  was  taken  near  Whale  IJiver,  Tn-ava  Hay, 
.Inne  ;J,  1H,S,'{;  Nos.  •Jl'iJKH  and  -JJ.IilK  (i»l.  1,  Fi;-s.  •_'!  and  •_'•_'),  near  F.irt 
Chimo,  Northeast  Territory,  Dominion  of  (Canada,  liotli  on  .Inly  I,  IH.S|, 

'i'hese  cfifTs  were  all  collected  i)y  Mr.  L.  .M.  Turner  while  on  dnty  as  I'nited 
States  si;>na  I  oliserver  at  Fort  (Ihimo,  and  No.  JIOJI  (i'l.  I.  Fij;.  ■_».}),  is  from  a 
set  of  thirteen,  laid  in  conlinement  in  the  sprin^i' of  |S!M),  and  purchased  from  Mr. 
W.  L.  Hisliop,  Kentville,  No\a  Scotia.  Tlii'  set  from  which  this  speciuu-n  is 
selecteil  is  nmch  richei'  colored  than  any  of  the  enns  taken  from  these  liirds  in 
a  wild  stati',  and  may  he  partly  caused  l»y  the  food  they  received  in  captivity. 


19.     Dendragapus  franklinii  (Donn.A.s). 

I'KANKM.N's   (lltOI'SK. 

T'lnin  f'riinkliiiii  Dorfii.As.  Tiiois.iciioiis  Ijiiiii.i'ioi  Snciety.  XVI.  iii.  IS''!),  l.'tft. 
Ih  nih;iiiii)iiis  fiinihliiiii  KinoWAV.  i'l'dCfcliiii^s  {'. .  S.  Natiiuiiil  Xlasciiiu.  viii.  I.-^.S,'..  .•[."..'i. 
(H  liil.  ('  .i.sod.  K  tr-.'(/.  ('  ,v.i;.  V  -.MMi.) 

Okook.vi'IIIcai.  KA.voK:    Xurtlu'ia  Uncky   .Mipinilains  (cliielly  ridrlliuf  llieriiitrtl 
Stales)  ami  west  to  llic  ('iiast  rMM;;es. 

The  hreediny:  ran;ie  of  Franklin's  (JriMise,  wliii-h  .still  remains  one  of  the 
rarest  hirds  in  the  ornitholo^ieal  collections,ol  tlie  Cnited  States,  exteiidH  from 
aliout  latitude  (iO\  in  southern  Alaska,  Itiit  ahai^  the  coast  only,  south  throu;.>'h 
Mritish   ('4diimiiia    and    \Vashin;iton,   to  iKathern  ( )re;;dn,   where  it  reaches  it.s 


'  Kiirrnt  mill  Siri'iiiii,  May  Uli,  IrilNi,  |i.  Mu. 


FUANKLIN'H  (1UOII8E. 


67 


iitl 


HiiitiK'ni 


limit  lit  iilioiii  liititmli-  I'r.  KiiKtwJiril  it  raii;fi'H  tlir<tii^:li  tin-  lii^rlicr 
iiioiiiitaiiis  of  tiortlii'ni  iiiul  (■ciitriil  Idiilio,  iiiul  nnrtliwfstini  Moiitiiiiu  to  tlif 
Melt  nm;ft'.  In  Aliiskii,  mn-tli  of  liititiiil«»  (10  ,  it  is  n'|ilii('c<l  Ity  l)<iiiliwf(ipiis 
tautiilnisis,  wliicli  likewise  roiclii's  tlu'  ((uist  Ihtc.  iiml  the  iircsciit  .s|M'(icH  occii- 


pirs 


liilt 


II  i'iiMi|)tin 


tivcli 


V  Miiiall  |Mii-tii>ii  III  tliin  cxlciisivi'  tcnitnrv , 


Will 


III  til*' 


I'liittMl  Stiitt's,  I'Vankliirn  (JnuiHc  is  |M>rlia|m  most  toiimioii  in  Hiiitalih*  localiticM 
tliruii<j'lioiit  iiortlirni  ami  ci-iitial  l<lalio,  in  tli<-  almost  iiM|M-nctral>lt'  anil  ili-nscly 
tiriilMTiMl  mountain  ranges  liordnin^r  the  If  i  Iwatcrs  ol'  tlic  iiortli  ami  sontli 
forks  ot"  till' (Jli-arwatiT,  ami  tin'  trilmtaric!*  of  tin- Salmon  llivrr.  'riiion;,'lioiit 
tliis  ri' 


lol 


wi- 


I  tins  H|H'(-i('s  is  known  as  tlii'  "Fool  llt'ii;"  an  cmim-ntlv  |)ro|ii'i' ami 
-iIi'si'IvimI  nami',  it  lirin^'  iiilirrly  iinsiis|»ifioiis,  iiijowin^-  itsclt"  rrt'(|iifntly 
to  la-  knocki'il  oil'  tlii'  tiTi's  witli  sticks  or  stones,  ami  it  can  oi'tcn  In-  raii<r|it 
liy  liaml. 

Mv  Irii-ml,  Dr.  T.  K.  Wilcox,  V.  8.  Afiuy,  says:  "Tlic  cocks  of  this  species 
are  tearless  ami  |m;;'iiacioiis,  ret'iisin;;  to  llee  I'roni  man,  ami  even  attackiii;;  an 
intruder.  I  have  heeii  alile  to  ;>et  within  .'I  or  4  feet  hel'ore  they  woiilil  lio|i 
to  another  hrancli  or  twi;;.  I  always  t'onml  them  near  running'  water  or  alon;<' 
the  lionlers  of  hi;;'h  marsjies.      Its  lli;>'ht  is  not  noisy  like  that  of  other  ()rollse 


or 


Part 


riMyes. 


Mr.  (leorife   HirtI    (trinnell  savs 


■WI 


leii   alanm-ii   nr  uneasy 


Frank  I ii 


1  s 


(irolise,  as  well  as  the  husky  tJrouse,  has  tlle  haliil  of  electin;.;'  the  fealhel's  ol 
the  neck  jiisi  helow  the  hiail.  'i'his  is  ilone  very  counnonly,  ami  jiives  the  ItinI 
a  very  oilil  apjiearance.  It  is  analogous  to  the  haliii  of  the  Uulfeil  (ironse, 
which,  iimler  the  inlliience  of  certain  emotions,  erects  the  lilack  rull,  ami  as 
floes  the  I'imiated  (JlMllse  its  little  falciform  feathers  on  the  neck." 

While  stationed  .it  Fort  Lapwai,  Idaho,  from  ISd.s  to  IS71,  I  .saw  these 
liirds  on  se\eral  occasions,  and  learned  a  <^'i)oi|  deal  alioiit  them  from  pack- 
ers and  trap|Mrs.  in  those  days  the  town  of  l<ewisi(Mi,  situateil  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  .Snake  and  Clearwater  liivers,  II  miles  west  of  Fort  l^apwai, 
was  the  main  supply  depot  for  the  various  minin;>-  camps  in  northern  Idaho, 
and  every  pound  of  frei^^ht  tor  the  mines  had  to  lie  carried  there  on  pack 
The    main    trails    to    Om    i''ino,    I'lurence,   and    Warrens,    the    three 

A 


mull 


principal  mininj;'  centers  at  that  time,  passed  ri^lit  throii^ih  the  jfarrison, 
it  was  no  unusual  si;>-ht  t<M-  a  hall  do/en  pack  trains,  numlieriii<.;'  a  couph*  of 
hundred  mules,  to  pass  liy  there  in  a  day.  The  route  followed  l»v  these 
trains  passed,  for  a  portion  of  the  way  at  least,  o\er  as  rou^ili  and  ru;:'^ed  a 
country  as  can  lie  found  anywhere,  up  one  mountain  and  ilowii  another: 
some  jilaces  lieiiifi'  so  I'ockv  and  steep  that  it  seemed  impossihle  tor  the 
liea\il\'  laden  mules  to  keep  their  fo  uin^',  and  the  uuilerliriish  .so  dense  and 
thick  on  either  side  that  it  w.is  almost  impenetrahle.  The  few  narrow  moun- 
tain valleys  met   with  were  no  Wetter.       The  meltinj''  of  the  deep  snows  ren- 


ilereti 


tl 


lem    ncariN' 


llott 


omless  iiuriii'' 


the   ii; 


greater    portion    ot    the    summer, 
makin;;-  them  a  shakinii',  tremlilin;^-  ipia;;inire  in   which  the  poor  mules  lioiin- 


deied 


up 


t(»    tl 


leir 


lellies    m    mini 


am 


mire. 


If 


you 


desiri'd    to    Imh' 


oiiiu 


=  1^ 


i' 


58 


lilFli!  II18TOUIK8  OF  NORTH  AMKUICAN  BlltUS. 


a('i|iiaint(Ml  witli  tlir  lialtits  mI'  Kniiiklin's  (iroiisc  ytitir  iiicliiiiition  i!ii<r|it  Im* 
•fnitilictl  in  surli  Incalitics  as  li  re  dcscrilicil,  viz,  aloii^-  tlic  <(l;'('s  nt'  wet  or 
swaiijiy  mountain  \all«'ys,  tlic  so-called  "Camas  prairies,"  or  the  lionlers  ot' 
file  I  nnerous  little  streams  tound  in  sinli  ri'^ions  ainonff  jjroves  or  thickets 
of  sprnce  and  tamarack.  Few  natnialists  have  as  yet  liei-n  sniliciently  inter- 
ested, to  invade  their  favorite  hamit s.  Tliey  are  also  qnite  almndant  on  the 
l,olo  trail  over  the  Hitter  Hoot  .Mountains,  from  the  Ne/,  I'erci-  Indian  Reser- 
vation to  Missonia,  Montana.  I  have  met  with  them  here  as  well  as  in  the 
Salmon  liiver  Mountains,  south  of  Mount  idalio.  at  an  altitude  of  front  11,0(10 
to  !(,000  feet,  durin;;'  the  N<-z  I'erct'  campaiyii  in  the  sinnmer  of  1S77,  <»ut 
had  no  time  then  to  oi»serM    their  hal»its  clos<dy. 

In  the  summer  of  IHSI  j  t'ouud  a  sinj,"'le  covey,  nundx-rinji'  al)out  ten  hiids, 
in  the  low.  Hat  and  ileiisely  tindx-red  reiiion  Ixtwei  n  the  southern  end  of 
Tend  d'(  )reille  Lake  (the  ohl  steandtoa!  laiiilinji)  and  Lake  ( 'u-ur  d'.Mene, 
Idaho,  at  an  altitude  not  exceediuif  .■{,")00  feet.  1  should  think.  I  l)ajr;i-ed  three 
iti  these  liirds,  and  was  ijuite  sinprised  to  find  them  in  sudi  a  locality.  As  far 
as   1    have  heen  aide  to  le.irn,  diey   usually   occurrtMl   oidy   at  altitudes  from 

">,0(»0  to  !t,000  •cet.  and  sc.ircely  ever  left  the  lii;;her  luitains.     Tl.ey   were 

scratchii';;'  in  the  dust  on  tin-  trai'  1  was  following;',  and  simply  ran  into  the 
thick  underitrusli  on  each  side,  when   they  Mere  (piickly  ludden. 

Franklin's  (Jmnse  is  .i  consinut  i-esideiit  wherever  found,  anil  alaindant 
enoui:h  in  certain  localities.  Lai-jre  uumliers  are  yearly  killed  liy  liotli  Indians 
and  )»ackers:  in  fact,  this  (Jroiise  seem^  to  turnish  the  laiter  their  principal 
fresh-mi'at  supply  'liirin^i'  the  summer  months,  and  they  are  Ity  no  means 
uii|ialatal>le  at  this  time,  as  they  feed  more  nr  h-s  on  various  herries  and 
grasshoppers,  and  not  sii  much  on  the  linds  and  leaves  of  the  spruce  and 
tamarack,  as  at  other  seasons  of  the  yeaf, 

.\cc'irdiiij.>:  to  the  liest  information  .ditainalde,  liiit  a  siiij>-le  lirood  is  raised 
in  a  season,  ai.d  their  actions  and  drumi:iin;i-  durin;^-  th<'  matin;:  sen  son  ■iic 
similar  to  tliose  of  the  ( 'anada  (tvoiise.  Nidificiitioii  iieuiiis  during-  the  latter 
p.irt  of  .May  or  the  iicjiiiiiii;:  of  June,  depending'  somewhat  mi  .iltitiide  and 
the  season.  'I'lii-  iiestinv  haiiits  and  niinlier  of  ey'^s  laid  to  a  set  a|)pear 
to  lie  similar  to  tli.:se  of  die  former  species.  There  are  no  full  sets  of  e^iPs 
ill  the   I'.  S.  y.irjoiial   Museum  collection 

,\ moll;;' ail  extremelv  interesting' cullectio;!  of  liirds' nests  and  e;j';.^s,  made 
liv  .Mr  i\.  .MacKarlaiie,  chief  tactor  of  the  llud>'on  liav  ( 'omp.iny,  near  Stewart 
i.aki'.  New  Caledonia  District.  Uritish  ( 'o!iimiii;i.  durii  u'  the  .season  of  1S,S!I, 
and  fliro-viiiM'  niuc'i  'v'I'f  ""  ''"'  distriiaitiun  of  a  ..iimlier  ot"  species  f.iuiiil 
i'l  this  little  known  and  practically  nin  splored  territorv.  are  two  iiicoiii|ilete 
Sets  of  e^i'^'s  ot'  this  liird 

Three  e;;;^*  of  I'Vanklin's  ( Siouse  ami  oik  of  t!ie  (".inadiaii  K'iill'ed  tiroiise 
were  found  in  one  nest  Iiy  an   Indian  near  ilihiiie,  in  the  latter  part  of  .Mav, 

|HH!t,  and   a   second    ui'st,  ;dso  containiiiL;'    thr 'rSiX'*-    ^^'-'^    liroiiijlit    to    .Mr. 

.Macl'iirl.iue  with  the  parent,   liy  another  Imliaii.   who  found   il    n«-ai'   l*'orf   St. 


FHAN KLIN'S  (JKOUSK. 


69 


.FiiiMcs,  (.11  .liiiic  !i  of  tlu'  siiiiu'  ytsiv.  Tlif  lU'st  was  imTcly  ii  slijrlit  (l('|>rcs- 
sioii  in  tlic  <;Toiiiiil,  ami  was  lined  witli  a  t'<w  ilcs-ayeil  leaves.  Two  of  the 
e<'<rs  foiitaiiied  well-t'nriiieil  ciiilii y<is  ami  tin-  tliini  was  aililled. 

'riinui^ili  I'le  kindness  of  Mr.  \V.  K.  'IVaill,  in  diar^it  ot'  one  of  the  Hud- 
son Hav  ('oiii|iany  iiosfs  in  Mritisli  ( 'olinnliia,  parts  of  three  sets  of  these  rare 
ly^s,  lifteeii  in  nniiilier,  were  eoUeeted  fldriiiji'  the  season  of  ISIK);  taken  on 
y\;\\  I'd,  -JT.  and  ."><',  res|)<'itively.  Tlie  nests  were  shallow  depressions  in  the 
nioss-eovered  ><;roiiiid,  lined  with  hits  of  dry  f^rass,  anil  wt-re  placed  at  tlu* 
holders  of  .spruce  thickets,  'i'lie  ej;-;>-s  wen-  fresh  when  found.  They  re.seiiihle 
tliosi  of  tlie  Canada  (Jroiise  in  shape,  color,  and  iiiarkhiy;s,  luit  averaj«-e  a  triHe 
smaller. 

The  avern<;e  size  of  twenty-three  ,s|)eciinens  in  tlie  l'.  S.  National  Miiseiiin 
collection  is  4"J  l»y  ."U  niillimt  tres;  tlie  lar^^est  e^ji'  ineasiirinj;-  4')  hy  .'52. o, 
liic  smallest  ;{S.r»  liy  .'M  iiiillimetres.  As  they  are  similar  to  tliose  of  the  pre- 
ceding' ,^pecie.s,  none  are  lijiiired. 


20.     Bonasa  umbellus  (Linn.kis), 
la  irr.n  liKorsK. 


,1     (.ll'll'.S 


inatle 
•  tewart 
If  1HS!». 
f.iiMid 
Imiplete 

(J  rouse 
i.f  Mav, 
to  Mr. 
I'ort  St. 


Trinin      .hrlhis  LiN'N.Kfa,  Systi'itiM  Natinic.  cil.  f.'.  i.  IMH,  'i^H. 
Ildiiiisii  /(//(//(//(i.s  .Stkimikns.  ( irii.r.il  /ipi'lo^.v .  .XI.  \x\'-K  :ii"' 
(H  Ui.K  ('  :(s.-..  1{  IM.  ('  ,MI.-..  U  :!iHi.) 

(<Ko(ii{AiMiic.\i.  itANoK:  KastiMii  l^iiilcil  Sl/ites.  Wist  to  cijijc  of  Orpat  Plains  (?); 
iiMilli  to  Mie^-iicliii.-ii'lls  I  Idwhimls),  Mimicsiila.  sniillii'iii  <  liituriK.  Caiiailii:  scuitli  to 
Mill  ilicni  Sniilli  ( 'iiroliiiii  ami  iiorlliufstrin  ( ii'cu'tjiji  (ii|il;iiiils).  'riimi'ssec,  Arkansas,  clc. 

'i'lie  typical  Untfed  (Jroiise  or  I'artridiie  of  the  Nortliern  States  and  tlie 
I'lieasant  ot'  tic  Smitli,  inliahits  ainl  Ih'cimIs  throiiirhoiit  the  wiMxIed  sections  nf 
tlie  eastern  I'nited  States,  from  Massachusetts  westward,  tliroiijili  New  \'<trk, 
I'eiinsylxaiiia,  <  >!iiii,  .Micliipm.  Wisconsin,  .Miniiesnta,  and  tlie  soutlieastern  por- 
tions ot  Norlli  and  South  Dakota,  thence  south  thi'ou;;li  suiitlieasterii  Nehraska 
and  Mis.soiiri,  the  muimtaiiinus  re^imis  ul  .\rkaiisas,  eastern  Tennessee,  western 
North  Oarol'iia,  iiortlica>teni  Alali.ima,  iiorthwi -^lerii  (ienrjiia,  and  northern 
South  (^irolina,  is  well  as  in  tiie  ri'inaiiiiii;;'  States  iiicliided  within  the  lioniida- 
rics  nieiltiolM  d.  Tliroii^siiout  its  southern  r;iiij;-e  the  h'lltVed  (irollse  is  most', 
coiiliiied  to  the  moiintan  rc^'oiis,  and  is  seldom  if  eNcr  found  in  the  lowlands 
dnriii;:-  the  hreedin^  season.  In  the  N'lW  Kicjlaiid  States  north  ot  Massachu- 
setts it  inter'^rades  with  //.  nitihrlhiH  toiiutn,  the  majoritv  of  ihe  specimens  I'oiind 
ihrouji'hout  Miiithern  .Maine.  Ni  \\  llainpshire.  \"ermont,  and  northern  New 
Voi'k  liiiii;;'  scaiceiv  refer.iidr  to  either  form,  liirds  found  in  the  hiji'li  Ian  s 
approadiiii;;  the  ( 'anadiaii  U'ntfed  Oroii^e,  while  those  in  the  \alle\s,  are  nearer 
typical  Hoitasii  hiiiIhIIiis.  The  UnU'ed  (iioiise  loinid  in  southern  <  hifario,  ( 'aii- 
adii.  are  referalile  to  this  race. 


w 


60 


lilFK  lUaTOUIHSOF  NORTH  AMKIMCAN  BIRDS, 


It  Is  ffciicnillv  a  rcsitlciit  innl  hrcctls  wluTcvcr  foimd,  riinkiu^''  with  tlio 
Hnl)  Wliitf  ill  im|Mirtiiii(i'  iis  ii  <^i\\\u'  Itinl.  Tln'  IJiilVcil  (frnusc  is  niitiiriilly 
tiinitt  tiiiil  iiiisiis|iii'i()iis,  iiiiil  let  it  oiici'  ri-iilix.i'  tluit  it  is  prntcctt'tl  if  Ik>coiiu'S 
iiiiiiitst  IIS  itiiich  at  homo  in  tlu-  iiiiiin'iliiitc  vicinity  nt'  man  as  a  <|itMicstir  t'uwl, 
ami  qiiiikly  h-anis  to  know  its  tricufls.  At  the  line  cuniitry  ri'sidciici'  of  thi- 
lion,  (/'liiiton  Ii.  .Mcniani,  near  Locust  (trove.  Nov  York,  <'s|M'cially  din-in^j:  tln« 
winter,  it  is  not  an  nniisnal  sijfjit  to  set-  several  of  these  handsome  liinls  nncon- 
cernedly  walking;-  almnt  the  shiMiliiiery  surroundin;;'  his  home,  and  even  coniin}'' 
on  the  veranda  of  the  house  to  teed.  They,  like  many  other  animals  silioin  the 
place,  have  learned  that  here  at  least  they  are  anion;;  friends,  and  ;>lainly  show 
their  full  conlideiict^  in  them.  M\eii  dnrin;r  the  in:iiin;>°  season  a  cock  (iroiise 
may  fie(|iiently  lie  seen  ill  the  act  of  drnmmiii;;'  within  ."lO  yards  of  some  of  tlio 
oiitltuildin^'s. 

Mow  different  are  the  haliits  of  tliei-e  liirils  from  those  of  the  Hiilh-d 
(ironse  ns  we  iismilly  see  them.  Krom  the  silmost  constant  |ierseciitioii  thev 
are  snlijected  to  tli:'oiii>hont  the  year,  in  tlie  more  tliickK'  settled  portioiis  of 
the  United  States  nt  lesist,  they  have  liecome  a  most  cnniiiieu-  and  extri'inelv 
wjiry  liird,  and  it  takes  ;i  (|nick  eye  as  well  as  steady  nerves  to  nrrest  its  swiff 
and  |iowerfiil  tliirht  when  once  mi  the  win;'  and  lirin^jf  it  to  ha;;'. 

\«  *witlist;indiii;f  the  iirmy  of  sjiortsmeii,  wiio  leinc  this  hlril  Init  little  rot 
diiriii;;  the  o|ieii  sensnn,  and  the  ^reat  nmnlier  aniiiially  snared,  the  nimieroiis 
four-footed  eiirmiis  it  has  to  contend  with  ilnrin;r  the  hreedin;^-  se.isoii.  includ- 
ing- cats,  mink,  wiiisels,  foxes,  iind  .s(|uirrels,  ;is  well  as  crows  mid  hirds  of 
|irey — like  a  few  of  tiie  hawks  mid  o\\|s,  which  destrov  eitlier  the  e^-^s  i.r 
voun;i' — and  naliiiMl  c.iiiscs,  such  as  wet  and  co|(|  seasons,  which  iue  also 
exceedin^i'ly  de>trncli\r  to  the  newly-hatched  yomi>;,  this  iiolile  ^iime  hinl 
seems,  lieVfrtheiess,  to  hold  its  own  fairly  well  over  the  ;;reater  jiortioll  ot'  its 
ran;>e,  mid  while  they  may  lie  sc.irce  one  season,  in  tln'  next  they  mav  lie 
com|iarati\el\'  comiiioii. 

The  h'ntfed  (innise  is  partial  to  an  nndulatiiiir  and  hillv  comitr\ ,  oiii>  well 
wooded  and  covered  with  considiTalile  niidiriirowtli.  iiiters|iersiM|  here  and 
there  with  ciiltiv  ;it<'d  liejds  and  nwadow  lands.  In  tli<'  soutlii>rn  portions  of  its 
raii;i-e,  this  liiril  is  contiiied  t  i  the  more  moimtainons  and  .\lpiiie  re^rions,  lieiny: 
^I'Moni  found  tar  awav  Ironi  such  places,  excepting;  in  the  late  fall.  .\-<  win- 
ter approaches,  tlie  coveys  leave  their  feedimr  grounds  in  the  niountains  and 
repair  to  more  coMy;enial  h.imifs  alonu'  the  eiliji'sot'  the  iiei;;hl»orin;;'  valle\s. 

The  matiiii;'  season  occisionalK'  commences  earlx  in  Keliruarv ,  Imt  iisiiailv 
alioiit  the  liei!'iimiii;i  of  .NIarcli,  when  tlie  tamiliar  drumming.''  ot  tlie  male  mav 
lie  freipieiitly  heard,  tlioniih  the  liiid  i>  imt  ol'teii  seen.     This  drummiiiy^  of  the 

ItutVeil  (irollse    has    lleell  often  descrihel.  and   liiniV    dilferelit  theories  have  lleell 

advanced  as  to  how  the  sound  i^  prodiiceil.  •  It  is  Hciierallv  •■oiiceded  now  liv 
most   naturalists,  including-  such  well  known  ornitlioloi^'ists  as   Hrewster.    Mer 
riam,  and   lleiishaw.  that  thi' sound  is  produce  I  Itv  the  ontspread  wiii;rs  of  the 
liird  iiein'j'  liroiiiiht  suddeidv  il"W  imard  ajuiist  the  air,  witlioiii  striking;  aiiv- 
thiim:. 


Till!;  IJIFFEO  OHOITSE. 


61 


Wril 

■  its 

\>-  i  1 1  - 
iiiul 

III;)  V 
<\    llli- 

IllTll 
IW      ll\ 

III  tll<> 

aiiv  - 


.Mr.  .Mfiiily  Ilmdy,  ul"  lircwtr,  Miiiiic,  well  kiiuwii  iis  ,\  rdiiililr  stiuU'iit  i»l' 
luitiirt!  hikI  11  caivriil  olist  rvcr,  tlcsi  rilM-s  tlin  «lriiiiimiii;j  iis  Inllows: 

"Tlu)  cork  (irniisc  iisuiilly  sclcctM  ii  mossy  lo;>-,  near  some  open  Ii(m1;><', 
clcjii'iii'i-,  or  woods  load,  and  partly  sci'fciicd  \>y  Imslics,  wlirrc  luf  can  s«'('  and 
not  III'  seen.  Wlicn  aliont.  to  drinn  lie  erects  his  neck  leathers,  spreads  liis  tail, 
and.  with  dronpiii;;'  win;is,  ste|»s  with  u  js-rkin;''  motion  alon;;' the  lo<«;  for  some 
distance  each  way  from  his  drmumin;i-  place,  walking;'  liack  and  forth  several 
linic-i  and  lookin^f  sharply  in  every  direction;  then,  standiii;;'  i-rosswise,  he 
>irelclies  himself  to  his  fullest  heiy:ht  ami  delivers  the  lilows  with  his  win;>s 
Inlly  upon  Iiis  siiles,  his  winys  lieinj"'  sevei-al  inclies  deal-  fioni  the  loy;.  After 
drnmiiiin;;'  he  settles  ipiietlv  down  into  a  sit'.in;.;-  posture,  and  remains  silently 
listeninji  for  five  (ir  t«'ii  minutes,  wlieii,  if  no  cause  for  alarm  is  discovered,  he 
repeats  the  process." 

The  drunnninj;-  place  is  resorleij  to  liy  tlie  male  from  year  to  year.  It 
may  lie  a  lo^r,  n  rock,  an  old  stump,  or  wlien  sucli  aic  not  availalile,  a  small 
hillock  is  mad(>  to  answer  tiie  purpox-  eipiallv  as  well.  While  this  drunnnin;; 
can  not  lie  considered  a  love  note,  as  it  may  In*  heanl  almost  everv  month  in 
the  Near,  and  sometimes  in  the  ni;ilit  as  well  is  in  the  daytime,  yet  it  must 
undoiiliteillv  have  .some  attraction  for  the  temale,  and  1  think  is  pert'ornied 
as  a  sijiii  of  liodilv  \  iyor  and  to  notify  her  of  his  wlierealioiits.  ( tccasion- 
ally  it  causes  a  jealous  rivnl  to  put  in  an  appearance  also,  when  a  rou<^'h- 
and-tuinlije  li;ilit  ensues.  'I'lie  temale  i>  seldom  seen  near  the  druinmiii}' 
place. 

No  yame  liird  is  more  courageous  than  the  Uull'ed  (Jronse  in  the  defense 
of  its  yoiiii;;';  and  the  various  tactics  made  use  of,  such  as  feiyiiiii;.'-  injurv. 
and  ttutteriii;.''  aloiiM^  the  ;>'round  just  out  of  reach,  are  well  known  and  ol'teii 
.successful. 

My  many  persons  the  liull'ed  (Jroiise  is  considered  polvf^amoiis,  ;uid 
while   I   can   not  actually   disprove  this  iisserfiou    1   doulit    it    verv   inucli. 

'The  iie-t,  like  that  i.t  all  the  (lioiise  faiiiilv,  consi.<ts  of  a  sliyht  hollow 
scratched  out  at  the  lia^e  ol'  a  ftandinjr  tree,  a.  rock,  tinder  or  alon;.rside  an 
old  loM-,  the  fallen  top  of  a  tree,  a  liriish  |iile,  an  old  fence  corner,  or  in  the 
lan;rled  under;^iowth  and  thickets  near  a  stream.  I'suallv  it  is  well  and 
securely  hiddiii.  and  pl.ieed  in  a  st  eluded  locality.  Now  and  then,  how- 
ever, a  nest  will  lie  found  in  ipiite  an  exposed  and  nnlikelv  place,  without 
any  pretense  at  coneealiiieiit,  I  have  a  plioto;.'rapli  of  such  a  one  liet'ore 
nil'  now.  .showing-  the  Itird  on  the  ne>t.  It  was  placed  amonj,'st  a  lot  of  fallen 
leaves,  alon;isii|e  the  tiinik  oj'  a  lice,  apparently  a  spruce,  and  dose  to  a 
fence,  in  ipiite  an  open   place. 

Mr.  Lynds  Jones,  of  ( irinndl,  Imva.  I'oiind  a  iies-  dj'  il;,.  UulVed  (iroiise 
in  a  ImlliK-  stiniip,  and  .Mr.  ('.  .M.  doiies,  ,,\'  Kastford,  Connecticut,  found  one 
in  a  swaa.p.  nu  a  little  cradle  knoll,  surioun  led  liv  water.  Mr.  William  N. 
< 'oIloM.  of  Midderord,  M.iiiie.  r.-cords  a  nest  found  lietweeii  the  stem.-,  of  three 
}oun;f   liirdies,  ••iHv    H  inches  from  the  yroiiiid. 


62 


LIFK  IllSTOKIIJS  OK  NOKTll  AMKKICAN  HIUIKS. 


'I'lic  iirst  itself  is  ii  very  sli<>lit  aH'iiir,  iiml  docs  not  take  loiijf  to  foii- 
sti'ilct.  It  is  liiicil  with  ;\  little  <lr)  "iiiiss,  ileiul  leaves,  pine  needles,  o';  wjial- 
ever  is  most  eonveiiieiitly  loiuul  in  tlu'  innnediate  vieinity  of  the  iiestinff  site. 

( ><-easionally  the  Untied  (Jionse  lireeds  very  early,  even  in  tiie  more 
northern  portions  ot"  its  ran^f.  I  have  reliahle  reeords  of  full  sets  of  cfij^s 
I'onnd  in  central  New  York  as  early  as  April  1  and  April  2.  I'sually,  how- 
ever, tin-  iK'^jinnin^'  of  May  is  the  lireedinif  season  of  this  species.  If  tlu' 
l»ird  is  disturlied  on  the  nest  and  the  e>iiis  ale  handled  Iteforc  the  complete 
nmnlier  has  lieen  laid  and  incnitation  fairly  lie;>'nn,  it  will  freipiently  al)anilon 
its  nest,  'riu-  male  leaves  his  mate  as  soon  as  she  commences  to  sit,  ;ind 
apparently  does  not  join  the  tainiU'  a^ain  nntil  the  youn<;'  are  nearly  fnlly 
fiiown.  Inculiation  lasts  from  twenty-foiu'  to  twenty-eij;lit  days,  and  Itnt  a 
single  lirood  is  raised  in  a  .season.  If  there  are  exceptions  tt>  this  rule  they 
are  rare. 

When  incnliation  is  sona-what  advanced  the  linlleil  fironse  is  loath  to 
leave  hei'  r'^'^s,  and  will  allow  hei'self  to  i»e  very  closily  approache<l,  rtdyinfi'on 
her  color  and  motionless  attitmh^  for  protection. 

.Mr.  Lynds  .Jones  writes  me  that  he  once  steppeil  dir».'ctly  over  a  sittin;>- 
liii'd  \\ithont  knowing'  it  nntil  the  l)iril  Hew  olV  liehiiid  him.  Mr.  A.  S.  .Jolmson, 
of  llydeville,  \Crmont,  relates  a  similar  experience,  as  follows:  "I  stood  withi.i 
■J  feet  ol  a  Uutfed  (Jronse  sittiiij;'  on  her  nest,  wliitdi  did  not  as  mnch  as  wink 
till  I  stoo|M'(l  o\ci'  closer  to  see  how  near  she  would  let  me  approach.  Then 
she  slipjM'd  oil'  the  nest  and  skulked  olf  4  or  "»  rods,  stoppin;;'  then  to  wat(  h 
what  1  was  ^joinji'  to  do.  'Tiie  nest  contained  ten  e;iiis,  I  passed  liy  the  spot 
seseral  times  after  this  and  saw  the  hird  on  the  nest  each  time,  liiit  did  not  dis- 
turi)  her." 

The  yoiniii'  fi'i'  alile  to  iim  aliout  as  soon  as  out  of  the  shell  and  are  cared 
lor  l»y  the  mother  as  a  hen  manajies  her  lirood.  Tiieir  t'ood  at  first  co:isists 
almost  entirely  of  insects  (such  a>  ants,  lieetles,  small  larvie,  and  ;:rasslioppers) 
and  worms.  When  a  little  older  they  are  taken  to  old  wood  roads  tor  the  «loidile 
|im'pose  ot  teedin;:'  on  lierries  and  such  <;'rain  as  is  found  amonji'  the  droppings 
ot  horses,  and  more  especially  to  take  du>t  liaths  in  order  to  free  themselves 
trem  vermin  'Tiie  cluck  ot'  the  mother  resi'Miliies  that  ot  t'ne  common  liarn- 
yard  fowl,  only  it  is  nioi'e  sulidued.  When  .suddenly  alarmed,  a  shrill  s(pieal  is 
;:iven  liv  tlietemale;  this,  accordinji' to  1  (r.  William  L.  Ualph,  resendiles  \ei'\' 
nmcli  tlu'  whininji'  ot'  a  xoun;;  pu|ip\  ;  and  \\liile  the  pai'eiit  laces  the  in- 
truder with  e\ei-y  feathei'  raised,  the  vounji  hide  ipiickly  nmler  anything;-  in 
the  vicinity  that  may  ali'onl  prote<'tion,  and  tlu  y  remain  there  perfectly  ipiiet 
until  called  to;:etli(  r  MLiain  liy  tiieii-  parent. 

Till  ahoiit  half  ;;io\\  >i  the  IJulfed  <irous(  roosts  with  lu-r  Nonunion  tlie 
;;round.  afterward  in  tree-i.  Thev  do  not  pack  at  an\'  time  ol'  the  \car,  hut 
remain  in  coveys,  or  what  is  leit  of  these,  seldom  nmre  than  six  oi'  eifi-ht 
hirds  heinji  found  toi;ether. 

Duriiiji-  the  summei'  and  tall  the  food  of  the  Itutfed  (ironse  is  ipiite  varied. 
Dr.  A.  Iv.  Fisher,   of  the    Department   (»f  Agriculture,   Washington,    District  of 


TUB  ItlJFKEI)  (JKOUSK. 


63 


i'iir<'il 

i',i>ists 

ici's) 

lll.lr 
illji'S 
Ivs 

ijini- 
:A  is 
\fvy 
iii- 
H'  ill 
iiict 

111.' 

r,  liiit 

•i^-lit 

iirifd. 
ict   of 


('oliiiiiliia,  writes  iiic  <>ii  lliis  siiliji-ct  iis  t'olloxvs:  "Tlic  Kiirtnl  (Jroiisc  is  very 
I'liiiil  (it  f^riissliupiicrs  iiiitl  crickets  as  an  article  of  iliet,  and  wlieii  tliese  insects 
ar»'  aliundaut  it  is  lare  to  tind  a  stomach  or  crop  that  does  not  contain  their 
reiiiaiiis,  ( )ne  specimen,  shot  late  in  ()ctolier,  had  the  crop  and  stomach  ilis- 
tendi'd  with  the  larva-  of  Kitnint  nlliijions,  a  caterpillar  which  feeds  exten- 
si\ely  on  the  lea\e>  of  the  maple.  Ueechinits,  chestnuts,  aiid  acorns  <if  the 
chestnut  and  white  uak-.  are  also  common  articles  of  fund.  Ainonjf  herries  early 
in  the  season,  the  lilacklierries,  liluelierries,  rasplierries,  and  elderlierries  are 
eaten  with  relish,  whih'  later  in  the  year  the  winter}ireen  ((.hnillhniii),  partridjie 
iierrv  (Mitrliill(i),  with  their  folia;;e,  sumach  lierries  (imdudin;;'  those  of  the 
iioisuiioiis  species),  craiilierries.    Mack  alder  (Ihi),  doij-wiMid  (Ciiniiis),  nannv- 


lierries  (\'il)uriiiiiii),  and  wild  j^rapes  t'orm  their  chief  diet,  in  the  tall  tl 
folia;;c  nf  plants  often  foiiiis  a  laijic  part  of  their  food,  that  of  clover,  strav 
lierry,  liiittercup,  win*er;ii'een,  and  jiartrid^e  lierr\   jiredominatii 


ui 


I" 


"A  liiuf  male,  shot  at  Lake  (leorj,'!'.  New  York.  Novemlier  1,  ISK',1,  had  the 
crop  and  stomach  distended  with  the  leaves  of  the  peppermint.  In  the  winter 
these  liirds  teed  oil  the  lillds  of  tl'ees,  preferrin>i"  those  of  the  apple,  il'oliwood, 
lilack  and  white  liircli,  and  poplar." 

The  numltel- of  e;>ys  to  a  set  varies  from  ei^iht  to  fourteen  ;  aitolll  eleven 
ma\'    lie   called    .1    fair   avera^ie       If  the    lirst    >ei    is    destroxcd,  a    second    and 


ilsuallv    1  smaller  one  is  laid 


Seh 


IXteell  ('^"^'S    or    oV« 


r  are  of  rari 


e  occiir- 


riMU'e,  lull  1  have  a  relialile   record  of 


line    llllilllierili;f  twellty-tlllee  e;;j;s.       .Ml 


.lohii  'IV  I'aiiitin,  of  ( 'orahillc,  dolinson  ('oiiiiiv.  Iowa,  found  this  set  .M;iv  "Jfi 
iHSi;.  near  the  Iowa  Ki\er,  |il  miles  norih  of  jowa  Citw  lie  a.is  walking] 
aloii^'  in  the  timlier,  and  in  sle|ipiii;;'  over  a  rotten  lo<;'   almost    stepped  upon  tin 


I  rouse 


'I'll 


e    e""s    were    careliillv   counteil    ami    the    numlier    l^un 


th 


d    to    I) 


twenty-three;   they  were  almost   hatched,  and  were  no.  distiirhed 

111  lorm  they  are  ovate,  or  short  ovate,  their  ;i»'ound  color  \ar\  in;;'  Iroin 
milky  white  to  pinkish  hiilf  .\lioiit  one-half  of  the  e;;-;;s  ill  the  r  S.  National 
Museum  collection  are  more  or  less  spotted  with  rounded  ilots,  var\  illy  in  si/,e 


troll 


No.    -I    shot    to   milst.'ll'd    seed    or  dllsl    shot.       'r 


ii'se   iiiarkiii"s  \a 


•\-   In 


pale  reddish   lirowii  t  •  drali  cohu'.  and   none  of  the  eyys  ;ire   heavilv   marked. 

The   a\cra<ie   me.isi.irment    of  forty-four   specimens   in   the   l'    S    National 

Museum  collection   is    ,'{s.,"i    \,y    ;{ii    millimetres,   the  lar;;est    e^u-    ,,t    the    serie> 


measunii;'' 


As  tl 


III  liy  ."••_',  the  smallesi  ,".,")  liy  _•.'>  milliinetn 
lere  is  practically  no  dilVereiice  in    the  < 


>f  tl 


;j-s  ot    tlie    iL-eo"rai 


ihical 


races 


•  I  the  Klltfeil  (Jrollse,  the  type  specimens  li<;ured  lia\c  lieeii  selected  with  the 
iliject  of  showing  as  nearly  as  possilile  the  variations  lioth  in  yroiiiid  color  ;iiid 
markings,  irrespective  of  r.i.'e.   similar  specimens   iuiii;;'  sure   to  lie  t'oiind  in  a 


siiiticieiitlv  lar 


ii'e  series  o 


f    each  f 


orm. 


'i'llC!  type  specimen  lA'  lloimr^d  iiiiilnlhis  {\u.  -jyi'M^X,  I'l.  "J,  V\>r  1),  selected 
from  a  set  of  ei^ilit  ey^s  collected  liy  Mr  ( '.  W.  Uiclimond,  near  Harper's  Kerrv , 
VV^'st  Vir;i-iiiia,  May  .'id,  |SK."»,  represents  one  of  the  lightest  colored  specimens 
ill  the  entire  series,  and  is  perfectly  plain  coloicil  and  unspotted. 


J '  jir^ 


lU    i 


(M 


LIKK  IIISTOUIKS  OK  NOUTII  AMKUICAN  l(llil)8. 


ai.    Bonasa  umbellus  togata  (Linn^mh). 

CANADIAN    KrKI"KI»  OHOI'sr,. 

T'Ini'i  liiiiiihis  l,iNN  r.rs,  .System.!  Nalm'H'.  cil,    |-J,   I7t;ii.  •>;."i. 

liiiiiimd    II mill II lis    liiiiulii    KiiMiWAV,   I'l'oci'i'iliiijjs    II.    S.    N'litioiiiil    .Miistniiii,    viii, 

(H-.  C-.  R-.  C.  -  V  :iiKk/.) 

nKo«iU.\rill(AI,  UASdK:  British  ('(iliiinliiii.  \V.isliiii;;l.iii  ;iiii|  ()i'('n;iiii.  (•xcfptiii); 
till'  c'Kiisl  ili-iiirls.  mill  rnim  lilnlio  iiorlii  iiinl  cjistwarii  ti>  .Imiih's  Hny  (Mmisi'  Fac- 
tory), iioi-tlii'i'ti  aiiil  ci-iitral  Maine  ami  Nova  Scotia;  soiilli  oecasioiialiy  in  llie  iiioiui- 
liiiiis  of  New  KiiKJaml  auij  nortliei'ii  Xew  V'oi'ii. 

'I'liis  v,U{\  iiilial)its  iiiul  Itrecds  in  tlio  wimi(U'(1  tlistiiits  IVoin  iIk^  iiiniitli 
lA'  lliifSt  Law  Id  ICC  K'ivcr,  westward  llii(iii;i|i  eeiiti'al  iiinl  iiortlurii  .Maine  ami 
llieiKf  lliioii;>iitiiit  tlic  Hritisli  possessiuiis  to  tlio  fastci'ii  slopes  <il'  tlic  Cascailf 
lkaii;:(t  ill  \Vasliiiin;t<).i  ati<l  (>rf}>'uii,  as  far  siiiitli  lit  loii.st  as  Fort  Klamath,  close 
to  the  lioiiiiilaiy  line  of  ( 'aliroiiiia.  (hi  tint  westiTii  slopes  of  tlif  Hitter  Koot 
.Mountains  it  reenters  the  Cnited  States,  ami  is  tin;  typical  torni  toiinil  tliroii<>h- 
oiit  northern  ami  niiilillt)  lilalio,  ( Ire^on,  an<l  \Vashiii<;'ton  cast  of  the  ( 'a.scailcs. 
'Phcncc  it  ranjics  northwanl  aloii;;-  the  eastern  spurs  of  the  I'Vaser  Kiver  ami 
('arilioo  .Moimiains  to  Koit  St.  .lames,  .Stewart  Lake,  New  ("aledmiia  district,  in 
Mritish  ( 'oliimiiia,  wlieiit  it.  is  coimiKin  to  altotit  latitude  ;j)i',  ami  iiroljalily  still 
further  north  in  this  direction. 

In  the  central  Uockv  .Mountain  rejrion  the  ranye  tif  the  ( 'amnlian  Untied 
(irmise  is  localK'  intercepted  li\  the  southern  extension  of  that  ot'  />'  hiiiIhIIiis 
iiiiiltrlliiiili  •<.  the  latter  liein^'  mole  1)1' an  .Mpiiie  t'onn,  and  .seeiiiin;;'l\  restricted  to 
the  mountaiiioiis  sections. 

The  haliits  of  this  race  are  \ery  similar  to  those  of  the  citmmon  liiilled 
(iroiise  'riiroiiiihoiii  Canada  and  the  Mritish  possessions  it  is  hetter  known 
liv  the  name  11^  I'artridne   and    Mircli    I'artrid^ie. 

.Mr  I'.niest  Iv  'riiompsiiii,  of  Toronto.  ( 'anada.  has  kindly  placed  his  lield 
notes  on  this  race  at  ni\  disposal,  ami  I  make  the  tollowino-  extracts  from 
tlieiii:  "l-'.\cr\'  fielil  man  must  In*  ac(|nainted  with  the  sinnilation  of  lame- 
ness, lt\'  which  iiiaiiv  liiids  deco\-  or  trv  to  .|cco\-  intrnders  I'nim  tiieir  iiestH. 
This  is  an  inv.MiaKli-  ilevice  of  the  l'artrid;:e,  and  I  ha\e  no  doiiitt  that  it  is 
tpiite  sncce-,^|'nl  wiih  the  natnr.d  foes  of  the  bird,  indeeil  it  is  ntteii  so  with 
man  .\  do;.!-,  as  I  ha\i-  often  seen,  is  certain  to  he  misled  and  duped,  ami 
there  is  l>iii<  doiilit  that  a  mink,  skunk,  raccoon,  fox,  coyote,  or  wtilt, 
would  tare  no  better  Ima^iiiie  the  elVei-t  of'  the  liiril's  tactics  on  a  prowl- 
in;^  lox;  he  has  .^ceiitecl  hi  r  as  >lie  sets,  he  is  idinost  iipiiii  her,  lint  she  has 
lieeii  watchiiiy  hiin,  ami  sipldeuly  with,  a  loud  'whirr'  she  sprin;;s  up  ami 
lumliles  a  tew  \'ards  lieloie  him.  'i"he  suddenness  and  noise  with  which  the 
bird  appears  causes  the  fox  to  be  tot.iliy  c.irrie(|  away;  he  loi^jets  all  his 
furiinr  oxperic'iue,   he   never   thinks  of  the   e^i^s,   his  mind   is  tilled   with  llic 


^f 


4 
I 


TIIK  CANADIAN  IM'I TE1>  (IKOUSE. 


65 


1^   I'lcl.l 

tVinii 
ImiH- 

II  it  in 
>  willi 
iiiid 
wolt, 
|)ro\vl- 
\u-  hits 
ii|i  ami 
icli  llu- 
all  his 
itli  the 


rhiiii^rlit  lit'  the  >viiiiiiiI*m|  liinl  iihiioHt  within  his  n-iK-h;  ii  t'l-w  iiuif*)  limiixls  iiml 
his  infill  will  Ik<  stMiiifil.  So  In-  s|)iiii;rs  iiiiil  siiriiifis,  ami  very  iifiiily  <iitchis 
her,  iiml  ill  his  cxritiiiiciit  h«  is  li-d  on,  iiinl  iiwiiy,  till  tiiitilly  thtt  liinl  tlics  ot)', 
lca\  iii^'  him  ii  (|iiart<T  nl'  u  iiiilf  or  moro  t'roin  tiio  nest.  * 

"If  insiciul  ot"  f^ifi's  th(^  I'artiiilfio  has  rhicks,  shu  ilocs  not  await  the  coiii- 
iii;.''  ot'  tilt'  ciiciny,  iiiit  runs  to  iiicft  ami  niisli-a<l  him  cro  y«*t  ho  is  in  tin* 
nci^iiiiorhooil  ot°  the  Inood;  she  then  leads  him  tar  away,  ami  retnriiin<;  li\ 
a  eirciiitoiis  route,  ;;atlieis  her  yoiiii;;'  to^fther  af^ain  liy  her  elnckin;;'.  When 
siir|iriseil  sliM  uttcM's  a  well-known  <lan<rer  si^nial,  a  peculiar  whine,  wliereiipon 
the  \oiinjr  ones  hide  under  lo<;s  and  anion;;-  ^rass.  .Many  |iersons  say  they  will 
each  sei/,e  a  leaf  in  their  lieaks  and  then  turn  ost-r  on  their  liaeks.  I  ha\c 
never  t'oniid  any  sii|)|iort  tor  this  idea,  alllioiiu-h  I  have  often  seen  one  of  the 
little  er»'atures  rrawl  under  a  dead  leaf  <  hi  .Inly  .'{,  1SS4,  while  exploring;  in 
the  ( 'arlierrv  spriicn  hush,  Manitoba,  with  a  trieiid,  wt*  passed  a  tree  at  whose 
loots  was  a  l'artri<l;;e's  nest,  hut  wo  would  not  havt!  discovered  it  had  not  the 
mother  pursued  us  some  "JO  feet  and  lie^iin  a  xin'onais  attack  on  our  le^fs, 
w  lieieiipoii  we  turned  and  found  tlie  nest,  it  was  just  at  that  critical  ir  itneiit 
when  the  \ouii^'  were  ('omiii;>-  out.  'Those  that  were  hatched,  some  six  or 
ei;rhf,  hid  so  etfectually  within  a  space  of  (i  teet  that  no  si;;ii  of  them  could 
lie  seen.  After  their  first  rush,  and  once  hidden,  they  ••eased  their  plaintivi- 
•peeping'  and  inaintaiiied  a  dead  silence.  Meanwhile  the  mother  was  sorel\- 
di>ire>sed,  riinniii;;'  alioiit  our  feet  with  ciroopiii;;-  win;;>,  w  hinin;;-  ^rievoiislv,  in 
siich  eiitirn  f'or^etfuliie.ss  of  herself  aid  in  sucii  a;jony  of  anxiety  for  her  yoiui^', 
that  the  hardest  hearted  iiiust  have  pitied  In  r  and  ha\c  telt  constrained  to 
leavn  lier  in  peace,  as  we  did. " 

.Mr.  Manly  Hardy  states:  "The  yoiin^'  run  as  r<oon  as  tiiey  ciiip  the  e^j-y. 
If  disturlied  when  oiilv  a  few  days  old,  the  hen  iinmediateiv  tiles  at  the 
iiili'iider,  niakiii;;'  a  loud  noise,  ol'ieii  striking  him  in  the  lace  or  hreasi.  The 
vuuii^i'  usually  drop  where  tiiey  are,  reinainin;;'  perfectly  motionless.  The 
parent  tlirows  lier.self  on  her  lircast  and  kicks  herself  alon<;'  with  her  feet,  aided 
liy  her  spread  win^s,  makin^i'  a  loud  sipiealiii^'  noise.  She  ^ocs  jiist  fast 
enou;jh  so  that  the  pursuer  can  not  (piite  ni-t  his  hand  on  her,  recoxcriiiy,  in 
a.  rod  or  two,  to  seem  onl\'  liroken-win;>'ed,  and  a  short  distance  fui'tlier  on  sud- 
denly dartiii;;'  off.  If  one  keeps  (piict,  in  a  short  time  siie  returns  to  the  \  icinit\ 
and  calls  her  chicks,  wlio  cumk-  out  ot'  tlieir  hidiii;i'  places  and  rejoin  her.  I 
h.t'.e  onc(>  seen  the  old  cock  with  the  lii'iiod,  ami  on  this  occasion  he  ^allantK 
(leleiiiled  the  rear,  until  the  rest  made  Mo,,(i  tlidr  escape,  lie  .stood  with 
uiii;;s  raised  and  tail  spread,  reaily  to  ti;^lii  the  intruder  I  ha\t!  seen  the 
\  oiin^  tly  into  a  tree  when  still  in  the  yellow  down;  and  when  not  lar^rer  than 
a  I'iiie  (iioslieak  they  will  fly  Ion;;'  distances,  ^jiviii;,;-  the  alarm  note  of  'ipiii, 
iplit,'  just  like  an  old  liird.  Tiie  yoiiii;:',  a  lew  days  old,  are  sliNcr  than  the 
wariest  adults.  The  noise  made  liy  the  l{ull'i'i|  (ii-niisc  in  f|\  in;.  •(<  umilr  un 
l>iiiiii).^i'  to  alarm  others  in  the  vicinity;  they  can  tly  as  ipiietly  as  any  liird 
it   they  choose. 

2»;!»r)7— Itiill.  1 5 


I  d 


m 


LIFK  IIISTOUIKS  OF  .SOUTH  AMKUU  AN   liJUDS. 


"'Plu^  iiuiU'M  iit'V«T  nmjfivffiUo  (liiriii;^  tlio  lir('i'(liii;>'  nciisuu  ni'  ;il'tcr,  iiiid  I 
lu-vcr  Ixit  iiiico  Htiw  two  adult  iiiiilcH  within  onc-tuiirtli  of  u  mile*  of  tiicli  otlitr 
ItftWfi-ii  April  jiiiil  Sc|itcin)K'i'.  I  coiisiilcr  tliiit  tiiu  <lniiiiiiiiii<;-  is  nut  u  ctill  tu 
till)  icinalc,  iis  thvy  ilnnii  iiciirly  or  (jiiitu  ii.h  niiicli  in  tlio  fall  as  in  tlio  sprin;:, 
anil  1  liavo  lu-aiil  tlicin  drnnimin;;  cxcry  nmntli  in  tiut  y<>ar.  I  liaMr  mvt  r 
sv  'n  tlio  h'ast  i-vidonco  tliat  tlm  IfiilU-d  (Jionso  is  polyiianions." 

lU'sidfs  tlio  various  fooils  niiiitioiiiMl  in  tlio  |ircvioiid  articlo,  tlio  Caiiadiaii 
Knifed  (iroiisc,  a«-forilin}>f  to  Mr,  Hardy,  feeds  not  aiono  on  tlio  |io|ilar  liiid>, 
liut  also  on  tlio  hard  old  leaves.  Ilu  writes  iiie:  "I  liavo  killed  oiio  with  its 
I  ro|»  tilled  with  such  leaves  on  tlio  "-'Otli  of  Aujiust,  and  tliey  cat  them  ('ontiii- 
iiously,  until  tlm  last  have  fallen  in  lato  ( letoiter.  They  do  this  when  other 
food  is  ahiindant.  liiids  of  willow,  yellow  and  wliito  liircii,  lio|ilionil*eaiii, 
thorn  |iluins,  rost!lii|)s,  leaves  of  tamo  sorrel,  of  tho  rock  |Mdy|»od,  fiin^i'iis  from 
liinli  trees,  tho  seeds  of  toiirli-iiie-iiols  (fmiiiifiriis  /iilni),  wild  raisins,  and  liiffli- 
laiid  cninlieiries  (itotli  species  of  I'iliiinnini)  lunii  also  a  part  of  their  iiill  of 
fare.  Thoy  seem  to  1»«  ('S|M'cially  toinl  ot'  lieeehiiiits.  I  liavo  a  record  of 
liiidiii;!'  seventy-six  in  one  liiril's  crop  and  o\er  sixty   in  another." 

Personally,  I  liavo  met  with  tiiis  iiinl  cpiilo  fre(|iieiilly  in  various  portions 
of  <  )re;;oii  and  \Vaslii!ii;ton,  as  well  as  in  tho  north  of  Idaho,  where  it  was 
especially  aliundant  and  exceedin;^ly  t.imi*  and  unsuspicious.  On  tho  trail 
from  Fort  Lapwai,  Idaiio,  to  Fort  ( 'olville,  \Vasliin;iton,  in  IxH'.i  to  IHTI,  1 
have  seen,  moro  than  oiiee,  o\cr  liffy  of  these  birds  in  u  day's  travel,  withdiit 
lookin;>"  for  them,  ('oveys  of  from  ei^lit  to  twel\(i  wero  fre(|Uentl\-  met 
Iviii}^  in  any  dusty  place  on  the  trail,  takin;;'  sim  liatlis  and  scratching;'  around 
liko  chickens.  When  cloxly  appiiiache(|  they  would  hop  up  or  tly  into  the 
iiean-st  tree  or  Imsli  and  niiiaiii  there  pe'-fectly  uneoucerned,  and  I  have  seen 
tlu'iu  knocked  down  with  sticks  and  stones.  • 

On  one  of  these  trips,  in  tla^  lieiiinnin^  of  .lime,  1H70,  j  ,s;i\v  a  Wutl'ed 
(iroiise,  with  a  lirood  of  youii<j',  attack  an  Indian  do<r  tlun  h;id  attached 
itself  to  our  party,  and  drive  him  otf.  W'r  were  ridin;,'  tliroii;;h  a  little  aspen 
thicket,  some  10  miles  north  of  tho  Spokaiu!  |{I\er,  when  tho  do^  siiddenh 
ran  on  tho  Itird  with  iier  lnood.  She;  certainly  lookeil  tho  very  incarnation 
of  fury,  every  feather  on  her  hody  was  staiidiii;;'  on  end,  as  she  fairly  flew 
at  tho  do}r,  perfectly  reckless  of  coiise(|Uences;  hut  was  so  nimiilu  and  <|uick 
in  her  niovemeiits  that  she  esc:i|i<'d  jill  harm,  and  actually  compelled  the 
dojr,  l»v  \arions  |)eckiu;;s  on  the  lens  loid  head,  to  turn  tail  and  run.  At 
tho  saino  time  slat  uttered  a  sharp,  hissino^  xiimd  i,(  detiauce  rather  than 
fear,  which  reminded  me  mnrc-  of  the  liissinL:-  and  spittiny  of  an  aii;;ry  cat 
than  anything;  emanatiii;;'  from  a  liiid. 

Tlm   Uestinjf  liaiiits  of  the   ('aiiadi:iii    Ulltrcd    (ironse,    as    well    as   the  ei.;os. 
are  in  everv  resjiect  similar  to  lliose  «t'  typical    llniiiisii  iiiiiliilhi.s.      Mr.  ,1.    W 
liiinks,  of  St.  .lolins.  New   Ihunswick,  writes  me.    •Here  with   us  a  very  com- 
mon   nestiiifi'    place   is    what    is   called    a    fallow.      This    is    a    jiiece  of   woods 
chopped  down  in  tho  fall,  to  las  Ituriied  when  hullicieiitly  dry,  usually  in  the 


I 


TUB  CANADIAN  RUFl''EI)  ORODSB. 


67 


ukI  1 
«itht  r 
ill  tn 
iH-iii^i. 
iii'vcr 

ladisiii 

ImkU. 

illi  its 

•nlltill- 

ollu  T 

iliciiin, 
IS  I'mni 
1 1  lii^;!'- 
Iiill  of 
runl  ft" 

|(ortiniis 
)  it  wiis 
lio  trail 

IHTl,  I 

witlioiit 

itly    iiif' 

I'  ill'OllHll 

iiitii  till- 

l\f    Sl'Cll 

» 

WiiIV.mI 
ittiii'lif'l 

ilS|H'll 

^iiililfiilv 
iiniiitiiMi 
illy  tit •^v 
ml  (luifk 
.■llr.l  the 
run.  At 
llicr  tliiiii 
mi^TV  fat 

tlif  r'^'^"- 

iMi.  .1.  NV 

very  tiiin- 

ot'   woods 

11 V  ill  till- 


I 


latter  part  ot'  Mav  or  early  in  June.  Heinjr  coniposeii  cliietly  ot"  Hpniro  anil 
Hr,  it  liiinis  very  ra|ti<lly.  1  I'oiind  two  nests  (or  ratlier  tlu»  remains,  fur  tlie 
fiiirs  were  haillv  scnnlieil)  ill  oiio  nt'  these  liiiriit  fallows,  and  a  few  feet  from 
earli  nest  tile  IxMies  of  tile  luotliur  (iroiise  A  fanner  iUM|iiaiiitann)  told  me 
of  lindin^f  a  nest  of  this  bird,  which  eontained  ten  n^ixn,  in  ii  fallow  ho  was 
aiioiit  to  limn,  ami  knowiii;;'  of  another  nest  with  an  ei|iial  niimher  of  e;j;<rs, 
the  tlion;,''ht  occniTed  to  him  to  put  thu  e;>';;s  in  tho  nest  of  tlio  other  hird 
that  would  imt  ho  endan;(eivd  l»y  the  lirtf,  and  watch  ih'velopmeiits.  Ilo  had 
the  satisfaction  of  knowin<^  that  thci  (•^■•;;s  wen*  hatched." 

A  nest  of  this  (Iroiise  was  foinid  hy  .Mr.  I{.  .MacKarlaiie,  of  tlie  llndson 
Hay  ( 'ompany,  near  Fort  St.  .lames,  Ihitish  Cohimliia,  .May  Ki,  ISHK.  It  «(iii- 
tained  ei;.dit  nearly  fresh  e^^ys,  and  was  placed  clo.so  to  tlio  foot  of  a  pine  tree 
in  u  sli;;lit  depression  scratched  out  liy  the  hird.  It  was  spariiiyly  lined  with 
ffiass,  dry  leaves,  and  a  few  feathers,  and  situated  near  a  small  lake;  the 
temale  \\as  snared  on  the  nest.  .Iiid;;'in<j^  from  the  numlier  of  skins  of  this 
(•rouse,  sent  on  at  the  Nuniu  time,  it  must  Ik)  (|uite  common  there. 

Milt  OIK!  Iiroo  I  is  raised  in  a  season.  Inciihatioii  lasts  from  tweiity-foiir  to 
tweiity-ei^iit  day.s,  and  does  not  licffin  until  the  «'liitcli  is  completed,  an  e;ijf, 
I  liclieve,  heiii}^  deposited  daily.  Tlio  iiiimher  <»f  e^fffs  to  a  set  varies  from 
ei;;'ht  to  fourteen,  rarely  more.  In  form  and  color  these  are  indistiniriiishalile 
Irom  those  of  tlio  tormer  siihspecies.  in  size  they  avera;;'e  a  trithi  larjfer.  The 
mean  measurement  of  thirtynini*  specimens  in  the  (I.  >S.  National  Museum 
collection  is  40  by  .'U  millimetres,  the  lary^cst  ejiji;  of  tlio  series  ineasurin;; 
I  Hiy  .'5.'{,  the  smallest  .'57  l»y  "ill  millimetres.  The  type  specimen.  No.  4772 
(I'l.  ■_',  V\<i.  2),  selected  fiiiin  a  set  of  eiy:ht,  one*  of  the  darkest  colored  and  most 
tlistinctly  marked  ej^f^s  of  the  eiitiro  series,  was  olitained  iiy  .1.  1{.  Willis,  near 
llalifa.x.  Nova  Scotia,  Jinie,  lH(il. 

22.    Bonasa  umbellus  utnbelloides  (Dot  ii!..\s). 

(iKAY    HirFKh    (JIMISK. 

Ti  h-iin  unihilhiiih  N  r>ni"(il,.\s,  Ti'iinsiicliciiis  Ijiiiii.i'Mii  Sucii'ly.  VVI.  H'>!),  IIS. 
lidiitimi  II iiiliill  11.1  vtn\  iiiiihilliiiili s  H.MHit,  Hirtlscif  NoiMh  .Aiiii'iicii,  js.'is,  ir'.'i. 
(»  111.-)*.  (;  :(j..V(,  \{  \;:\,i.  V  .■.mi.  U  ;iiki/,.) 

(iKooKAl'lllc.vi.  KAXOK:  Rocky  .Mumitaiii  ii'Kiini  of  Mie  Uiiiti'ij  States  and  Hritisli 
Aiiicricii.  north  to  Alaska,  east  to  Xlanit<il);i. 

The  (iiay  IJulfed  (Jroiise,  the  li^ihtest  colored  of  the  forms  of  fluinisa,  in 
which  the  jjray  tints  stron;;ly  predominate  over  all  other.s,  inhaiiits  tlio  «'eiitral 
Uocky  Mountain  system,  from  latitude  (l."»^  (Kalta;;-  Mountains,  near  tin*  lu  id  of 
Norton  Sound)  and  the  valley  of  the  Yukon  |{i\cr  in  Ala>ka,  south  and  south- 
east aloiiff  the  Yukon  and  Alackeii/.ie  Ifivers,  thioiiyli  Ihitish  North  America, 
eastern  Idaho,  .Montana,  western  North  hakoia,  W\oiiiin;;-,  I'tali,  and  Colo- 
rado,     lakcf  the  piecediiij;,  it  is  ^;-eneialIy  a  icsiilint  and  breeds  wliere\er  found. 


w 

:  I'  ■ 

ill 


68 


LIFE  IIIUTDHIKH  OF  NUUTll  AMFUICAN   lUUOa 


Tliis  \V('ll-niiii-k<M|  mill  easily  r<r(i;^iiizcil  HnlM|MTirs,  «ifliiu  tin-  riiilcd 
Stiitcs  iiilialiits  tluMlnisc  niiili'i-^niwlli  usually  loiiiul  aliin;;  tlio  Hiil<>H  of  riiniiiiri 
iiinl  tilt*  <-l*'ar  inoiiiitaiii  htrcaiiiH  luiiniii;;'  tliri)ii}i'li  iIii-hi-,  Iroin  nil  iiltittiili-  of 
7,<MHI  to  l(),i)(K)  t't'i't,  iiikI,  «>\i'('|itiii;;  in  tlio  (all  aiitl  winter,  it  is  raifly  m-cii  in 
lilt*  lowi'i-  I'ootliill.s  or  |)laiiis.  (Niiisii|i'riti<;  tlio  isolntctl  loralitiiH  it  iiilialiit!«, 
wlicni  it  is  scMoiii  inolrstfil  liy  man,  it  is  an  cNtrcint'ly  hliy  liird,  iihkIi  iiiorc 
HO  tliaii  tlut  Caiiailiaii  ({iilVnl  (iroiisf,  ami  is  not  ix-arly  ko  iiliniKlant  as  tlit* 
latter.  It  lialiits  are  similar;  aii'l,  liesiiles  the  usual  I'ooil  used  Ity  the  memlters 
ot'  this  taniily,  in  the  late  (all  it  teeds,  to  a  preat  extent,  on  the  leaNes  and  Irnit 
ot'  a  Hpeeies  of  wild  plum,  ■iiowin;;'  in  alanidaneu  iiloii^  the  toothilis  of  the 
Hi;.;  Horn  MoiintaiiiH  in  iMoiitana,  where,  at  that  time  «if  tiie  year,  it  is  often 
found  associated  with  the  Shar|i-tailed  (Jroiise,  and  not  nnctaiimon.  'I'lii* 
"/•/(//.v,"  instead  of  l>ein;r  of  tlu-  n^iiial  dark  ((dor,  are,  in  an  ueiasional  h|»e(- 
iiiieii,  ot"  a  lumiitifiil  bronze  or  coiiitery  hue. 

TIk*  nesting;  haltits  also,  as  well  as  the  e;>;:s  of  tho  (iray  UiiH'ed  (JroiiHc, 
aro  ill  iit»  way  diHerent  from  those  of  the  |irecedin;.''  snlispecies. 

Mr.  Koiiert  S.  Williams,  of  (J rent  Kalis,  Montana,  writes  me:  "1  found 
a  nest  of  tliirt  Kul»s|)ecies  ,Inly  '.\,  IMS!);  it  was  placed  under  the  tniiik  of  u 
fallen  Cottonwood  tree,  which  rested  aiioiit  a  loot  I'nan  the  <;Toiind.  Otherwix' 
the  nest  was  not  eoiicealeil  in  any  way.  The  eji'^s,  (deveii  in  iinmher,  went 
evidently  alioiit  to  liatcii.  and  1  did  not  distiirl)  them.  Visitin<>'  the  nest  the 
Hiicceedin;;  day,  tli(«  old  liird  lit  me  elimli  over  the  iaileii  trunk  al)o\c  her 
without  leaving"'  the  ep';rs." 

Mr.  W.  II.  hall,  r.  S.  Coast  Survey,  fonnd  tlie  dray  iJulVed  (iron.se  iiest- 
iii;;  near  Nnlato,  Alaska,  in  .May,  and  a  set  of  eii^rs  were  found  in  an  old  willow 
stump.  The  avera;;e  measnremcnl  of  twenty-nine  i  i>iis  in  the  l'.  S.  National 
Mnseinn  cullectioii  is  4tl..'»  l»y  .'50  millimetres.  The  largest  e^';;'  of  the  series 
measures  l,'{  l»v  JM.'i,  th(*  smallest  .'{S  hy  ,">((  millimetres.  The  type  specimen, 
(No. -J-Js.-Kt,  IM.  •_>,  I'V  -i).  wiis  taken  .May  IS,  issd,  |,y  Mr.  KriH-st  K.  Thomp- 
Hoii,  near  ('arl)erry,  Manitoba.     It  is  of  a  pure   rich  cream  color  and   unspottud. 


1 


i 


if 

■A 


|! 


23.     Bonasa  umbellus  sabini  (Doiulas). 

oiiC.iioN  i;nri;o  cidn  sk 

Til  1(111  siilii III  r>ot'(il,.\s,  Transact imis  Liiiii.'ciin  Sni'liMy,   .svi.  iii.  ls;'(i.  1:17. 
Iliiiiii.\ii  iniilii lliis  viif.   .v(('i;/(»  / CorKs.  Ki'.v  tu  Nortli  Aiucricaii  Hiiiis,  IhJv',  'i'Mi, 
(H  4ii'i.  ('  .is.V'.  \i  i;M>.  V  .Mi:.  U  .loer.) 

OKoiiK.vi'illcAi,  KA.NUK  :  Coast    .Mniiiilains  (if  iiortliciii  CiilirDrnia,  Oriwai,  Wasli- 
iiif^toii.  mill  Kritisli  Cdhiiiiliia. 

The  ran^e  of  tin*  ( h'ejroii  KiiU'ed  (Jroiise,  the  darkest  and  handsomest  race 
of  (he  }>'emis  lloiiii.iii,  in  restrictetl  to  tiie  woiiijed  portions  of  <'oiiiitr\'  lictweeii 
the  western  slopes  of  the  Coast  K'an^ic  aiiil  the  I'acilic  <  ►ccaii,  as  well  as  the 
islands  adjacent  tiiereto.  It  is  foiiiiil  from  alioiit  latitude  .'>7 ',  in  the  vicinit\'  of 
8itka,  Alaska,  south  thronyli  western  Uritish  Columbia,  western  Wa.shington, 


« 


TUB  OllKdoN  UIlM'i:i>  (JkOCriH. 


(iO 


wcMtcrii  <>rt';,'<(ii,  iiml  iiiirtliwcMtt'in  Ciiliforiiin,  it  liiiviiijf  Im-cii  tiikfii  lu-iir  lliiiii- 
liiildt  Ujiv.  liiki)  tlio  priMfdinj,',  it  in  n  ciiustiiiit  rt'sidciit  iiiid  luccds  wlicrcvfr 
Iniimi,  itH  ;r,.iiciiil  liiiliits  (lill'rr'ii';  in  no  |ii  rtiriiliir  IViini  tlinso  tit'  its  iillics.  In 
tnil  Wiisliiii^rtdiinml  (hc^ioii  it  iiitcr^iniilcs  witli  tlu!  C'aiiiniiiiu  KullVil  (Jiouhc, 


fell 


till-  iniijiiiitN'  of  s|icciiiiciis  ii|i|iriiarliiii}r  cluscr  ti>  tiiii  last-inciitiuiicil  racf. 

,\< viWui^  to  Dr.  Siicklcy,  owin;;  to  tlu«  iniltliu'sxot'  thu  Hcanon  in  tlio  vicinity 

tit'  I'mt  Sttilarooni,  tin*  males  rtiMnnciii-<i  drnnnnin;,''  as  t-arly  as  .lainiarv,  ami 
in  {'"flirnary  tliry  am  licinl  to  drnni  tlirou;rliont  llm  ni;;lit.  In  tlii»  antiuini 
tlii'V  »'olliMt  in  {.Teat  iiunilMTs  in  tlio  crali-applo  tliirkcts  near  tlm  Halt  tnarslirs 
at  thi!  niniitlis  ot"  the  riNcrs  em|ilyinj,''  into  l'ii;jet  Sonml.  Tlieni  tliey  teed  lor 
alioiit  kIx  weeks  on  tlie  rii»e  I'rnit  of  tlie  nortlnvestein  crali-apple,  tlie  I'lims 
liniliiris  of  Nuttall.' 

Nidifn  ntion  lie;:'inH  altont  tlie  middle  of  April  and  lasts  Hoinutimes  till  late 
in  Jiiiie.  April  1  I  is  the  earliest  date  I  have*  on  whirh  e;i-;;s  liavi)  Iteeii  found — 
a  lecoid  ^i\in  me  liy  I'rof.  ().  H.  .Itilmsoii,  of  the  Washin^fton  I'liiversity, 
Seattle,  Wasliiimtoii. 


The  mmilier  of  (■"•"s  to  a  set  varies  from  seven  to  thirteen,  rarelv  iii 


ore. 


A  small  set  of  six,  partly  iiiriiliated,  were  i-olleeted  lor  me  near  North  Saanieh, 
N'aiieoincr  Island,  Ihitish  ( 'olnmliia,  .liiiie  "JH,  lS7t!;  pmliaiily  a  se<oiid  layiiij:-, 
the  first  lirood  liaviii};  lieeii  destro\'ed.  The  iiest,  ii  sli;:'lit  hollow  in  the  jjronnd 
Miatehed  ont  l>y  tlu^  liird,  was  plaeed  under  the  fallen  liranrhes  of  a  spruce  tree. 
The  cavity  was  lined  with  dead   leaves  and  sprme  no'dles,  as   well  as  a  te« 


featli 


This  nest  was  found  close  to  a  small  creek   and  »as  well  concealed. 


Mr.  .V  W.  .\ntlioiiy  t'oiind  a  nest  in  a  similar  situation  near  Heaverton,  ( hf^on, 
on  .May  If!,  Iss."».  It  «'ontii'  ed  seven  e;i';is  and  iiiciiliation  had  commenced.  .\ 
sin;;l(»  brood  is  usually  reared  in  a  season. 

The  avera^jo    iiieasiiremeiit   of  twenty   specimens   in   the    IT.   S.    National 
Musemn    collection    is     II     liy    '.\n.:,    millimetres,    llie    laijiesf    «-;;^    of    tlu'    series 

The   t\pe  spet'imeii 


liicaslirili;;'    II  liy  .'!!.,">,  the  smallest  ."(S   liy  '.'It  millimetres. 

(No.  (;s,s(i,   I'l.  •_',   \-"\>^:    I)  was  taken   liy  .Mr.  .lames   lleplinriie,  near  N'ictoria, 

Itritisli  ( 'uhmiliia,  in  the  spring'  of  iSlii'. 


24.     Lagopus  lagopus  (Linn.kis). 

Wll.l.oW    I'l  AKMItiAN. 

TilriKi  liiijiii.iis  I.INN.KI-..  Sy.st.iii.i   Xatiir.i',  eil.  Id,  1,  1  r.'iS.  i.Mi. 

hiiii<'iiu.s  /'i(/(i/)((.v  SrK.iSKoKK.  J'loceeiliiiKs  IT.  S.  Natinaal  .Museum,  viii,  iss.'i,  -io. 

(H  mr.  1:11.  cisr,,  u  i;i.  v  .Mis.  r  .im.) 

(iKOdK.VI'lllC.VI,     l{.\N(JK:      Xni'llleni     |iortiuns    ol'     IK  irt  lielli     lieiuis|)l|ere,    scilltli     in 

winter,   in   .Vnierica  to  .Silka.  Alaska,  the  lirili.sli   piox  iuces,  ami  oeciisi.inally  williin 
till'   ncilllieiii   Ipiifder  of  the   rnitcij   States. 

Tht^  lireedin^  rati^fo  of  tlu;  Willow  I'tarmif^an,  or  Willow  (iroiise,  is   eon- 
fined    to  the    .\rctic,   regions  of  America,    the   so-called    fur   countries,    seldom 

'  IliHtiiry  of  Nuilli  Aiiiiiiiiaii  llii,l»,  1-71,  It.  1».  iinil  |{.,  V..I.  In,  p.  4.VI. 


^%.  ^     n%. 


^^. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


if  IIIIIM 

-  IIIIIM 

'■'     11116 


IM 

2.0 


1.8 


1.25 

1.4 

1.6 

.4 6"     — 

► 

p 


<^ 


'/# 


/}. 


"a 


-^F 


^3 


.<L^ 


<Pj 


^4 


^ 


f? 


i? 


/ 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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iii« 


70 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


oxtending  further  south  than  latiturle  r^r't°,  and  tlien  only  in  the  eastern  por- 
tions of  its  range,  in  Lal)rador  and  tlio  shores  of  Hudson  Bay.  In  winter  tliese 
l)irds  are  partly  migratory,  and  are  .sometimes  found  in  considerable  numbers 
as  far  south  as  latitu<le  ^A)°,  and  stragglers  on  rare  occasions  liave  been  taken 
within  tlie  northern  borders  of  tlu^  United  States.  According  to  Richardson, 
considerable  nmnbera  remain  in  tlie  wooded  tracts,  as  far  north  as  latitude  67°, 
even  in  the  coldest  winters. 

Mr.  K.  W.  Nelson  states:  "In  the  northern  portions  of  their  respective 
range  these  Grouse  are  summer  resid(Mits,  fretjuenting  the  extensive  open 
country  and  being  most  abundant  along  tlie  l)arren  seacoast  region  of  Hering 
Sea  and  the  Arctic  coast;  but  in  autumn,  the  last  of  August  and  during  Sep- 
tember, they  unite  in  great  flocks  and  migrate  soutli  to  the  .sheltered  banks  of 
the  Kuskokwim  and  Yukon  Rivers,  and  their  numerous  tributaries.  In  earl}- 
spring  as  the  warmth  of  the  returning  sun  l)egins  to  be  felt,  tliey  troop  back  to 
their  l)reeding  grounds  once  more. 

"  During  a  large  portion  of  the  year  these  birds  fm-m  one  of  tlie  most 
characteristic  accompaniments  of  the  scenery  in  the  northern  portion  of  Alaska 
During  the  winter  season  these  birds  extend  tlieir  range  .soutii  to  Sitka  and 
Kadiak,  from  whence  specimens  in  white  plumage  are  in  the  U.  S.  National 
Museum  collection. 

"Toward  tlie  end  of  March,  as  the  small  bare  spots  commence  to  show  on 
the  tundra,  the  Eskimo  say,  this  will  bring  the  Ptarmigan  from  tlie  slielter 
of  the  interior  valleys,  and  their  observation  proves  true. 

"At  St.  Michael  these  birds  commence  their  love-making  according  to  the 
character  of  the  season.  In  some  years  by  the  1st  of  Ajtril  their  loud  notes  of 
challenge  are  heard;  but  tlie  recurrence  of  cold  weatlier  usually  i)Uts  a  tem- 
porary stop  to  their  jn'oceedings.  Al)out  the  ."jth  or  l.")th  of  tliis  month  the  lirst 
dark  feathers  commence  to  ajjpear  about  tlie  heads  and  necks  of  the  males. 
During  some  seasons  tlie  males  make  scarcely  any  progress  in  changing  their 
plumage  up  to  tiie  middle  of  May,  when  I  have  frecpiently  seen  tiiem  with 
only  a  trai^e  of  dark  about  the  head  and  neck.  In  the  spring  of  1H7H  tlie  first 
males  were  heard  calling  on  the  2(ith  of  April,  and  on  April  27,  in  187!*,  tlie 
males  were  just  commencing  to  moult,  showing  a  few  dark  feathers,  but  the 
seasons  were  imusually  late.  In  autumn  tluf  cliaiige  frequently  commences 
the  last  of  Septemlier,  and  by  tlie  first  of  Octolter  it  is  well  underway,  the 
winter  moult  licMiig  completed  towards  the  end  of  tliis  month. 

"  At  the  Yukon  nioutii  in  tiie  evening  of  May  24,  these  Ptarmigan  were 
heard  uttering  their  hoarse  notes  all  about.  As  we  wiu'o  sitting  by  the  tent  my 
interpreter  took  my  ritle,  and  going  off  a  .short  distance  worked  a  lump  of  snow 
to  about  the  size  of  one  of  these  birds.  Fi.xing  a  bunch  of  dark-))rovvn  moss 
on  one  end  of  tlie  snow  to  represent  the  liird's  head,  he  si^t  his  decoy  u]»ou  a 
imre  mossy  knoll;  then  retiring  a  short  distance  behind  the  knoll  he  began 
imitating  the  call  of  the  male  until  a  bird  came  whining  along,  and  taking  up 
the  gauntlet  lit  close  by  its  supjiosed  rival  and  fell  a  victim  ti»  the  ruse. 


i     .< 


THE  WILLOW  PTARMIGAN. 


71 


"The  note  used  by  the  native  in  tliis  instance  was  a  peculifir  nasal  'yak- 
yak-yak-yak.'  This  was  made  l)y  j)la('in<y  his  hands  over  liis  month  and  closing 
the  nose  witli  tlunnb  and  finj^uM*.  At  tliis  time  tlie  males  were  contiinially  pur- 
suing- each  other  or  Iioldinj^f  [Ktsscission  of  j)rominent  knolls,  tVeciuently  rising 
thence  5  to  10  yards  in  the*  air,  with  (juick  wing  strokes,  and  descending  with 
stiffened  w-iigs  with  tlie  tips  curved  downward.  While  ascending  tliey  uttered 
a  series  of  notes  which  may  b(*  reir.vseuteil  by  tlie  syllables  '  kil-ku-kA-krt,' 
whicli  is  changed  as  the  bird  desciMids  t(»  ;t  hard  rolling  'kr-r-r-r-,'  in  a  very 
deep  guttural  tone,  ending  as  the  bird  reaches  the  ground.  Frequently  a  pair 
would  Hy  at  each  other  full  tilt,  and  a  few  feathers  would  be  knocked  out,  the 
weak(fr  bird  (piickly  taking  flight  again,  while  the  victor  rises,  a.s  just  described, 
and  utters  his  loud  note  of  defiance  and  victory.  On  other  occasions,  when  the 
birds  are  more  evenly  matched,  th(\y  tight  fiercely  until  the  ground  is  strewn 
with  feathers. 

"  By  May  24  almost  all  these  birds  sire  paired,  but  some  did  not  complete* 
their  niii)tials  until  the  first  few  days  in  .Jmie.  This  Grouse  takes  but  a  single 
mate  in  northern  Alaska,  and  1  am  informed  by  the  natives  of  llnalaska  that 
the  same  is  the  case  with  the*  Rock  Orniist*  found  on  the  Aleutian  Islands, 
nor  have  I  ever  known  of  the  Ptarmigan  assem!)ling  in  numbers  about  any 
special  meeting  ))lace  to  carry  on  tlieir  love  affairs;  tliey  scatter  about  as  ])re- 
viouslv  mentioned,  Ix'ing  seen  singly  here  and  there  on  i)romineut  knolls  over 
tiie  *^;:t  country.  Karly  in  June,  rarely  so  early  as  tins  last  of  May,  the  first 
ejr<  .11  iiiil;  1)V  -June  20  and  25  the  downv  vouiig  an*  usuallv  out,  and  when 
approavl  "!  ue  female  crouches  clo.se  to  the  ground  amongst  her  brood.  When 
.she  sees  it  i.-  impo^'snde  to  escape  notice,  slie  rolls  and  tumbles  away  as  though 
muitally  injured,  an  1  thus  tries  to  lead  one  from  her  chicks.  The  y<nuig  at  the 
same  time  try  to  esiape  by  running  away  in  different  directions  through  the 
grass.  At  this  season  the  female  and  male  both  moult  and  assume  a  plumage 
wliicli  differs  consideralily.  Tlu*  young  an*  fledged  and  on  the  wing  at  varying 
dates  through  duly,  and  are  nearly  full  grown  by  the  1st  t'l  the  loth  of  August. 
They  an*  handsoint*  litth*  creatures  in  brown  and  yellow  down,  with  a  chestnut 
cap  and  black  lines  down  tlu*  back.  A  few  days  after  birth  tli(»  young  begin  to 
show  traces  of  the  first  full  |»luinage  upon  their  breasts.     *     *     * 

"111  iK^sting,  th(*se  birds  usually  gather  a  few  grasses  and  dry  leaves,  and 
with  them  th(*y  loosely  liiu*  a  shallow  depression  which  is  situated  on  the  side 
of  some  slight  knoll  or  dry  place  on  tiie  open  grass  and  moss  covered  tundra."' 

Mr.  L.  M.  Turner,  in  his  manuscript  on  tlu*  binls  of  Lalirador  and  Ungava, 
makes  the  following  statement  regarding  this  species:  "In  the  spring  these 
birds  rei)air,  as  the  snow  melts,  to  the  lower  grounds  and  pn*pare  for  the 
nniitial  season.  About  the  lOth  of  April  they  may  be  heard  croaking  or  bark- 
ing oil  all  sides.  A  male  selects  a  favorable  tract  of  territory  for  tlu*  location 
of  the  nest,  and  endeavors  to  iuduv-c*  a  female  to  resort  to  that  jilace.  lie 
usually  Hcdects  the  highest  j)ortion  of  the  tract,  whence  he  laumOies  into  tlit* 

'ExtractB  from  Rupurt  upon  Nat  11 1'ul  HiHtory  C'ollectionH  inailo  in  Aliuikn,  1877-1881,  Nelson,  pp.  l:i'i-13[>. 


In 


.1 


72 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OP  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


air  uttering  a  barkiu}?  sound  of  nearly  a  dozen  separate  notes,  thence  sails  or 
flutters  in  a  ('Jrclo  to  ali<flit  at  tiie  place  wiience  he  started,  or  to  ali;flit  on 
another  hiffh  i)lace,  from  which  he  repeats  the  act  wliile  flying  to  his  former 
place.  Inunediately  on  alighting,  he  utters  a  s(»und  similar  to  thu  Indian  word 
chii-xwan  (what  is  it?)  and  repeats  it  several  times,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few 
minutes  again  launches  in  tiie  air.  Early  in  the  morning  hundreds  of  these 
birds  may  be  heard,  continuiug  until  near  11  o'clock,  when  tlie  bird  tlien 
becomes  silent  until  alter  3  o'clock,  when  he  again  goes  through  the  .siime 
performance,  though  with  less  vigor  tiian  in  the  morning.  In  the  course  of  a 
few  days  a  female  may  be  found  in  the  vicinity.  The  actions  of  the  male  are 
now  redoubled,  and  wee  be  to  any  bird  of  his  kind  which  attempts  to  even 
cross  his  chosen  locality.  3attles  ensue  which  for  fierceness  are  seldom  equaletl 
by  birds  of  larger  size. 

"In  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Chimo  the  nesting  of  this  species  begins  during 
the  latter  ])art  of  May.  The  nest  is  usui'dly  placed  in  a  dry  spot  among  the 
swamps  or  on  the  hillsides  where  straggling  busius  grow.  Tiie  nest  is  merely 
a  depression  in  the  mosses,  and  (contains  a  few  blades  and  stalks  of  grass, 
together  with  a  few  feathers  from  the  parent  bird,  which  is  now  in  the  height 
of  the  moult  from  the  winter  to  the  summer  })lumage. 

"The  first  eggs  obtained  were  two,  on  June  1,  18H4,  this  being  the 
(earliest  record  at  Fort  Ciiimo.  The  numlier  laid  for  a  set  varies  greatly  in 
different  localities.  At  Fort  Chimo,  seven  to  nine  is  tiie  usual  numl)er,  altiiougii 
in  exceptional  instances  as  many  as  eleven  and  rarely  thirteen  may  be  found. 
While  I  was  at  St.  Michael  (Norton  Sound,  Alaska)  I  frcciuently  found  nests 
containing  as  many  as  fifteen  and  several  times  found  seventeen.  I  was  there 
informed  tiiat  over  twenty  eggs  had  l)een  taken  from  a  single  nest.  On  neitlier 
side  of  the  (rontineiit  did  I  hear  tliat  more  tiian  one  female  deposited  eggs  in 
the  same  nest.  1  can  afiiriii  that  a  clutch  of  .seven  eggs  niay  be  taken,  and, 
if  tlie  nest  be  not  disturbed,  the  female  will  deposit  nearly  the  same  number 
again,  'i'iiese  may  again  be  taken,  and  not  over  thrive  eggs  will  be  depos- 
it.<'d,  and  if  disturbed  a  tliird  time  she  will  liiy  no  more  unless  she  selects  a 
new  location,  which,  of  course,  would  be  ilithcult  to  ascertain. 

"I  can  not  speak  accurately  on  tlie  subject,  l)ut  tliiidc  timt  .seventeen  days 
ar(*  re(iuired  to  iiicul)ate  tlie  I'ggs.  On  the  "iOtii  of  June  I  obtained  a  young 
bird  of  tiiis  species,  which  was  less  than  forty-eight  hours  out  of  the  shell, 
'i'his  was  the  earliest  n^cord.  Thousands  of  tiiese  young  must  perish  annually, 
either  from  tlit^  cold  raiii.s,  or  from  tiieir  jiarents  being  killed  for  food.  Tlie 
Indians  consider  the  downy  young  of  the  I'tarmigan  a  suecial  delicacy,  even  if 
taken  from  the  shell;  the  bird  .serves  in  lieu  of  an  oyster.  I  once  had  occasion 
to  recpiire  the  services  of  several  Indian  women  to  blow  sonu^  eggs,  which, 
during  a  pressure  of  other  work,  I  had  no  time  to  do.  I  set  them  to  work 
and  fre(juently  went  to  see  if  the  work  was  progressing  satisfactorily.  I 
ob.served  a  pile  of  birds  without,  and  some  with  feathers  on,  lying  on  a  boanl. 
I  inquired  why  they  were  iieing  reservt'd.     An  old  woman  jiicked  up  one  of 


wi 


J 


THE  WILLOW  PTARMIGAN. 


73 


the  birds  bv  the  leg,  and  throwing  bacic  iier  liead  opened  iier  mouth  and  indi- 
cated the  purpose  plainer  than  words  could  tell.  After  the  middle  of  August 
the  birds  luive  accpiired  a  good  size,  and  are  then  feuding  on  jierries  of  various 
kinds.  Tliey  then  are  (piite  tender,  of  nearly  wliite  flesli,  and  when  properly 
l)repared  form  a  pleasant  food  for  the  table.  The  young  birds  of  tiie  year 
attain  their  full  growtii  by  the  1st  of  November." 

.Mr.  R.  Mac-Farlaue,  chief  factor  of  tlie  Hudson  Hay  Company,  who  is 
exceedingly  well  (pialiiied  to  speaic  al»out  the  Willow  I'tarmigan,  says:  "This 
species  is  exceedingly  al)undaut  in  tla;  neighborhood  of  Fort  Anderson,  on  the 
Lower  Anderson  Kivtsr,  and  in  tlut  wooded  (iouutry  to  the  e<a.stward.  It  is  not, 
however,  conunon  in  tlie  Barren  (irounds,  especially  from  llorton  River  to 
Franklin  Hay,  where  it  is  replaced  by  L.  ritpcstris.  The  nest  is  invariably  on 
the  ground,  and  consists  of  a  few  withered  leaves  placed  in  a  shallow  cavity  or 
depression.  The  female  sometimes  leaves  it  only  wluMi  almost  trodden  under 
foot,  in  fact  several  were  swoope<l  upon  and  caught  thereon  by  hand.  Tiuiy 
usually  begin  to  lay  about  the  end  of  May  or  the  beginning  of  June.  The 
jn'ocess  of  moulting,  or  the  gradual  assumption  of  their  summer  ])lumage,  com- 
mences a  week  or  two  earlier.  The  female  lays  from  seven  to  ten,  twelve,  and 
occasionally  as  many  as  thirteen,  eggs,  which  1  find  was  the  greatest  nund)er 
recorded,  and  we  had  reason  to  know  that  some,  at  least,  of  the  nests  were 
used  by  Ptarmigan  several  seasons  in  succession.  Wlien  very  closely  ap- 
proaciu^d  as  stated,  the  female  would  fre(piently  flutter  off,  sometimes  spreading 
her  wings  and  ruffling  her  feathers,  as  if  to  attack  or  frighten  away  intruders, 
and  at  other  times  calling  out  in  distres.sed  tones,  and  acting  as  if  she  had 
been  severely  wounded. 

"In  one  instanc.'  where  an  Indian  colloctoi-  had  found  a  nest  which  con- 
tained seven  eggs,  he  placed  a  snare  thereon;  but  on  returning  to  the  spot  a 
few  hours  afterwards  he  was  surprised  to  find  that  six  of  the  eggs  had  disap- 
peared in  the  interim,  and  as  no  eggshells  were  left  behind  (the  male  escaped) 
they  were  in  all  probal)ility  removed  by  the  parents  to  a  safer  ])osition.  The 
male  bird  is  generally  not  far  away  from  the  nest,  and  his  peculiarly  hoarse 
and  prolonged  note  is  fre(piently  heard,  the  more  especially  between  the  hours 
of  10  p.  m.  and  2  a.  m.  Hoth,  iiowever,  displayed  great  courage  and  devotion 
in  protecting  from  capture  their  young,  which  we  often  encountered  on  our 
return  coast  trips. 

"About  the  end  of  Heptember,  during  October,  and  early  in  November 
]j.  Idffopus  assembles  in  great  flocks,  but  during  the  winter  it  was  seldom  that 
nK)re  than  two  or  thnH*  dozen  were  ever  noticed  in  single  companies.  Tliev 
are,  however,  most  winters  very  numerous  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Good 
Hope  and  other  Hudson  Hiiy  Compiniy  |)osts  in  the  Mackenzi(i  River  district; 
but  as  the  spring  sets  in  they  begin  to  migrate  northward.  It  is  very  (h)ubt- 
fnl  if  many  breed  to  the  south  of  latitude  <iS  ',  iit  least  in  the  valley  of  the 
Anderson.'" 

'  From  K.  MucFarlaue'H  Maniiscript  on  Laiiil  iiiul  Wiitur  Itinl-.  Niisiinj;  in  IlrilisU  Norlli  Ainuriea. 


M 


A- 

■/id 


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RS 


'■*.   ■' 


74 


LIFE  HISTORIES  UP  NOKTU  AMEKICAN  BIRDS. 


Tlio  food  of  the  Willow  I'tiirmijifan,  dnriii}?  the  early  sprinf?  and  summer, 
consists  principally  of  the  buds  and  tender  leaves  of  tlu;  various  species  of  birch 
and  willows  found  in  that  rej^ion,  and  several  kinds  of  berries,  such  as  arbutus, 
criiuberry,  and  whortleberr}',  as  well  as  insects  of  dift'erent  s|)ecies,  of  which 
they  find  an  abundant  supply  during-  tiie  short  sunnner  season. 

All  observations  made  on  the  habits  of  the  Ptarmigan  during  the  breeding 
season  tend  to  show  that  the  male  is  ecpially  devoted,  and  shows  a  strong 
attachnuait  for  the  young,  assisting  in  taking  care  of  them,  and  displaying 
as  great  a  sidicitude  for  their  safety  as  tlie  female,  differing  in  this  respect  from 
most  of  the  Grouse  family,  by  whom  tliu  care  and  protection  of  the  young  is 
apjjarently  almost  entirely  left  t(»  their  mates. 

The  nests  of  tlu*  Willow  Ptarmigan  are,  as  a  rule,  not  ])articularly  well 
hidden,  and  judging  from  the  large  innuber  of  eggs  of  this  species  in  the  U.  S. 
National  ^luseum  collection,  procured  principally  l)y  Mr.  II.  MacFarlane,  of 
the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  near  Anderson  River  Fort,  in  about  latitude  GH°, 
they  nuist  be  exceedingly  abundant  at  this  point. 

The  average  nund)er  of  eggs  to  a  set  is  from  seven  to  eleven,  and  but 
one  Ijrood  is  raised  in  a  season.  Tiie  eggs  vary  in  shape  from  ovate  to 
elongate  ovate.  The  ground  color  ranges  from  cream  color  to  a  pronounced 
reddish  buff,  with  several  intermediate  shades.  In  some  specimens  it  is  very 
clearly  seen,  in  others  it  is  almost  completely  obscured  by  the  heavy  con- 
fluent blotches  and  markings.  The  latter  vary  from  well-defined  and  nearly 
even-sized  spots  of  different  sizes  to  eonfluent  and  cKiuded  l)lotches,  and 
smears  of  various  shades  of  dark  nnldish  and  clove  brown,  completely  ol)- 
scuring  the  ground  color  in  some  instances.  All  this  coloring  matter  can  be 
readily  removed  in  a  freshly-laid  vgg,  leaving  the  shell  a  i)ale  creamy  white, 
and  they  show  an  almost  endless  variation  in  .shajje,  color,  and  size.  All  the 
specimens  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum  collection  were  taken  in  the  month 
of  June,  the  majority  about  the  middle  of  this  monlh. 

The  average  measurement  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  specimens  in  tiie 
U.  S.  National  Museum  collection  is  43  by  31  millimetres.  The  largest  egg 
of  this  series  measures  47  by  33.;"),  the  smallest  31>.r)  by  2H  millimetres,  and 
ii  runt  specimen  20  by  17.5  millimetres. 

The  types  selected  to  show  the  variations  in  tlie  styles  of  markings  and 
coloration  were  obtained  as  follows:  No.  fi023  (PI.  2,  Fig.  f)),  from  an  in- 
complete set  of  three,  taken  by  G.  Bannister  near  Whale  River,  Ungava 
Bay,  Labrador,  June,  18()2;  No.  •J2r)l  (PI.  2,  Fig.  6),  from  a  set  of  seven, 
June  29,  18G3;  No.  10G89  (PI.  2,  Fig.  7),  from  a  set  of  seven,  June  20, 
ISf!");  all  the  latter  being  from  the  region  east  of  Anderson  River  Fort,  British 
North  America,  and  collected  by  R.  MacFarlane.  No.  t(;4Gl  (PI.  2,  Fig.  8), 
from  a  set  of  eight,  taken  June  20,  1872,  by  W.  II.  Dall,  II.  S.  Coast  Survey, 
on  Popof  Island  (one  of  the  Shumagin  Group),  Alaska  Peninsula;  No.  17042 
(PI.  2,  Fig.  'J),  from  a  set  of  six,  taken  June  3,  1874,  near  St.  Michael,  Ala,ska, 


I 


THE  WILLOW  PTARMIGAN. 


76 


by  L.  M.  Turner,  U.  S.  Sif,nml  Scrvico;  and  No.  213f;4  (PI.  2,  Fijr.  10),  from 
a  set  often,  taken  June  11,  ISSO,  at  St.  Michael,  Alaska,  by  E.  W.  Nelson, 
U.  S.  Signal  Sc?rvice. 

25.     Lagopus  lagopus  alleni  Stejneg'^k. 

Allen's  ptarmigan. 

Lagnpim  alhn  alleni  Ste.JNROer,  Auk,  1,  1884,  300. 

Latjoputi  layopus  alleni  Ste.ineoer.  Proceodinga  U.  S.  National  Museum,  VIII,  1885,  20. 

(B  — ,  C  — ,  R  — ,  C  — ,  U  301a.) 

Qeooraphical  ranoe  :  Nowfoundlanrt. 

According  to  Dr.  L.  Stejneger  this  newly  described  subspecies  is  similar 
to  Latjopns  laf/ojiKs,  but  distinguishable  by  having  tlie  .shafts  of  botli  primaries 
and  .secondaries  black,  the .  wing  feathers  and  even  some  of  the  c(»verts 
marked  and  mottled  with  the  same  color. 

Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriam  refers  to  this  bird  In  the  Ornithologist  and  Oi'llo- 
gist  (Vol.  VIII,  No.  (>,  1883,  !>.  43)  as  the  Common  or  WiUow  Ptarmigan, 
and  says:  "It  is  still  an  abundant  resident  in  Newfoundland,  even  in  the 
vicinity  of  St.  Johns,  and  thousands  of  them  are  killed  annually  on  the 
peninsula  of  Avalon  alone.  It  frequents  rocky  barrens,  feeding  on  seeds  and 
berries  of  tiie  stunted  plants  that  thrive  in  these  exposed  situations." 

In  his  notes  on  the  "Zoology  of  Newfoundland,"  Henry  Reeks,  esq.,  F. 
L.  S.,  makes  the  following  statement,  which  unquestionably  Mjjplies  to  this  race: 
"The  Willow  Grouse  is  called  '  Partridge'  by  the  settlers,  and  it  frequents  beds 
of  alder  and  dwarf  bircli  in  swampy  places,  especially  on  the  borders  of  lakes 
and  rivers.  It  breeds  on  the  ground  among  stunted  black  spruce,  in  rather 
drier  situations."' 

The  breeding  range  of  this  well-marked  race  of  the  Willow  Ptarmigan 
seems,  as  far  as  at  present  known,  to  be  confined  tt)  the  island  of  Newfound- 
land, where  it  is  a  resident.  1  have  l)eeii  unable  to  Hud  any  description  of 
the  eggs,  which   undoubtedly  are   indistinguishable   from   those   of   La/jopun 

iKf/OpUS. 

26.     Lagopus  rupestris  (Gmelin). 

ROCK    I'TAKMIGAN. 

Telmn  rupeslris  QyiELi^i,  Sy.stoma  Niitiinc,  i,  ii.  17S8,  7r>l. 
Lwjopus  rupestris  Leach,  Zoiilogical  Misccllai'y.  11,  1817,  'JOO. 

(B  4(iS,  C  3Sr,  R  475,  C  W.),  U  303.) 

Geographical  range:  Arctic  Amoriea  in  general,  soutlieastward  to  the  Gulf  of 
St.  Lawrence  (Anticiisti).  ('xci'pt  the  noi'tlicrn  extremity  of  the  peninsula  of  La1)rador. 
iuul  region  thence  northward,  Greenland  and  the  Aleutian  Islan<ls. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Rock  Ptarmigan  extends  through  Arctic  North 
America,  from  the  Alaska  Peninsida  and  Bering  Strait,  along  the  Arctic  coast, 

'  Zoologist,  Bccoiul  BerioH,  IHO'.t,  Vol.  iv,  p.  I7'17. 


!^ 


1    '\ 


76 


LIFE  niSTORlES  OP  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRI)8 


southeast  throiijjli  the  Harroii  Grounds,  to  tho  west  coast  of  Hudson  Bay,  the 
Northeast  Territory,  and  sou  hern  i^altrador,  and  possilily  Anticosti  Ishiud,  in 
the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence. 

Mr.  K.  \V.  Nelson  states  tliat  "tliis  heautiful  I'tarniij^an  is  a  eoninion  resi- 
dent of  the  Ala.skan  mainland,  and  unlike  the  eoninion  White  I'tarnii^au  it 
fre(juents  the  sunnnits  of  the  low  hills  and  monntains  diu'ing  the  sunnner  sea- 
son, where  it  remains  until  the  severe  weather  of  early  winter  forees  it  down 
t(t  the  lower  elevations  and  under  the  shelter  of  the  Itush-borderetl  ravines 
and  furrows  markinj;-  the  slopes.'" 

There  is  evidently  hut  little  different'  in  the  };eneral  habits  of  this  speeies 
and  those  of  the  comnion  Willow  I'tarnii^an,  e.xeejjt  that  it  frecpients  hii^her 
altitudes  durin"-  the  breeding  season. 

We  are  iiuhibted  to  Mr.  11.  MaeFarlane  for  nearly  all  we  know  about  the 
breedinjy  habits,  nests,  and  eyj^s  of  this  interestin<^'  speeies.  lie  says:  "'i'liis 
Ptarmigan  is  not  near  so  plentiful  as  L.  Idf/ojiiis,  and  we  only  met  with  it  in  an}' 
considerable  numbers  from  Ilorton  Hiver,  Marren  (Jrounds,  to  the  shores  of 
Franklin  Bay.  Very  few  nests  were  found  to  the  eastward  of  that  river,  or  on 
the  coast  or  'barrens'  of  the  Lower  Anderson.  Its  nest  is  similar  but  it  lays 
fewer  eggs  than  A.  l(U/oi)i(s,  as  nine  proved  to  be  the  rarely  attained  inaxinnnn 
among  an  aggregate  record  of  si.xty-fivc^  nests.  'Plie  usual  number  was  six  or 
seven,  and  there  were  some  which  held  only  tV)ur  and  li\ c  eggs.  It  was  no  easy 
matter,  however,  to  iind  the  nests  of  this  .species,  as  the  plumage  of  the  birds 
and  the  color  of  the  eggs  both  strongly  resembled  the  neighboring  vegetation. 
At  the  same  time  the  female  sat  so  very  closely  that  more  than  one  was  ciught 
on  the  nest,  and  1  recollect  an  instant-e  where  the  i'emale  i)ird,  on  the  very  near 
approach  of  our  party,  nnist  have  crouched  as  much  as  possible  in  the  hope 
that  she  might  not  be  noticed,  which  would  h-ve  happenc(l  had  not  one  of  the 
smartest  of  our  Indian  collectors  caught  a  glance  of  her  eye.  Although  lots  of 
male  'Rockers'  were  observed  on  our  smnmer  tri])s,  feeding  and  otherwi.se 
disporting  themselvt^s  in  the  'barrens,'  yet  comjiaratively  few  nests  were 
ol)tained,  and,  excerpt  in  lh>()2,  not  one  well-identiKed  I'.xample  wiis  discovered 
west  of  Ilorton  liiver,  but  during  the  winter  scores  of  7..  niprstiis  were  met 
with  in  the  forest  country  east  of  Fort  Andeison."- 

The  "  Barren  Grounds,"  s(»  often  referred  to  in  connection  with  the  breed- 
ing grounds  of  numerous  birds,  are  thus  described  by  Mr.  K.  MaeFarlane  in  a 
paper  entitled,  "On  an  Fxpedition  (hiwn  the  Begh-Ula  or  Anderson  River:" 
"The  l)elt  of  tim'oer  which  at  Fort  AndiMson  '  extends  for  over  .'}(•  miles  to  the 
eastward,  rapiilly  narrows  and  becomes  a  mere  fringe  along  the  AncU'rson 
River,  and  disappears  to  the  northward  oi'  the  sixty-ninth  jjarallel  of  latitu<le. 
Tlu!  country  is  thickly  interspersed  with  sheets  of  water  varying  in  sizi^  from 
mere  small  ponds  to  small  and  fair  sized  lakes.     In  traveling  northeast  toward 

'  Ropurt  ou  tlio  Natural  Hiittory  CnllectioiiH  mailii  in  Alaska  1S77-I8SI,  NeUoii,  |>.  l:ili. 

-'  From  K.  MucKarlaiiu's  Maiiu.suript  uii  liaiiil  anil  Water  llinls  NcHtiiit;  in  Itritixli  Nnrtli  America, 

'  KatabliNlixil  uu  Audersuu  Klvur  in  ISOl,  and  abancldnnl  in  ISiiii.     Approx.  lat.  OS    :i.'i'. 


TUE  ItOCK  rXAUMIOAN. 


77 


he 

iOII 

Ic. 

•  Ml 
1(1 


Kriiiikliii  Bay,  on  tlio  Arctic.  coiiHt,  Kovoml  dry,  swampy,  mossy,  ami  peaty 
plains  were  pnsscd  Itcforo  roiicliinfj  tlio  'Bairon  (iiouiids'  propcM'.  'I'luf  coiuitry 
thonco  to  the  lici^ilit  of  land  botwocn  tlu!  AndiTsou  and  the  deep  f^nnfju- 
liko  valley  thron<,di  which  the  VVihnot  liorton  River  (MacFarhnu^  River  of 
I'etitot's  map)  flows,  as  well  as  from  the  'crossinfir'  of  the  latter  to  the  liiii-h 
plateau  wliioh  forms  the  western  soa-l)ank  f»f  Franklin  Bay,  consists  of  vast 
plains  or  steppes  of  a  flat  or  undnlatiuf?  character,  diversified  by  some  small 
lakes Hiid  gently  slopinjf  eminences,  not  dissimilar  in  appearance  to  portions  of  tlu* 
Northwest  prairies.  In  the  re<,'ion  here  spoken  of,  however,  the  ridj^es  occasion- 
ally assnmo  si  momid-liko  hilly  character,  while  one  or  two  intersecting  affluents 
of  the  Wihnot  Ilorton  flow  through  valleys  iu  which  a  few  stunted  sj)ruce,  birch, 
and  willows  appear  at  intervals.  On  the  banks  of  one  of  these,  near  its  mouth, 
wo  ob.served  a  sheltered  <;rove  of  spruce  and  willows  of  larj^er  frrowth,  wherein 
moose  and  musk  oxen  had  fre(iuently  browsed.  We  met  with  no  more  spruce, 
nor  any  traces  of  the  moose  to  the  eastward,  and  I  doubt  if  many  stra<j:-i:lei's 
ranjfe  beyond  latitude  (j!(°  north. 

"The  {greater  part  of  the  Barren  Grounds  is  every  season  covered  with 
short  jj^rasses,  nH>sses,  and  small  fiowerin<j  plants,  while  patches  of  sedj^y  or 
peaty  soil  occur  at  longer  or  shorter  distances.  On  these,  as  well  as  al()ng  the 
smaller  rivulets,  river  and  lake  banks,  Labrador  tea,  craid)erries,  and  a  few 
other  kinds  of  l)erries,  dwarf  birch,  willows,  etc.,  j^row.  Larj^e,  flat  spaces  had 
the  honeycombed  appearance  usually  jjresented  in  early  sprin<^'  by  land  which 
has  been  turned  over  in  autunni.  There  were  few  si}>iis  of  vej^etation  on 
these,  while  some  siiiuly  and  many  other  spots  were  virtually  sterile.  *  »  * 
These  Barren  (Jrouuds  are  chiefly  compo.sed  of  a  peaty,  sandy,  clayey,  or 
frnivelly  soil,  l)ut  stones  are  rare  an<l  rock  in  situ  (limestone?)  was  encountc^red 
oul\-  two  or  tlu't'c  times  on  the  line  tif  march  from  the  woods  to  the  coast.'" 

This  description  will  j^'ive  the  reader  a  "^-ood  idea  of  the  sunniier  home  of 
the  Rock  l'tarmi<fan;  and  while  its  food  differs  jm.djaidy  but  sli«>litly  from  that 
of  the  Willow  I'tarmifiUM,  it  nuist  necessarily  be  restricted  to  a  nuudi  smaller 
variety.  Their  nests,  usually  placed  amon}"' tiie  dwart' brush  or  sed<r(>-covered 
I)atches  of  tlu*  tundras  on  these  barrens,  are  much  harder  to  find  than  those 
of  the  latter,  and  the  II.  H.  National  Museum  is  almost  entirely  indebted  to 
the  indefatijjfable  ^^r.  R'.  MacFarlane  for  the  handsonuf  .series  of  efi<>s  of  this 
sjiccies  in  the  collection,  all  of  which,  with  the  exception  of  a  oin<>'le  set,  were 
ol)tained  by  him. 

Nidification  l)ei,nns  about  the  middle  of  May  iu  Alaska,  and  correspond- 
iniily  later  in  the  Barren  rrrouiRls,  usually  from  June  lo  to  July  10.  But  a 
sinji'le  l)rood  is  raised  in  a  season.  Tiie  nund)er  of  ej^fi's  to  a  set  varies  from  six 
to  ten,  rarely  more,  and  usually  but  seven  or  eight  are  laid.  These  ari'  ovate 
or  short  ovate  in  fomi,  resembling  the  eggs  of  fjdi/oiius  Idf/o/tKs  considerably 
both  in  c(  lor  and  markings,  l)ut  tliey  average  smaller.  The  majority  are 
readily  distinguished  from  those  of  the  hitter,  the  markings  as  a  rule  l)eing 

■  Cauadiau  Record  of  Science,  January,  IS'M,  pp.  52, 53. 


78 


LIFE  UISTOUIKS  OF  NOUTU  AMEltlCAN  JIIKDS. 


sinalW  iiiul  lu'ttcr  (Idincil,  tiiid  seldom  nmiiiii^  into  indistinct  and  irregular 
l)lotclu!s  as  is  fr('([uiMitly  tiic  casi*  in  tlio  t'ffg!^  of  that  spwcies. 

Tho  {rround  color  rani^c^s  from  a  palo  cream  to  a  do(Mdod  yellowish-buff, 
and  in  many  spccMincns  this  is  entirely  hidden  l»y  a  vinaceous  rnfoua  suffusion. 
The  spots  and  hlotclies  range  from  a  dark  clove  brown  to  a  dark  claret  red, 
with  paler  colored  edgings;  they  are  of  various  sizes,  from  tho  wize  of  a  buck- 
shot to  tiiat  of  No.  10  shot,  and  are  irregularly  distributed  over  tho  egg. 

Tiio  averagtf  measurement  of  ninety. nine  specimens  in  the  IJ.  S.  National 
Museum  collection  is  42  by  30  millimetres.  The  largest  egg  in  this  series 
measures  44  by  32.."),  the  smallest  3f>  by  21)  millimetres. 

The  types  selected  to  show  the  different  styles  of  markings  are  us  follows: 
No.  7642  (PI.  2,  V'\g.  11),  from  an  incom[)lete  set  of  three  eggs,  taken  near 
Franklin  Hay,  Arctic  coast,  June  2(5,  1883;  No.  !)2G8  (PI.  2,  Fig.  12),  from  a 
.set  of  eight,  tak(m  near  Anderson  River,  Arctic  America,  June  10,  1863;  No. 
!)273  (PI.  2,  Fig.  13)  from  an  inccnnplete  set  of  four,  same  locality,  taken 
.luly  7,  18(i3;  and  No.  1)284  (PI.  2,  Fig.  14),  from  a  .set  of  si.\,  .same  locality, 
June  3,  1863;  all  having  been  collected  by  Mr.  MacFarlane.  No.  14!H»7 
(PI.  2,  Fig.  15)  is  from'  a  set  of  ten  eggs,  taken  in  the  (lens-du-large  <»r 
Romanzof  Mountains,  Alaska,  ))y  Mr.  James  McDougall,  of  the  Hud.son  Bay 
Company,  iu  the  latter  part  of  May,  1869. 

27.    Lagopus  rupestris  reinhardti  (Breiim). 

rkinhardt'.s  ptarmigan. 

Lngnprm  rrinhnrf)!  (err.  ty]i.)  B«kum,  Lohi'buch  europiiischor  Vogel,  1823,  440. 
Lngopus  ruinsfris  iTinhnnlfi  Blasius,  List  European  Bird;,  1803,  10. 

(B  — ,  C  — ,  R  — ,  C  -,  U  ;!l)2a.) 

Geographical  range  :  Greenland,  islands  on  western  side  of  Cumberland  Gulf, 
and  northern  extremity  of  Labrador  (Uugava). 

Tiie  breeding  range  of  Reinhardt's  Ptarmigan,  as  known  at  present, 
includes  both  shores  of  Hatlin  Hay,  Davis  Strait,  antl  Hudson  Strait,  ranging 
well  uj)  into  the  Arctic  circle.  It  is  a  connnon  bird  in  Greenland,  and  a 
number  of  its  eggs  collected  in  the  vicinity  of  Sukkertoppen  are  in  the  U.  S. 
National  Museum  collection. 

It  is  not  at  all  ran^  in  the  northern  jjortions  of  Labrador,  and  Mr.  L.  M. 
'i'urner,  of  tin;  U.  S.  Signal  Service,  makes  tlui  following  statement  regarding 
this  subspecies,  in  his  "Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Labrador  and  Ungava:" 

"This  Ptarmigan  is  known  to  the  white  people  n,s  the  Rock  Grouse,  or 
simjjly  as  'Rocker.'  In  the  southern  portion  of  Labradortlie.se  Ptarmigan  are 
not  very  lunnerous,  but  l)ecome  so  us  the  more  northern  and  elevated  portions 
of  the  country  are  reached.  They  prefer  more  open  ground  ^aiid  mtcU)  straggle 
even  into  the  skirts  of  the  wooded  tracts.''  The  hilltops  and  'l)arrens'  (hence  often 
called  Barren  Ground  Bird)  are  their  favorite  resorts.     x\.s  these  tracts  are  more 


II 

;    ; 

'■ 

* 

r;    i 

UEliJEAltDT'S  PTAKMIOAN. 


70 


(•xt(iiisiv{(  In  the  nortlioru  portitniH  of  Lal)nul(>r  mul  lluj^ava,  tlii'so  hinls  aro 
tlicro  vci'v  aljiiiidiiiit.  [)iiriii<f  tlin  suiu'irt  nioiitlis  tlit^y  an^  ((iiite  scarco  in  tli»^ 
vicinity  of  Fort  Cliiino,  rotiriu<^  to  tlin  interior  and  tlio  liills  of  (Joor^t*  Uivcr 
for  that  suanon.  In  tlio  montli  of  May  the  na|)tial  season  arrives  and  is  i-on- 
linncd  until  about  June,  when  nestinj^  and  hiyiu<f  be<^in.  Tiie  birds  are  l»y 
this  time  scattered,  eacli  pair  now  takin;jf  possession  of  a  larfj^e  tract  of  stunted 
ve;j^etation,  amonj?  which  they  make  their  nest  and  rear  their  youujr.  I  was 
UGver  al)le  to  procniro  the  OK^''^  '**  f''"'*  species.  Only  yoiinf^f  birdn  a  iow  days 
old  were  brou<fht  to  me,  and  some  of  larj^^cr  size. 

"As  l)efore  stated  tiie  niatinj,^  season  be;;ins  in  May,  and  diirinfj;'  this  period 
tiie  male  acts  in  the  stran<fest  manner  to  secure  tlie  alFection  of  ids  chosen  mate. 
He  does  not,  launcli  hij^h  in  air  and  croak  like  the  Willow  Ptanni<fan,  l)ut  runs 
around  his  pros|)ective  l)ri(le  with  tail  spread,  win<jfs  either  drajf^injy  like  those 
of  the  common  Turkey,  or  else  his  head  and  neck  stret<died  out,  and  breast  in 
contact  with  the  j,''round,  jjushin;^  himself  in  this  maimer  i»y  tlio  feet,  which  are 
extended  be.liind.  Tlie  male  at  this  time  ruffles  every  feather  of  his  body, 
twists  his  neck  in  various  [)ositions,  and  tiie  supraorljital  processes  are  swollen 
and  ere(!t.  He  utters  a  most  peculiar  sound,  somotliinj^'  like  a  {rrowlinir  'kurr- 
kurr,'  and  as  tiio  passior  of  tiio  display  increases  the  bird  performs  the  nu>st 
astoni.shing  antics,  suc^h  as  leapinj^  in  the  air  witiiout  etl'ort  of  wings,  rollinjj 
over  and  over,  actinjic  withal  as  if  beside  himself  with  ardor. 

"The  males  enj^ajyo  in  most  desperate  battles;  the  enffa<>ement  lasts  for 
iiotirs,  or  until  one  is  utterly  exhausted,  the  feathers  of  head,  neck,  and  breast 
strewinjy  the  ground.  A  maiuuuvre  is  for  the  pursued  bird  to  lead  the  other  olf 
a  great  distance  and  sndchinly  Hy  back  to  the  female,  who  sits  or  feeds  as 
unconcerned  as  it  is  possilde  for  a  biril  to  do.  Slie  acts  thoroughly  the  most 
heartless  cociuette,  while  he  is  a  most  passionately  devoted  lover.  He  will 
rather  die  than  forsake  her  side,  and  often  places  iiimself  between  the  hunter 
and  iier,  uttering  notes  of  warning  for  her  to  escape,  while  attention  is  drawn 
to  him,  who  is  the  more  conspicuous. 

"Wiien  the  young  are  with  the  partiuts  they  rely  upon  their  color  to 
hide  tliemselves  among  tlie  nearly  similar  vegetation  from  which  they  jiro- 
ciire  their  food.  I  am  certain  1  liav(^  walked  directly  over  young  birds 
which  were  well  aide  to  fly.  If  the  parent  birds  aro  first  shot,  the  entiri' 
niiml)(^r  of  young  may  lu^  secured,  as  they  will  not  fly  until  nearly  trodden 
iqion,  and  then  only  for  a  tew  yards,  wliere  tiiey  may  easily  be  seen.  I 
have  found  on  two  occasions  an  adult  female  with  a  brood  of  thirteen 
young.  All  of  the  flocks  were  secured  without  trouble.  At  other  times 
only  throo  or  four  young  would  be  found  with  both  parents.  The  young 
are  very  tender  when  first  hatched;  no  amount  of  most  careful  attention 
will  induce  them  to  eat,  and  aftin-  only  a  few  hours'  captivity  they  die.  I 
could  never  keep  them  alive  above  twcdve  hours.  1'iie  changeable  weather, 
sudden  sfpialls  of  snow  or  rain,  must  bo  the  death  of  scores  of  these  deli- 
cate creatures.     Their  note  is  a  soft  piping  'pe-pe-pe,'  uttered  several  times, 


I 


80 


HUM 


LIl'K  llhSTOKIKS  OP  NORTH  AMKKICAN  lUKDS. 


lilS 


tl 


u)  saimt  s( 


mini  iis  tliiit  <»1'  tlu)  yoiiii;,'  of  tiic  Holi  Whitf,  Culiiins 
ritffiiiidini.s. 

"Ill  till'  yimiii;;  birds  just  liatcluMl,  anil  up  to  tho  a<>i*  of  three  weokH,  it 
in  ililHriilt,  it'  |Missil)li'  at  all,  to  ilistiiiiiuisli  tlicm  to  a  ct'rtaiiity  tVnin  tlii' 
yoiiii;^'  of  l.iii/dinis  Idi/Djiiis  of  tin-  same  af^c.  'I'lii'V  arc  slij{litly  ilarkcr,  anil 
the  lower  parts  have  a  jfreenish  tin;fe  to  the  ilown  insteail  of  yellow,  as  in 
the  yoiinj;'  of  />.  /iti/iijHis.  Althoiif^h  I  have  preserveil  a  f^reat  niiinher  of 
these  yoiiiijr  i)inls  1  would  still  hesitate  to  assert  to  wliirh  of  tiie  two  species 
they  i»eloMj,r  After  the  aj^c  of  three  weeks  they  may  he  easily  distiii/^uisheil 
by  the  hill.  Hy  the  10th  of  Au;f|ist  the  winj;'  quills  have  liej;iiu  to  show 
the  winter  plumaiie.  The  first  primary  is  then  white  anil  nearly  half  its 
normal  leu^^th,  with  the  seeond  and  third  siiowin;;'  loiisiileraltle  develo|aiient. 
The  bird  is  at  this  time  about  the  size  of  a  Uol»  White  {('(iliiiiis  rin/iiii<iniis)." 

Tlu^  food  of  lleinhardt's  Ptarmij^an  duriu}''  the  summer  consists  of  insects 


as  we 


as  various  leaves  am 


d   be 


rries,  sucn  as  tnose  o 


.f  tl 


le  crowberr^ 


(A 


III- 


lirlniin  iiii/niiii),  whortlel»erries,  the  tender  leaves  of  the  dwarf  birch  and  white 
birch  {/{rfiild  aliirsfris)  as  well  as  the  buds,  willow  buds,  and  sorrel.  Mr. 
Luilwi;;'  Kuiidien  shot  a  s])ecimi'n  near  ('iimbei'land  Sound,  whose  crop  was 
cranuned  full  of  spha^i'num  moss.  Tliey  are  usually  met  with  m  small  coveys 
from  six  to  ten  birds,  rarely  more. 


Ihit  a  sinj;le  l)rood  is  n-ared  in  a  seasi 


>n. 


Tl 


le  eiffjs  are  usua 


ited  ilurinu:  tlu^  month  of  J 


une,  am 


1  tl 


lly  dej 


)l  »s- 


le  sets  vary 


roil 


six  to  fourteen,  verv 


rarely  more.  I'hey  are  alisfdutely  indistini^iiishable  from  those  of  the  Kock 
I'tarmiji'an  Lai/iiims  niiicstris ;  in  fact,  the  avera^ye  measurement  of  thirty- 
three  specimens  in  the  U.  S.  National  Alu.seum  collection,  from  Greeidand, 
corrosponds  exactly  with  that  of  the  precediiiff  species,  ffivini>-  an  avera;>(^ 
of  42  by  .'JO  millimetres.  The  lar;,'est  ej^ff  of  the  serie.s  measures  44  by  .'52, 
the  smallest  40  by  2!l  millimetres.  The  majority  of  these  ej^j^s  were  collected 
near  (Jodthaal)  and  Sukkertopjien,  Greenland,  and  are  a  gift  of  Governor  E. 
Fencker. 

None  are  ligured,  as  they  are  exactly  like  the  egfjs  of  Ldtjapitfi  nqmstris. 


28.     Lagopus  rupestris  nelsoni  Stejnegek, 

nelson's  ptarmigan. 

Lagopus  rupestris  nelsoni  Stejneuer.  Auk,  i,  1884,  -m). 

(B  — ,  C  — ,  R  — ,  C  — ,  U  -mh.) 

Oeooraphical  RANGE:  Island  of  Unalaska  aim  adjacent  islands  m  tlic  Aleutian 
Chain. 

The  types  of  this  oomjiaratively  new  race  were  taken  by  Mr.  Nelson,  at 
Unalaska,  one  of  the  Aleutian  Islands;  he  reports  it  as  commou  there,  frequent- 
iug  the  mountain  tops  and  slopes,  and  breeding  iu  Juue. 


I 


NELSON'S  I'TAKMIOAN. 


81 


Mr.  TuriuT,  in  liiH  "(Joiitrihutioim  to  tlu*  Natuial  IIiwt(»ry  of  AltiHkii,"  rct'ors 
to  tliis  HulwiM'cics  in  liis  article!  on  Jjif/opiis  niiirstris,  from  wliicli  it  liad  not 
ht'un  wparatcil  wlicn  liis  acconnt  was  writton.     lit*  ways: 

"On  Honio  of  tlio  iHlands  it  is  nxtrenicly  al)nn(lant,  anion^  tlioso  may  ho 
nicntioncd  I'nali'.-ijta,  Unimak,  Akntan,  ami  Aknn.  It  is  a  resident  wliero 
fonnti,  and,  ainon};  tlie  islands,  rarely  leaves  its  native  islanil.  At  I'nalaska 
tliey  seem  to  prefer  the  hiffh  rocky  led<>es,  lait  everywhere  come  down  to  the 
low  narrow  valleys  to  roost  and  rear  their  yonng.  They  rarely  assendile  in 
lar<;e  flocks;  a  duzen  to  twenty  individnals  usnally  compos(>  a  Hock.  The 
sea.son  hejjins  in  tho  early  part  of  May,  and  is  contimied  for  ahont  matin}; 
three  weeks,  liy  which  time  the  site  for  tho  nest  is  (ihosen,  nsually  amidst  the 
tall  f>rasses  at  the  month  of  a  wide  valley,  or  els»!  on  tho  moro  open  tundra 
ainonji'  the  moss  and  scanty  {^rass. 

"The  nest  of  this  l)ird  is  composed  of  a  few  stalks  of  jfiass  and  tho  feath- 
ers that  may  fall  from  the  mother's  breast.  Tho  nest  is  a  very  careloss  attair, 
and  often,  near  tho  completion  of  incubation,  tlu*  ('}'H's  will  lie  on  tlus  ban* 
ground  surrounded  by  a  slij'ht  circle  of  jj^rass  stalks  that  havti  apparently  been 
kicked  aside*  by  the  motiier  impatient  of  her  task.  The  mind)er  of  e};j(s  varies 
from  nine  to  .seventeen,  eleven  bein<r  tho  usual  number.  Tho  exact  (hito  of 
incubation  was  not  determined  ))y  me.  The  younjf  are  al)le  to  follow  tlie 
mother  as  soon  as  tla-y  are  hatched. 

"  As  this  bird  never  collects  into  larjjfo  flocks,  I  always  sujijjosed  the  flocks 
soon  in  winter  were;  tlu*  parei\ts  with  the*  l)rood  reare<l  tho  previous  summer." 

Tiiero  are  no  ej;};s  of  Nelson's  Ptannij;an  in  tho  IT.  S.  National  Museum 
collection,  neither  have  any  of  tho  ornitholoffists,  who  met  with  this  sulwpocies, 
d(*scribed  them.  There  is  every  reason  to  pritsume,  however,  that  they  are 
indistinguishable  from  the  eggs  of  tho  Kock  Ptarmigan. 


2g.     Lagopus  rupestrts  atkhensis  (Tiunkr). 

TIIKNKU'S    I'TAKMIOAN. 

Lntppiis  miitiifi  nfkhensis  Turnek,  Proci^odiugs  U.  S.  Nfitional  Museum,  v,  July  29, 

lS8s',  n7,  •v'.'io. 
Lmjopus  rupestria  atkhensis  Nelson,  Crui.se  of  the  Corwiu,  1883,  56e+82. 

(B— .  C— ,  R— .  C-,  U  ■■m,'.) 

Geooraphical  RANOB  :  Atka  Island.  Aleutian  Chain. 

Mr.  E.  W.  Nelson  states:  "Among  the  specimens  secured  by  Mr.  L.  M. 
Turner,  during  his  residence  in  the  Aleutian  Islands,  are  foin-  Ptarmigans, 
which,  u])on  examination,  prove  to  rei)resont  a  well-marked  geographical  race 
of  L.  rupcsfiifi.  His  specimens  wcue  secured  June  7  and  May  2!»,  upon  Atka 
Island,  at  the  e.xtreme  western  end  of  the  Aleutian  (!hain.  They  are  found 
upon  this  island,  and  undoubtedly  upon  tlio.so  adjoining.  *  *  *  It  is 
undoubtedly  to  this  race  that  Mr.  Dall  refers  iu  his  'CN)ntribution  to  the 
20957— Bull.  1 « 


■  'M 


1 


I 


T^ 


■I-  ■■ 


;:1 


82 


Llb'B  UISTOUIUS  OF  NOltTU  AMElllCAN  B1RU8. 


Orintliolofiv  of  tlio  wostorn  o\.i^  of  tlio  Aloutiiin  Chain,'  wlicii  lie  s|)i'aks  of 
Hudin<;  nuw  mucli  inculKitod  t'lyji's  on  Juno  "Jl,  at  Attn  Island,  and  rliicks 
wludi  wort'  liatolu'd  at   Kiska  July  S."' 

Mr.  Turnor  liimsolf  writos:  "Wliou  I  Hrst  obtainod  tlioso  birds  I  was 
striiok  witli  tlio  ^roator  sizo,  and  also,  with  tlu  sira|K'  of  the  bill,  and  j;r<'ator 
lonji'th  of  tho  olaws  whon  comijarod  with  tlu*  mainland  i)ird.  'I'his  bird  fro- 
(juonts  tho  lowlands  and  hills  of  tho  wostorn  islands  of  tho  Aloiitian  Chain. 
Thoy  aro  (jiiito  |tlontifnl  on  Atka,  Anuhitka,  and  Attn  Islands.  The  nost  is 
built  ainonj;st  tho  rank  <irassos  at  tho  l>asos  of  hills  and  tho  lowlanils  near 
tlu'  boach.  It  is  carolossly  arraniicd  with  a  tow  driod  ji-rass  stalks  and  other 
ti'ash  that  may  l>o  noar.  'I'ho  oyjis  vary  from  olovon  to  soveuteon,  and  aro 
darkor  in  color  than  those  of  tiio  /-.  niiit.stris  and  but  slijjh'dy  inferior  in  size 
to  those  of  //.  Iiii/opii'^.  A  number  of  eji';j^s  of  this  species  wore  procured,  l)Ut 
broken  in  transportation;  hence,  1  can  '/\vv  no  moasurements  of  thom. 

"The  jionoral  habits  of  this  species  aro  those  of  tht^  other  spocios.  At 
Attn  they  fre(|uent  tho  hi^iher  elevations,  proliably  on  ai'count  of  tho  j;roat 
number  of  foxes  (  r/(//)('.v  liifiDjiiis  IVviud)  which  occur  on  that  island  and  have 
l)ut  littlo  to  sulwist  on.  The  natives  of  .Vttu  assert  that  this  species  of  I't.ir- 
migan  occurs  on  Af^attu  Island,  and  that  it  is  ijuite  numerous  there,  prol»al)Iy 
on  account  of  the  absence  of  foxes."- 

Nothinj^  fiu'ther  is  known  of  tho  nesting-  haliits  of  Turner's  Ptanniij-an, 
and  no  specimens  of  their  *'<x</'^  haw  as  yet  found  their  way  into  the  U.  S. 
National   Museum  collection. 


30.    Lagopus  welchi  liiiKwsTEK. 

\Vi;i.(  U"s    IMAKMKJ.VN. 

Tjftiiopus  «v7r/i/ Rkewstkk.  Auk.  11.  Apiil,  ISSo,  iiM. 

(H  _,  c  — ,  K  — ,  c  -,  u  aoa.) 

Oeohk.M'UU'AL  u.vxijk  :  NcwI'ouiullaiul. 

This  newly  doscrilu'd  spocios  is  ))ased  on  specimens  obtained  durin<;  ^Fay 
and  dune,  IS.S.'J,  l)y  Mr.  (}oorj;o  O.  Welch,  in  whoso  honor  it  has  boon  named. 

Mr.  Hri'wster  states:  "'i'ho  colors  in  the  male  of  this  !'tarmi<>'an  aro  con- 
fused and  blended  to  such  a  dog-roe  that  a  dot.iiled  description,  howovei-  can^- 
fully  drawn,  fails  to  do  thom  justice.  Tiio  general  olfect  is  that  of  a  dark, 
gTayish-plumboous  bird  (colored  not  uidike  tho  Oregon  form  of  the  Dusky 
CJrouse),  plentifully  besprinkled  with  iiui'  dots  of  pepper-and-.salt  color.    *    *    * 

"According  to  Mr.  Welch  thes(>  I'tarmigan  are  nunu-rous  in  Nowfomid- 
land,  where  they  are  strictly  contiiu'd  to  the  lileak  sides  and  summits  of  rocky 
hills  and  mountains  in  the  interior.  Unlike  tho  Willow  (ii'ou.se  of  that  islaml, 
which  in  winter  wander  long  distances  and  frotiuontly  cross  tho  (Julf  to  iialt- 

'Koport  on  theNatiiriil  History  OollectiuuH  made  in  Aliukn  1877-18t!i,  Nolsou,  p.  13!>. 
^Contributluns  to  the  Natural  llititor.v  o(  Alaska,  ISi^,  Tumor,  i>.  156. 


m 


M 


WELOU'S  PTAUMIGAN. 


83 


rnrl>r.  the  Rock  Ptarnii<>an  are  very  local,  and  for  the  most  part  spend  their 
lives  on  or  near  the  hills  where  they  are  reared."' 

In  iiis  notes  on  the  "Zoi'dofry  of"  Newt'oundland,"  in  the  Zoolo<>ist  (second 
series,  ISt!!),  Vol.  iv,  p.  1747),  Henry  Keeks,  e.s([.,  refers  to  the  present  species, 
nnder  the  name  of  Hock  I'tannifjan,  as  follows:  "A  truly  Alpine  .species  in  New- 
foundland; rarely  found  below  the  line  of  stunted  Itlack  spruce,  except  in  the 
depths  of  winter,  when  they  descend  to  the  lowlands  and  feed  on  the  huds 
of  dwarf  trees,  sonu'tinies  in  comi)any  with  the  Willow  (Jronsc:  hut  I  never 
saw  tliis  species  perch  on  trees.  It  is  calh-d  l)y  the  settlers  the  'Mountain 
I'artridjjfe.'" 

The  nest  and  ejifjs  of  this  species  have  not  as  yet,  so  far  as  I  am  aware, 
Iteen  described,  but  are  presumably  similar  to  those  of  Ltuiopua  niindrls. 


31.     Lagopus  leucurus  Swaixson. 

WIIITK-TAIl.KU    I'TAKMH.AN. 

^a(/f)/)iis /rifciirits  SWAINSON.  Pium.i  Horcali  Anu'riciiiia,  11.  1S;H.  PI.  63. 

(H  4ti!t.  c  ;iss.  R  4:(i.  ('  .^To.  u  ;io-i.) 

(}EO(4l{AriCU'Ah  UANOK :  Aljiiiio  sumiuits  ol'  llticUy  Mi)Uiitaiiis;  south  to  New 
Alcxii'o;  north  info  Britisli  Anicriciv  (us  t'ar  Jis  fort  llalUctt,  Litml  River)  ;  west  to 
higher  rimj^cs  of  Orcijoii.  \Viisliiiii;toii.  and  Britisli  Columbia. 

'Pile  breeding'  ranjj'e  of  the  White-taileil  Ptarniifian,  within  the  I'nited 
Stales  at  least,  is  only  found  on  or  near  tlu'  sunmiits  of  the  higlier  mountain 
ranges,  and  apparently  always  ai)ove  tindu'r  line.  It  t'xtends  from  .Maska 
soutlnvard  thnuigli  western  Nortii  .\merica,  reachinji'  its  most  .southerly  point 
in  northern  New  Mexico  (vicinity  of  'I'aos),  when;  Dr.  \\.  .1.  D.  Irwin,  V .  S. 
.\rniy,  obtained  specimens  near  Cantomnent  Mur};'wyn.  It  has  also  been  nu't 
with  in  eastern  bhdio,  Montana,  Wyoming  and  Colorado,  where,  in  suitabU' 
localities,   it  is  by   no  means  rare. 

On  tile  Pacific  coast  it  is  reported  connnon  in  the  mountains  of  Brit- 
ish ('oluMd)ia  and  the  ()lym]tie  and  Cascade  Kanjics  in  Washington,  espe- 
cially on  Mounts  Maker,  b'anier,  and  St.  Helen's.  In  Oregon  it  is  re|)orted 
Irom  Mounts  Hood  and  .lefVerson,  and,  according  to  lndiai\  testimony,  it  occurs 
as  far  south  as  Diamond  Peak,  (id  miles  north  of  Fort  Klainath,  Oregon.  I 
know  of  no  record,  however,  that  this  species  has  actually  been  taken  in 
Oregon.  The  Wa.shiiigton  records  arc  gi\-en  on  the  authority  of  Prof  O.  \\. 
.lolmson,  of  Washington  PniNi'i'sity,  Seattle,  Washington,  as  well  as  of  other 
correspondents. 

Mr.  W.  M.  Wolfe,  of  Keaiiiey,  Ni'braska,  writes  me  of  having  found  the 
White-tailed  Ptarmigan  in  the  Wind  Wiver  Moinitains,  Wyoming,  and  in 
the  Hitter  l\oot  Mount.ains  of    Idaho  and    Montana. 

It  is  a  resident  and  breeds  wherever  found,  rarely  leaving  tiie  mountain 
sunnuit.s,  even  during  the  seven'st  winter  weather,  and  then  onlv  descending 


■i 


I  llicwstiT,  Aiili,  II,  April,  lsa"i,  pp.  I'.IJ,  19.^. 


m 

m 


|:5:;' 


84 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


r   ! 


ill.    .: 


2,000  or  3,000  foot  at.  most,  aeldom  beinjr  found  at  a  lower  altitude  tlian 
S,000  or  9,000  feet  at  any  time.  In  the  Kooky  Mountain  roj^ion  it  is  oon- 
erally  known  by  the  very  appropriate  name  of  the  "White"  or  "Snow" 
Quail. 

Mr.  George  Bird  Grinnell  has  kindly  furnished  mk^  the  foUowinff  infor- 
mation about  this  specie.s:  "1  iiavo  found  the  Whito-tailod  I'tariuii'Mn  in  oon- 
sidorablo  numbers  in  Colorado,  Montana,  and  British  ('olunibia.  Whore  I 
have  seen  them  they  have  always  boon  alxtve  timltor  lino.  Althou<>h  <m  ii 
few  ocoa.sions  1  have  met  with  these  lairds  in  tlu^  late  sunnnor  when  the 
young  were  little  more  than  half  grown  and  the  broods  were  still  together, 
my  experience  with  them  lias  been  chieHy  in  the  autunm  when  hunting 
mtmntain  shoej)  and  white  goats  high  up  among  the  sunmiits  of  the  ranges. 
At  this  season  of  the  year  tiioy  are  usually  found  in  small  nuMd)ors,  fnim 
two  to  a  half  dozen  being  the  ordinary  size  of  the  Hooks.  Last  year,  how- 
ever (October,  IHSK),  T  camo  across  a  jiack  of  those  l)irds  in  the  Cascade 
Mountains  of  British  (.'olumbia,  where  there  wore  twenty-five  or  thirtv 
together.  In  the  autumn  the  birds  are  generally  rather  wild,  and  if  nearl\- 
approached  become  (piite  uneasy  and  run  aliout,  holding  the  tail  elevated 
and  looking  very  much  like  a  wliito  Fan-tail  Pigeon.  At  this  season  the 
only  cry  that  1  have  heard  is  a  sharp  cackle  like  that  of  a  frightened  lion. 
This  the  bird  liogins  to  utter  a  .short  time  before  it  takes  wing,  and  con- 
tinues it  for  (|iiito  a  little  while  after  having  begun  to  ti\-. 

"On  the  iiigh  plateaus  where  tiiis  liird  is  fouinl  the  wind  often  blows 
witli  a  tremendous  swoo])  and  is  almost  strong  enough  to  throw  down  a 
man.  When  such  a  wind  is  blowing  the  I'taniiigan  dig  out  for  thouiselves 
little  nests  or  hollows  in  tlie  snow  liaiiks,  in  which  they  lie  with  their  heads 
toward  the  wind  and  (|uite  protected  from  it. 

"Often  on  the  rocky  slopes  where  there  is  no  snow  tlu'y  iiia\'  be  seen 
lying  crouched  on  the  groiinil  liehiiid  rocks  or  small  stones,  with  tlieir  heads 
directed  to  tlu^  (piarter  from  which  tlie  wind  lilows.  If  startled  from  sucli 
a  |)la<'e  they  all  take  wing  at  once,  looking  like  a  Hock  of  white  Pigeons, 
and   Hv  for  a   short   distance,  but   as   soon   as   tliev  touch   tlie   "round   aaain 


Liriong 
lave  seen 


tliev  throw  tlieiiiselves  flat  on   it  lieliind  the  most  convenient  shelter. 

the  high   iiiountains  of  the  St.   .Mary's  Lake   region  in    Montana   I   I 

birds  of  this  species  which  were  pure  white  liy  the  "iOth  of  September.     On 

the  other  hand,  in  the  ( Jascade  region  of  Hritish  Columbia,  they  have  still  a 

good  many  brown  spots  in  early  October.     1  presume  the  change  of  pi 

varies  with  the  localitv  and  often  with  the  individual  bird." 


uinau'e 


Mr.  A.  W.  Antlionv  writes  me  as  follows:   "In  southern  Coloi'ado,  wl 


lere 


I  have  met  with  this  sjM'cies,  nesting  must  begin  some  tiuu!  from  the  first  to 
the  middle  of  dune,  as  I  liavi^  found  young  birds  Imt  an  hour  or  .so  from 
the  (iiiii,  from  duly  1  to  the  iStli.  'i'lie  nests  I  have  .seen  wen^  located  in 
the  loose  rocky  debris  of  steep  hillsides,  a  simple  dejiression  in  the  shoi-t  tine 
grass  which  grows  in  small  patches  i>etween  the  rocks  above  the  timber  line 


v:'iv 


THE  WEIITE-TAILEl)  PTAKMKIAN. 


85 


Altliou^ili  utterly  devoifl  of  protection  froin  bush  or  shrub,  so  nearly  does  the 
sittin<>-  l»ir(l  rescfuiljle  the  <^-iiy  bowlders  wliich  surround  her  on  every  side  that 
th(^  discovery  of  the  nest  is  due  lar;i('ly  to  accident.  When  iiicubatin<>-  it  is 
iicarlv  impossible  to  Husii  the  bird,  accordin<i-  to  my  experience.  Twice  have  I 
escaped  steppinji'  upon  a  .sittinji'  Ptarmijian  l»y  oidy  an  inch  or  .so,  and  once  I 
reined  in  my  liorse  at  a  time  when  another  step  would  have  crushed  out  the 
life  of  a  brood  of  nine  chicks  but  an  liour  or  so  from  the  e<i<f.  In  this  case 
tiic  parent  cnnuihed  at  the  horse's  feet,  and,  thou<,di  in  momentary  dan;>er  of 
hcin^'  stepped  on,  made  no  attempt  to  escape  until  1  had  dismounted  and  put 
out  my  Iiaud  to  catch  her.  She  then  tluttered  to  the  top  of  a  ro(rk  a  few 
t'cet  distant,  and  watciied  me  as  I  handled  the  youn<>',  constantly  utteriu}^'  low 
anxious  protests.  The  chicrks  were  still  too  youufi'  to  esca])e,  mere  little 
awkward  bunches  of  down  that  stinulded  and  fell  over  one  another  when 
tiiey  attemjjted  to  run. 

".Miners  in  whom  I  jdace  (lonfiih'nce  have  t(dd  me  that  they  have  lifted 
sittinj'-  i'tarmi<;fan  front  the  nest  and  handled  the  egf's,  while  tlie  bird  stood 
Imt  a  few  feet  distant  watchin<j'  her  treasures  and  utterinj^'  an  occasional 
s(|ueak  like  a  sittin<>-  hen.  (hie,  which  had  her  nest  near  the  trail  between 
the  cabin  and  tlie  mine,  was  annoyed  in  tliis  way  so  oftc^n  tiiat  she  would 
attempt  to  n^gain  the  nest  while  th(^  ejij^s  were  bein<;'  iiandlecl,  and  had  to 
1)1'  frequently  pushed  aside;  she  never  faileil  to  peck  at  tlie  hand  and  utter 
her  protestin<>'  'k-r-rrr'  whenever  any  one  attempted  to  touch  her,  and  made 
no  attem])t  to  Hy  away. 

"I  have  never  heard  of  a  nest  at  a  lower  elevation  than  one  I  found  in 
."^aii'iiaclie  County,  Colorado,  wliich  was  not  over  "JOO  feet  aliove  timber  line. 
1  tiiink  tliat  tliey  usually  nest  altove  12, 000  feet,  .hidgin;^-  from  the  broods 
of  youn^i'  I  liave  Hushed  in  Aujiust,  1  consider  nine  about  tlie  averaji^e  number." 

.Mr.  Drew,  in  his  Held  notes  on  the  Hirds  of  San  Juaii  Coiintv,  ("(dorado, 
makes  tiu^  fidlowinji'  statement  alxtut  this  species:  "\'erv  common;  lireeds. 
Tiiey  are  found  above  timber  line  in  summer,  where  thev  feed  on  the  leaves 
and  tlowcrs  of  the  marsh  niarijiold,  ('alflin  Icfttosi'ixtlo.  «  »  *  Tli(>\-  are 
usually  (piiet  durinji'  the  day,  but  active  and  noisy  in  the  <'veniiifi',  makiiifi-  a 
iiickliiiji'  like  I'rairie  Chickens.  *  *  *  They  have  from  eight  to  ten  voun^i' 
at  a   brood."' 

Mr.  Dennis  (bile  writes  me  as  follows:  "Irrespective  of  season,  as  a  <>'eneral 
rule,  a  siiijile  bird  will  not  Hush  unless  urj;'ed  to  it.  During'  the  summer  months 
this  is  especially  noticeable;  they  will  only  move  out  of  your  wav  when 
directly  in  your  path,  and  close  upon  them,  by  short  tacks  ri<;ht  and  left, 
^idliiif;-  off  from  you,  at  each  tack  cliaiifiinii'  sides,  moving;'  (luickest  on  the 
short  run  jii.st  before  slowinji'  up  for  the  turn.  Two  or  more  tojicther  are 
much  more  likely  to  flush,  and  if  alarmed  while  dvinfj'  will  utter  a  (piick 
re|)eated  'k('ick,  kCick,'  very  like  the  note  uttered  by  I'l'ilioftrfrN  i)hiisintii'llns 
iiiuijwstrix  under  similar  circumstances. 


I  Iliillotiii  Niittiill  Oriiiilif>lo(?ic'iil  C'liili,  Vol.  vi,  I8H1,  p.  HI, 


=s 


•■■ 


'.'■'• 

1 

•v^a 

■,'  ■ 

*!' 

1^ 

M 


■■•*'  L 
.'vv 


I 


80 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


"As  near  as  I  can  ('.'cido,  tliey  nost  about  the  middle  of  June  and  hatch 
out  their  y«>un<>;  about  the  ini<ldle  of  July.  It  is  very  rarely  that  a  female  is 
seen  from  tiie  l)ei>inninjj'  of  June  until  noticed  in  company  with  her  l)rood. 
At  this  season  1  have  freciuently  met  with  the  males  sinj^-ly,  and  sometimes  as 
many  as  Hve  to<i;ether;  and  I  <lo  not  think  tliat  they  take  any  share  in  the 
duties  of  incubation. 

"I  met  with  two  broods,  one  with,  T  think,  seven  chicks  just  hatched  out, 
and  the  other  of  tive,  nearly  two  weeks  old.  The  latter  showed  no  white;  they 
had,  in  both  cases,  a  jicneral  jjray  appearance:  the  newly  hatched  brood  wfis 
in  the  downy  pliase.  ThiM'e  was  a  dis])osition,  clearly  proven  with  the  chicks 
of  both  broixls,  to  hide  when  th(*  hen  si«fnaled  dan<>er;  but  some  of  the  ohler 
ones  flushed  and  tlew  at  least  oO  yards.  The  females  wer<*  very  tame  and 
would  not  Hush;  in  tact  they  could  not  be  indiu'cil  by  mild  treatment  to  leave 
the  place  where  the  youn<>'  had  hidden.  They  walked  around  me  so  close  that 
I  could  have  touched  them  witii  my  hand,  and  showed  a  marked  concern  for 
the  safety  of  their  l)roods,  cluckin;>'  in  a  manner  very  similar  to  our  domestic 
hen.  I  am  of  tiie  opinion  that  this  species  is  very  much  U;ss  munerons  now 
than  they  were  ten  years  ajfo,  and  I  believe  the  con<litions  <renerally  favor  a 
yearly  contraction  in  their  numbers;  at  least  this  will  be  the  case  wherever 
tlieir  sunnner  ranfye  is  available  for  stock  to  fi'raze  ovin-."' 

The  crop  of  a  bird  of  this  species,  kindly  .sent  me  l)y  ^Fr.  Gale  for  exami- 
nation as  to  the  nature  of  its  food,  was  filled  with  the  buds  and  catkins  of  a 
species  of  l)irch,  Bcfida  filoHilnloxa. 

The  number  of  ej;<fs  to  a  set  are  variously  stated  at  from  four  to  fift(>en, 
From  eifiht  to  ten  may  be  considered  a  fair  avera<ie.  Notwitiistan<linj>-  the 
fact  that  the  nests  of  tlie  WhitiMailed  l'tarmi<>an  are  said  to  have  been  found 
repeatedly,  but  very  few  of  the  ejrj^s  of  this  species  have  as  yet  found  their 
way  into  collections.  Tiu>  IT.  S.  National  Museum  has  an  incomplete  set  of 
four,  taken  by  Mr.  A.  D.  Wilson,  (me  of  the  chiefs  of  the  Hayden  (ieolo^jical 
Survey,  in  the  San  Juan  ^lountains,  smitheni  ("oloradi*,  at  an  altitude  of  12,;5()(» 
feet.  lie  told  me  that  lie  accidentally  stuml»led  on  the  nest,  while  crossinj;- 
a  rocky  mesa,  on  tiie  morninjjf  of  ,Fuly  !.">,  miFi.  The  nest  was  placed  between 
a  couple  of  lichen-covered  rock.><,  and  contained,  if  he  remembered  ri<^iitly,  five 
or  six  nearly  fresh  efi'<;s.  'I^lie  feu\ale  skidked  off  as  he  was  in  the  act  of  step- 
pinjf  over  lier,  and  liid  amonj^'st  tiie  rocks  some  20  feet  away. 

Dr.  Klliott  ('ones,  in  an  article  "On  the  bre('ilin<>'  hal)its,  nest,  and  cf^'f^'s 
of  the  White-tailed  l'tarmij;an,"  descrilx's  this  wsi  as  follows:  "The  nest  in  its 
present  .><tate  measures  scarcely  o  inclies  in  diameter  l»y  al)ont  an  inch  in 
depth.  It  thus  seems  ratlier  small  for  th(^  size?  of  the  bird,  but  is  prol)ably 
somewhat  compressed  in  transportation.  Tlu^  shape  is  saucer-like,  i)ut  with 
Vi  rv  litle  C(tncavity  of  surface.  The  Ixittom  is  decidedly  and  rejiularly  convex 
in  all  directions,  a|)parently  fitting'  a  considerable  depression  in  the  <iTouiid. 
The  ■  is  to  all   intents  circidar.     The  nest  is  ratlier  closely  matted,  the 

mat      '     uiterlaciu"'  it  in  all  directions,  and  retains  considerable  consistency. 


'■« 


THE  WHITE-TAILED  PTARMIGAN. 


87 


TIu^  luiitcriiil  is  cliiofly  fine  driod-frrass  stoms;  with  tlipae  are  mixed,  however, 
a  few  sinidl  leaves  and  weed  tops  and  quite  a  nund)er  of  feathers.  The  hvtter, 
evidently  those  of  tlie  parent  birds,  are  iniheddeil  throujihout  the  substance  of 
the  nest,  though  more  numerous  upon  its  surface,  when;  a  (hizen  or  so  are 
deposited:  there  may  have  been  some  loo.se  ones  lost  in  iiandlin<>'."' 

A  set  of  these  rare  e<i<is  has  recently  been  obtained  l>y  Mr.  Thomas  11. 
.Jackson,  of  West  C'hester,  I'emisylvania,  who  kindly  allowed  me  to  examine 
it,  and  placed  all  the  information  regarding  it  at  n>y  disposal.  This  set,  con- 
taining but  four  eggs,  in  which  incubation  had  already  begun,  was  taken  by 
.Mr.  Kvan  Lewis,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  (!hicago  Lakes,  in  Clear  Creek  County, 
CoIorad(..  on  June  1!»,  IS'.tO,  at  an  altitude  of  aiiout  1-J,200  feet.  The  ne.st 
itself  was  but  a  slight  hollow  in  the  ground,  lined  with  a  few  small  twig.s, 
l)lades  of  grass,  and  a  few  feathers.  It  was  about  such  a  nest  as  a  Bantam  hen 
would  make. 

Mr.  Lewis  says:  "The  bird  did  not  leave  the  nest  until  T  stepped  within  a 
foot  of  it;  then  she  strutted  around,  dragging  her  wings,  very  much  like  a 
Turkev  does.  When  I  returned  to  get  the  i'<Xi<:!<,  she  allowed  nu'  to  stroke  her 
with  my  hand,  and  was  al)out  as  tame  as  an  average  hen  is  when  sitting. 
Foxes  are  very  numerous  ai-ound  here,  so  that  I  did  not  dare  to  leave  the  eggs 
to  see  if  others  would  be  hii<l.  1  saw  several  of  these  l)irds,  both  males  and 
females,  the  latter  always  between  3  and  a  o'clock  ]>.  ni.  The  location  of  this 
nest,  just  above  timber  line,  on  the  le^•el  toj)  of  a  ridge,  near  isolated  patches 
of  dwarf  willows,  maile  me  think  they  always  nested  in  such  jdaces;  but  one 
sitting  bird  I  saw  feeding  started  u]i  the  mountain,  miming  a  .short  distance, 
then  Hew  about  a  thousand  feet,  and  after  resting  a  few  seconds  repeatt'd  its 
flight  and  disappeai'ed  over  the  top  of  the  mountain. 

"I  met  a  covey  of  young  I'tarmigan  alxiut  .Inly  17,  ISSH,  near  the  top  of 
the  mountain,  at  an  altitude  of  about  lii.tUlO  feet.  They  were  not  verv  .shv, 
and  my  companion  and  1  counted  them.  1  am  not  (piite  positi\e  as  to  the 
nundu'r,  but  am  under  the  impression  there  were  nine  or  fifteen.  I  judged 
them  to  l)e  nearly  two  weeks  old.  1  ran  after  one,  which  ti'ied  to  crec]) 
imder  a  large  rock,  and  1  readily  caught  it.  The  old  bird  flew  around  mv 
head  and  came  (dose  enough  to  knock  my  hat  off,  and  as  soon  as  we  were 
about  loo  feet  away  slu^  began  to  call  her  Hock  together.  I  never  saw 
more  than  two  adidt  birds  together,  and  should  two  males  meet  thev  innne- 
diately  counuence  fighting,  till  one  finally  drives  the  other  awav." 

The  shape  of  the  White-t'iiled  t'tarmigan's  eggs  is  an  elliptical  ovate. 
Their  ground  color  varies  from  a  creamy  buff  to  a  \)»]v  reddish  or  salmon 
'  liuti'.  The  markings  are  few,  generally  small  in  size  and  well  di'fined.  Some 
<'ggs,  however,  are  nuu'h  more  heavily  .spotted  than  others,  and  in  these  the 
markings  are  nuu-e  irrcgidar  and  in  the  shajjc  of  Idotches.  These  markings 
vary  from  reddish  brown  to  choccdate  brown. 


v., ■'it 


■^ 


■  1;!  ' 


■lliill»tin  11.  .S.  (!cM)l()(5ii'iil  Siirvt'yH  "f  ttio  Territories,  'Jil  sorius,  v,  IHT.'i,  p.  ;(. 


1 


m 


i 


'I ) 


:^ 

,! 

I 

( 

1 

< 

j 

88 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OP  NOUTU  AMEKI(?AN  BIRDS. 


Compared  witli  other  ('<?{7s  of  tlie  Grouse  fuinily,  tli(>y  resemble  far  more 
tlie  eg<j8  of  I)eiulraffaj)iis  tliiiu  Lwioiuin.  None  of  tlie  luiirkiiigs  run  into  eiicli 
otlier,  as  is  often  the  ease  in  efjf'fs  of  tlie  different  species  of  Jjif/npns,  and 
they  are  not  nearly  so  lieavily  spotted.  As  in  all  Grouse  ejij^s,  tliese 
markinj^s  are  entirely  supertieial.  Tlie  three  perf<;ct  specimens  in  tiie  I'.  S. 
National  Museum  collection  measure  4H  hy  30,  42.;')  liy  "Jit,  and  44  hy  30 
millimetres.  Mr.  Jackson's  specimens  are  a  trifle  lar<jjer,  and  measure  4(>  l>y 
.'{O.'),  44.')  by  30.5,  44  by  31,  and  44  by  30..')  millimetres. 

The  tyi)e  specimen,  No.  17200  (IM.  2,  Fi<>-.  HI),  from  an  incomplete  set, 
was  collected  by  Mr.  A.  U.  Wilson,  of  the  Ilayih'U  ( ieolofjical  Survey,  on 
.July  la,  1875,  in  the  San  .Juan  Mountains,  southern  Colorado;  the  second  (IM. 
2,  Ki<f.  17),  from  a  set  of  four,  now  in  Mr.  Tiiomas  II.  .Jackson's  collection,  ami 
kindly  loaned  for  fifj'urin";-,  was  taken  June  lit,  ISiJO,  in  Clear  Creek  Ct)unt}-, 
Colorado,  by  IMr.  Evan  Lewis. 

32.    Tympanuchus  americanus  (Reichenbach). 

PRAIKIK    HKN. 

Cupiilonia  nmprirnnus  Reichenbach.  Systema  Avium.  185-2,  p.  xxix;  based  on  Vollst. 

Natiii'K.  Hiiliiu'ii.,  PL  -21 7.  Fi^s.  US!m;-KS!)8. 
Tijnqjaiiucliui^  cupiilo  uiiin-icaiiii.s  Ridgwav.  Manuscript. 

(B  an.  C  :i8-t,  R  47?.  C  fii);!.  U  3(15.) 

GEOfiRAPHiOAL  RANGE :  Pi'airles  of  Mississippi  Valley;  soutli  to  Louisiana  and 
Texas;  west  to  northern  Lidian  Territory,  middle  Kansas,  Nebraska,  an<l  eiistern  Nortli 
and  Suutli  Dakota  ;  east  to  Kentucky,  Indiana,  nortliwestei'n  Ohio,  soutlii'astei'n  Michi- 
j^an,  and  southwestern  Ontario,  Canada  ;  north  to  southern  Manitoba. 

The  breedinjj  range  of  the  I'innated  Grouse  or  I'rairie  lien  extends  over 
the  i)rairie  country  of  tiie  Mississip|)i  Valley,  from  soutiieastcrn  Texas  and 
Louisiana;  north  to  Manitoba  to  alamt  latitude  .")0^,  vicinity  of  Winnipeg;'; 
east  to  western  Ontario,  Canada,  stmtiieastern  Miclii<>an  (.Monroe  County),  and 
northwestern  ( Hiio,  where  tiiey  are  rare  now — a  few  still  exist  in  Kentucky; 
west,  they  ran<ie  to  eastern  North  and  South  Dakota,  throuji'liout  Neltraska. 
eastern  and  central  Kansas,  and  tlie  nortliern  portion  of  tlic  Indian  Territory; 
south,  at  least  to  Fort  Keno.  Tliey  are  not  uncommon  in  suitable  localities 
in  northwestern  Indianii,  central  Illinois,  .Missouri,  and  Wisconsin,  and  very 
abundant  in  Iowa,  .Minnesota,  eastern  Kansas,  Nebraska,  anil  the  ea.stern  jior- 
tion  of  the  two  Dakotas.  The  rau<fe  of  this  species  is  rajiidly  contractinji' 
aloiiff  its  easti'rn  border,  and  equally  rajiidly  exteiidin<i-  both  north  and  west- 
ward, where  it  is  followin<>-  the  settlements.  It  is  partly  mif>Tatory  in  the 
northern  portions,  and  resident  from  the  central   portions  of  its  raiifj^e  south. 

Mr.  W.  W.Cooke  writes  on  this  subject  as  follows;  "The  IVairie  Chicken  is 
conunonly  said  to  lie  a  resident  bird,  and  so  it  is  in  the  larj^'cr  part  of  its  ran^e, 
but  in  Iowa  a  ri';rular  thouj;li  local  iiiifiratiou  takes  place.     This  has  been  men- 


I 
I 


n 


THE  PRAIRIE  UEN. 


89 


tinned  1)y  fornicr  writers,  and  in  tlic  sprin}f  of  1.SS4  n  si)ec,ial  Htndy  was  nmdo 
of  the  matter.  Many  (il)servers  unite  in  testifvinii'  to  tlie  facts  in  the  ease,  and 
wiiat  is  still  more  important,  tiiero  is  not  ii  (hssentinj;  voiee.  One  of  tlie 
o))servers  (h)es  not  exa<>}4'erate  wlieii  he  says:  '  Prairie  Chickens  migrate  as 
rejiidarly  as  a  Canachi  (toose.'  S»mmin<;'  uj)  all  the  information  received,  the 
facts  of  the  case  are  as  follows:  In  XoveMd)er  and  I)eceml)er  larjje  tlocks  of 
I'rairie  Chickens  come  from  northern  Iowa  and  southern  ^limu'sota  to  settle  for 
the  winter  in  northern  Missouri  and  southern  Iowa.  This  mifrration  varies  in 
hulk  with  the  severity  of  the  winter.  Uurin<>-  an  early  cold  snap  innnense 
flocks  come  from  the  northern  prairi«'s  to  southern  I(»wa,  while  in  mild,  ojjen 
winters  tile  mijiration  is  much  less  prommnced.  l)urin<>- a  coM  wet  sprinj^  the 
northward  movement  in  March  and  April  is  lar^jely  arrested  on  the  arrival  of 
the  tl.M'ks  in  northern  Iowa,  but  an  early  sprini^',  with  fair  weather,  finils  them 
abundant  in  the  southern  tier  of  counties  in  Minnesota,  and  many  flocks  pass 
still  further  north.  The  most  remarkable  feature  of  this  movement  is  found  in 
the  sex  of  the  miji'rants.  It  is  the  females  that  mijirate,  leavinj;'  the  males  to 
l)rave  the  winter's  cold.  Mr.  Miller,  of  Heron  Lake,  Minnesota,  fairly  states  the 
case  when  he  savs:  'The  feuiales  in  this  latitude  Miijiratc^  south  in  the  tall  and 
come  l)ack  in  the  sprin<i',  about  one  or  two  days  after  the  first  Ducks;  and  they 
keep  cominf"-  in  flocks  of  from  ten  to  thirty  for  about  three  days,  all  flyinj;' 
north.     The  (Jrouse  that  stay  all  winter  are  males."' 

The  matinji'  season  beji-ins  early,  al)out  the  be<i'iimin<i'  of  March,  and  the 
packs  sometimes  connnence  to  break  up  while  the  ground  is  still  covered  with 
snow. 

Judjje  John  Dean  Caton  describes  the  love-makinji' of  the  male  Pinnated 
Groxise  as  follows:  "The  spring  of  the  year  is  the  season  of  courtship  with 
them,  and  it  does  not  last  all  the  year  round  as  it  does  with  humans,  and 
they  do  it  in  rather  a  loud  way,  too;  and  instead  of  taking  the  evening,  as 
many  peojile  are  inclined  to  do,  they  choose  the  early  m()riiing.  Karly  in 
the  morning  you  may  see  them  assendjle  in  ])arties,  from  a  dozen  to  fifty 
together,  on  some  high  dry  knolls,  where  the  grass  is  .short,  and  their  goings 
on  would  make  you  laugh.  The  cock  birds  liaxc  a  loose  patch  of  naked 
yellow  skin  on  each  side  of  the  neck  just  l)elo\v  the  head,  and  above  these 
on  either  side,  just  whei-e  the  head  joins  the  :ieck,  are  a  few  long  black 
feathers,  which  ordinarily  lay  l)ackward  on  the  neck,  but  which,  when  excited, 
they  can  pitch  straight  forward.  Those  yellow  naked  j)atches  on  either  side 
of  the  neck  cover  sacs  wiiich  they  can  Itlow  u])  like  a  bladder  whenever 
they  choose.  Tlu'se  are  their  ornaments,  which  they  dis])hiy  to  the  best 
advantage  before  the  gentler  sex  at  these  love  feasts.  This  thev  do  by  blow- 
ing up  these  air  sacs  till  they  look  like  two  ripe  orangi's,  on  each  side  of 
the  neck,  projet  ting  their  long  Idack  ears  right  forward,  ruffling  uj)  all  the 
feathers  of  the  l)ody  till  they  stand  out  straight,  and  droi))>ing  their  wings 
to  the  ground   like  a  Turkey  i-ock.     Now  they  look  just  lovely,  as  the  coy 

■  Bulletiu  II,  Dept.  uf  Agrii'iilturu,  Report  ou  Bird  Migratimi  m  tliu  MiHHi.tHippi  Vulluy,  1888,  p,  10&. 


■^sa 


*il' 


i 


'.■■■lii'ii 


m 


•  ■.','.vt( 


90 


LIKK  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


timid  maidons  seem  to  say,  as  tlioy  cast  sido  glances  at  tliem,  fnll  of  admira- 
tion an<l  of  lovo. 

"Tlion  it  is  tliat  tlio  prond  cwk,  in  order  to  complete!  his  triumph,  will  rnsli 
forward  at  his  best  s|)eod  for  two  or  three  rods  throufili  tlu*  midst  of  the  love- 
sick damsels,  pouring  out  as  he  goes  a  ixtoniing  noise,  almost  a  hoarse  r<»ar, 
only  more  sididucul,  which  may  bo  heard  for  at  least  2  miles  in  the  still  morn- 
ing air.  This  heavy  booming  sound  is  l»y  no  means  harsh  or  unpleasant;  on 
the  contrary,  it  is  soft  and  even  harmonious.  When  standing  in  the  open  jn-airie 
at  early  dawn  listening  to  hundreds  of  different  voiccfs,  pitched  on  differ- 
ent kevs,  coming  from  every  direction  and  from  various  distanctw,  the  listener 
is  rather  sootluul  than  excited.  If  this  .sound  is  heavier  than  the  deep  key 
notes  of  a  larg(*  organ,  it  is  nuicli  softer,  though  vastly  mort>  |»o\verful,  and 
may  be  heard  at  a  nuich  gnsiter  distance.  One  w]i(»  has  heard  such  a  concert 
can  never  after  mistake  or  forget  it. 

"  Every  few  minutes  this  display  is  repeated.  I  have  seen  not  only  one, 
but  more  than  twenty  cocks  going  through  tliis  funny  oj)eration  at  once,  but 
then  they  seem  careful  not  to  run  against  each  other,  for  they  have  not  yet  got 
to  the  fighting  point.  After  a  little  while  the  lady  birds  begin  to  show  an 
interest  in  the  ])roceedings  i)y  moving  ai)()Ut  <piickly  a  few  yards  at  a  time, 
and  then  standing  still  a  short  time.  When  these  actions  an^  continued  by  a 
large  uumlxn'  of  l)irds  at  a  time,  it  presents  a  funny  sight,  and  you  can  easily 
think  they  ari^  moving  to  tlu^  measure  of  music. 

"The  ])arty  breaks  up  when  tlu*  sun  is  half  an  hour  high,  to  he  repeated 
the  next  morning  and  (svery  morning  for  a  week  or  two  before  all  make  satis- 
factory matches.  It  is  toward  the  latter  i)art  of  tlie  love  season  tli.at  the 
fighting  takes  })lace  among  the  cocks,  probably  by  two  wlio  liave  fallen  in 
love  with  the  sauie  sweetheart,  whose  modesty  jn-events  her  from  selecting 
between  them."' 

Nesting  folhnvs  cpiickly  after  the  birds  are  once  paired,  but  as  a  rule  they 
seem  to  show  very  poor  judguient  in  tlu*  selection  of  the  sites.  Immense 
numl)ers  of  nests  are  annually  destroyed,  either  by  fire  in  dry  seasons  or  water 
during  wet  ones,  not  tnkiiig  the  man\'  other  enemies  into  consideration  at  all, 
and  it  is  safe  to  compute  the  loss  of  i'<<;ji;>i  alone,  from  the  first  two  mentioned 
causes,   at  50  per  cent.     Many  nests  with  eggs  are  also  yearly   plowed  up. 

On  the  prairies  th(>y  generally  select  unbtn-nt  places  to  xwst  in,  where  the 
old  grass  is  thick;  others  prefer  tlie  l)ordi'rs  of  large  marshes,  where,  during  a 
wet  season,  they  are  almost  certain  to  lie  destroyed  l)y  wat<'r.  Tiie  nest  is 
simply  a  slight  excavation,  alongside  of  some  .slough,  in  a  fence  c:>rner  among 
tall  grass  or  a  clump  of  weeds,  or  in  cultivated  fields  or  meadows,  and  again  on 
o])en  ))rairies,  where  the  grass  is  very  short.  If  there  is  plenty  of  material  at 
hand  the  nest  is  often  ([uite  thickly  lined,  but  on  burned  prairie  very  little 
lining  is  used,  as  no  effort  is  made  by  the  hen  to  bring  material  from  a  distance. 
Apparently  no  particular  attempt  is  made  to  conceal  the  nest;  the  bird  sits  so 


.<! 


■I 

'1 


■4    . 


■  Forest  auil  Strvarn,  Afanli  '.>••,  1HS3,  p.  llU). 


THE  PUAIllIK  HEN. 


91 


closif  and  Iiarmmiizcx  so  well  with  tlu*  Bummndiiif^a  tliat  hIio  ofton  escapes 
ohservation  wluiH  in  i)lain  view. 

Asst.  Siirj^.  J.  (!.  Merrill,  II.  S.  Army,  Ibuiid  a  nest  of  the  Prairie  lien 
about  half  a  mile  from  Kort  lieno,  Indian  Territory,  on  May  20,  1890,  which 
he  describes  as  follows:  "The  nest  was  placed  in  a  tussock  of  tall  prairie  orass 
<irowin};  on  slopin<i^  ground  on  the  open  prairie.  It  was  composed  of  dried 
i^rass  Idades,  well  matted  to^cither,  and  a  few  feathers  from  the  parent.  The 
ne.st  was  open  on  the  northeast  si<h'  of  the  tussock,  and  directly  opjMisite  was  a 
narrow  openin;>-,  or  rather  a  tunned,  throujfh  the  <jTass.  On  tlie  two  occasions 
upon  which  the  bird  was  Hushed  from  tlut  nest  she  sat  with  her  head  toward 
this  tunnel,  thron^^h  whicdi  she  left  the  nest  and  .skulked  off.  The  e<«jis,  four- 
twn  in  nundx'r,  were  found  in  one  layer,  and  arranj^'cd  without  .system,  tlic 
smaller  ends  pointin}>'  in  all  directions.     Incubation  was  far  advanced." 

This  .set  and  the  fem.de  thereof  are  now  in  the  IJ.  S.  Natiiaud  Museum 
collection. 

Layinjy  be<^ins  in  the  s(uithern  ))ortions  of  its  ranjfe  sometimes  as  early 
as  the  latter  part  of  March,  and  further  north  fully  a  month  to  si.\  weeks 
later.  Next  to  the  H<d)  White  I  consider  the  Pinnated  Clrouse  one  of  the 
most  prolific  of  our  game  birds,  layinj^  from  eleven  to  fourteen  e<^<^s  on  an 
averaji^e  to  a  set;  sets  of  twenty  and  more  e<ij;'s  have  bcH'U  repeatedly  found 
and  are  not  especially  rare.  Mr.  Horace  A.  Kline,  of  Vesta,  Johnson  Comity, 
Nebraska,  re})orts  in  the  Ornitlioloji'ist  and  <  )(")lo}>-ist  (Au<,nist,  1H,S2,  p.  lAO), 
"that  durinjf  this  year  Ik*  had  seen  two  nests  containing  twenty-one  e«^<;s 
(■a(di,"  and  <rives  the  averaj^e  of  a  larf^e  nund)er  examined  as  fourteen.  He 
also  states  that  "one  of  the  mo.st  destructive  agents  to  the  nests  of  these  valu- 
able birds  is  the  prairie  fire.  Many  of  tlu*  stockmen  do  not  burn  their  hay 
ground  until  tlu^  middle  of  May,  and  so  thousands  of  eggs  are  destroyed 
every  year.  In  passing  over  on(i  of  these  Iturned  fi(dds  I  counted  five  nests 
containing  seventy-eight  eggs  on  about  one  acn*  of  ground." 

Now  and  then  a  nest  of  this  sjx'cies  is  found  above  ground.  I'ndjably  the 
bird  had  lost  her  first  iirood  and  learned  wis(h)m  from  her  former  experience. 
Mr.  P.  II.  Smith,  jr.,  writes  me  that  lu^  found  a  nest  of  this  species  near 
(Jreenvillc,  Hond  County,  Illinois,  containing  five  egg.s,  on  the  top  of  an  old 
hay-stack,  f!  feet  from  the  ground. 

Mr.  .1.  W.  Preston,  of  Maxter,  Iowa,  informs  me  that  a  nundier  of  years 
ago  he  frightened  a  Prairie  Hen  from  her  nest  of  eggs  in  a  marsh  that  was  sub- 
ject to  overflow;  the  ne.st  was  entindy  sulimerged  and  the  bird  was  incubating 
tlu*  c(dd  eggs.  Not  eight  feet  distant,  on  a  tussock,  a  Marsh  Harrier  was 
caring  for  her  clutch  of  ej^ji's.     Stranye  nei"hbors! 

As  a  rule  but  one  brood  is  raised  in  a  season,  but  occasionally  neats  with 
fresli  eggs  are  found  in  July  and  even  in  August,  which  seems  to  indicate 
that  now  and  then  a  second  brooil  may  be  reart'd;  if  this  is  actually  the 
case,  it  is  excej)tional,  unless  the  first  eggs  have  been  destroyed. 


1 : 1. 


'I 

•.'Hi 


'..4 


■■VI 


Ml, 

I :    ■  :^ 


92 


IAVVj  IlISTORIKS  OF  NOUTH  AMERICAN  BlliUS. 


liKMilmtioii  lasts  from  three  to  four  weeks.  The  iiiale  <h>os  not  assist  in 
this  (hity,  Itiit  lieeps  to  himself  'I'iie  yoiiii<>'  h-ave  the  nest  is  soon  as  hatched, 
and  aro  oared  for  by  the  femah'  ah)ne.  'I'heir  food  at  first  consists  ahnost,  if 
not  entirely,  of  insects,  an<l  when  •jrasshoppers  are  plt'iity,  as  tliey  freiiuently 
are  in  the  northern  parts  of  their  lireedin;;-  ranjj*',  tliey  subsist  ahnost  exchi- 
sively  on  tiuMu.  Later  they  freiiuent  the  f^raiu  fields  and  feed  ou  the  different 
cereals  as  well  as  other  small  seeds  and  berries.  The  tenude  ia  nmch  devoted 
t(»  her  yoiuin',  and  will  act  similarly  to  tiie  Kufied  (Jrou.se  in  tryinj^'  to  attract 
the  attention  of  the  intruder  to  herself  and  away  from  the  chicks,  which  hide 
quickly  in  the  fyrass  at  the  iirst  intimation  of  danger  which  the  ])areut  may 
n-ive. 

By  the  latter  part  of  Au<;ust  most  of  the  broods  are  well  j;rown  and  able 
to  care  for  themselves.  Two  or  three  coveys  pack  tofi'ether  then,  and  later  iu 
tiui  fall  packs  nund)eriujf  fully  five  hundred  and  more  may  be  seen  where  tliese 
birds  are  common. 

Tluf  e;i}is  of  the  IVairie  Hon,  as  previously  stated,  nund)er  on  an  averai>e 
from  eleven  to  fourteen  to  a  sot,  and  if  the  first  clutch  is  destroyed,  which  is 
unfortunately  too  often  tiio  case,  a  second  and  smaller  set  is  laid.  The  c(dor  of 
the  ejj'fi's  varies  from  pale  cream  to  vinaceous  and  olive  buff,  as  well  as  li;jht 
brown  and  clay  color.     Scarcely  two  .sets  are  alike  in  this  respect. 

The  majority  of  the  eji'^s  of  this  species  in  the  l'.  S.  National  Museum 
collection,  are  faintly  but  re<i'ularl\'  spotted  with  thu-  pin  points  of  reddish 
brown,  in  some  instances  scarcely  percej)tible  to  the  naked  eye.  In  a  few  sets 
in  the  series  the  markin<;s  .show  plainly,  but  none  aro  larf>or  than  a  No.  (!  shot, 
and  l)ut  few  that  size.  The  sjiots  are  pi'etty  regular  in  size,  and  well  defined, 
even  when  very  small. 

The  e<>'^s  are  ovate:. a  few  short-ovate  in  sliajx'.  Tlie  average  size  is  4.'$ 
by  32.5  millimetres.  The  largest  i-tfi;';!:  in  one  lunidnMl  and  two  s|)ecimens  meas- 
ures 4(1  by  i54,  the  smallest  40  by  iiO  millimetres.  A  runt  i't>:<2;  of  this  species 
in  the  collection  measures  ))ut  IS  by  1,5  millinu'tros. 

The  typo  specimen  (No.  3108),  from  a  sot  of  eleven  eggs  (TM.  2,  Fig.  IS), 
was  collected  by  .1.  \V.  Tolman,  near  Winnebago,  Illinois,  .May,  1S(!0.  No. 
14r)l7,  from  a  set  of  sixteen  eggs  (1*1.  2,  Fig.  ll>),  was  c<dlocted  by  (}.  and  ( '. 
IMackburn.  in  Muchanan  County,  Iowa,  May  22,  lS(;s.  This  is  the  heaviest 
marked  sot  in  the  series.  No.  21102,  from  a  ,sot  of  eleven  (I'l.  2.  Fig.  20), 
(■(dlocted  for  myself  l)y  ('apt.  U.  F.  (loss,  Powaukeo,  Wisconsin,  Alay  20,  1S7(!. 
is  one  of  the  darkest  sets  iu  the  series. 


m^ 


TUli;  IlKATII  11 KN. 


U8 


33.    Tympanuchus  cupido  (LixN^t's). 

IIKATII    IIKN. 

Tiiivo('vpi(1o  LlNNiHUH,  SystcMim  Niituni',  cil.  lo.  1,  17.^,  KKi. 

'Ij/mpanurhiis  riii)iil<>  Hiixiway.  Prncfciliuf^s  U.  S.  Niitioiiiil  Miisciini,  viii.  1H85,  355. 
(R  4(14,  luirt;  C  .^4,  piirt;  |{  477.  jxii't;  ('  5»!;t,  ixirl;  V  MW.) 

Oeooraphical  KAN(tE;  I«l(vii(l  of  JIiirtliaH  Vinoyftnl,  Massiu-lmsctts. 

Tluf  hn'Oflin}^-  mug«  of  tlic  Ilciitli  Ili'U  is,  at  pn'sciit,  liinittMl  to  tlio  island 
of  iMartlia's  Vincvanl,  Massaclmsotts,  when!  tliesc  l)inis  arc  strictly  protected. 

Mr.  Williaii'.  Hrcwstcr  says:  "Tlicy  wcr«'  t'ormcrly  t'oiiiid  at  various  points 
in  eastern  Massachusetts,  southern  ( 'onni-etic  nt,  Lonji'  Island,  New  .Jersey,  and 
IVnnsvlvania;  jM-rhaps  also  .southern  New  Kn^iland,  and  the  Middh^  States 
ffcnei'alh'.  A  iniDillinid  species,  inhaltitinji'  s(rul)l»y  tracts  of  oak  and  pine. 
*  *  *  Tlu^  ficneral  differences  between  this  l)ir<l  and  its  Western  represent- 
ative, '/'.  (tiiicritoinis,  ixn'  difticult  of  adequate  definition,  for  the  reason  that  they 
consist  larjjely  in  shach's  of  color  rather  than  in  markings.  Its  small  size,  short 
tarsus,  acutely  lance-pointed  feathers  of  the  neck-tufts,  white-tipped  scapulars, 
{general  reddish  coloration  al)ove  and  restricted  lijiht  niarkinjfs  heneath,  are, 
iiowevei',  readily  appreciable  and  apparently  constant  characteis.     *     *     « 

"The  Heath  li<'n  (I  use  the  vernacular  name  l)y  which  it  was  known  to 
our  forefathers)  is  still  connnon  on  .Martha's  Vineyard,  where  it  is  maiidy,  if  not 
exclusively,  confined  to  the  woods,  hauntinji-  oak  scruli  l)y  preference  and  feed- 
'm<i:  larji^ely  on  acorns.  Hein<^  strictly  protected  l)y  law,  but  few  are  probaldy 
killed.  1  am  told  by  one  of  the  Moston  niarketmen,  however,  that  he  has  had 
as  inan\- as  twenty  from  the  Vineyard  in  a  sinj^le  season,  lie  also  says  that 
they  averaji'c^  luntrly  a  pound  less  in  weif^ht  than  Western  specimens,  and  on 
this  account  <lo  not  sell  as  readily. 

"The  i)ird  is  not  found  on  the  nei}>hborini>'  island  of  Naushon,  despite 
statements  l»y  recent  writers  to  that  effect,  nor  is  there  any  f>dod  evidenc(! 
that  it  ever  occurred  there.  There  is  also  no  reason  to  lielieve  that  tin- 
stock  on  Martha's  \'in«}yard  has  l)een  \itiated  by  the  introduction  of  West- 
ern birds.  It  is  simply  the  last  reiimant  of  a  once  more  or  less  widely 
distributed  race,  preserxcd  in  this  limited  area  ])ai'tly  l)y  accidt-nt,  ])artly 
l)y  care.  Accordinji'  to  the  l)est  testimony  available  the  colony  is  in  no 
present  danp-er  of  extinction."' 

From  a  more  recent  article  on  tiiis  speci<'s  published  by  Mr.  Hrewster, 
l)ased  on  information  fi'athered  by  him  din-iufi'  a  visit  to  Martha's  Vineyard 
in  .Iidy,  lSi)0,  I  extract  the  followinj^':  "Throujihout  Martha's  Vineyard  the 
Heath  lien  (locally  in-onounced  hctirn,  as  this  (Jrouse  is  universally  called) 
is  well  known  to  almost  every  one.  Kven  in  such  seaport  towns  as  ( 'ottaifi^ 
City  and    Kdj^artown   most   of  the   jn'oide   hav(?   at  least   heard   of  it,  and  in 

'Auk,  Vol.  II,  im>,  pp.  82-84. 


rll: 


i'-'-'-v;** 


w 


^^ 


n 


94 


lAVli  HIHT«H£IK8  Ol"  NOItTll  AMKKKAN  IIIUIKS. 


till'  thinly  sctfli'il  inttiiur  it  in  lriM|iiciitly  stcii  in  tlir  ininU  or  iilonjr  the 
(•(Ijrt's  of  the  (liver  liy  tiic  i'linncrs,  or  Htiirtcil  in  tlu?  (li'|»flirt  of  tliu  wooils  liy 
tlif  lioinidrt  of  til)'  niliiiit  iiml  fox  liinitcis. 

"Its  riinj;e   txtcmU,   |iriirtinilly,  o\fr  the  futiro   wooded    portion   of  tlic 
iKliind,   liut  the  liird  is  not  found    n'^^nljirly  or  at  nil    iMniicroiisly  outsi<lc  iin 

ist    of  tlic   clcMitcd 


irises  nil 


jii'eii    of   )il)ont     III   s(|iitire    miles.      This    jireii    eoiii| 

eeiitnd  |iiii'tioiis  of  the  island,  jiltlion^^h  it  also  touches  the  sea  at  not  a  fe 


points  on  the  north  and 


•uti 


I  snores. 


In  pi 


aces   1 


t  roll 


s  into  ":i'eat  roiini 


h'd 


lulls  and  lou;>'  iire^iiihir  ridf;es,  over  which  are  scattered  stretches  of  secoud- 
ffrewth  woods,  often  miles  in  extent,  and  composed  chiefly  of  scarlet,  Mack, 
white,  and  post  oaks  from  la  to  |0  feel  in  height.  Here  and  tliei«',  where 
till-  valleys  spread  out  hroad  and  level,  are  lields  which  were  cleared  liy  the 
early  settlers  more  than  a  hundred  years  a;;d,  and  which  still  retain  sullicient 
fertility  to  yield  very  j^dod  ciops  of  Miifilish  hay,  corn,  potatoes,  and  other 
veji'etaliles.  A;;iiin,  this  nudidatin;^  surface  j;ives  way  to  wide,  level,  sandy 
plains,  covered   with  a  j^rowth  of  iiear,  chinipiapin,  and  post-oak  scnili,  from 


iiiee  to  waist   liiyh,  so  s 


tilf 


anil 


ma 


tted 


lis  to  lie  almost   impeiii 


tralih 


or  to 


rockv    pastures,    dotted    with   thickets  of  sweet    fern,    liaylierry,  hucklelierry, 
dwarf  sumac,  and  other  low-j;rowiii}i'  shi'ults. 


'Clear,    rapid    trout    brooks    wind    their 


wa\' 


to   tl 


le    sea    tiiroui'- 


open 


meadows,    or   lon<i'   narrow   swamps   wooded   with    red    mapli's,    lilack   alder? 


lull 


klel 


ierr\' 


hush 


les,  andromeda,  and  poison  doiiwood,  and  overrun  with 


tauuieil  skeins  of  "reeii   liriar.- 


At  all  seasons  the  Heath  Hens  live  ahiiost  exclusivelv  in  the  oak  woods. 


where 


icorns    furnish    them    al)undaiit    food,    altlioii< 


lik 


e    our 


ti'i 


Klltlei 


Ciroii.se,  the\-  occasionally  at  early  mornin;>'  and  just  after  sunset  M-nture  out 
a  little  way  in  the  open  to  pick  up  scattered  firains  of  corn  or  to  pluck  a  few 
clover  leaves,  of  which  they  are  extremely  fond.  They  also  wander  to  some 
extent  ovi-r  the  scruli-oak  plains,  especially  when  l)luelierries  are  ripe  and 
ainiiiilant.  In  winter,  duriii;^'  lonj;-continueil  snows,  they  sometimes  appi'oach 
huildini^'s,    to    feed  upon  the  orain  which  the  farmers  throw  out  to  them.     A 


man    liNiim' 


near  West   Tisliiir\-    told 


me 


that  last    winter  a   flock  \isiteil 


liaru   at  aliout  the  same  I 


our  eai 


h  ih 


i\', 


<)i 


le  colli  snowv  moriiiny  lie  coin 


us 
ited 


sixteen  perched  in  a   row  on  the  to|(  rail  of  a   fence  near  the  barnyard.      It  is 

din;'- 


umisua 


1  to 


tl 


see  so  man\'  toyetiier  now,  the  iiumner  in  a  co\-e\-  rarel\'  exceei 


SI 


X  or  eiji'ht,  but  in  former  times  packs   ci)ntaiiiin<i'  from  one  to  two  hundred 


bird 


s  each  were  occasionally  met  with  late  in  the  autumn. 
"()nl\'  one  person  of  the  many  whom  I  (|Uestioned  on  the  subject  had 
ever  seen  a  Heath  lien's  nest.  It  was  in  oak  woods,  amoiiji'  sprouts  at  the  base 
of  a  larii-e  stump,  and  contained  either  twelve  or  thirteen  e^ji's.  The  date,  Im 
thoiifiht,  was  about  dune  l<t.  This  seemed  late,  but  I  have  a  set  of  si.\  ef^fj's 
taken  on  the  Vineyard  .July  24,  ISX,"),  and  on  duly  li),  1S1»(),  1  met  a  blueberry 
picker  who  onlv  the  day  before  had  started  a  brood  of  six  youni;',  less  than 
half  grown.     These  facts  jirove  that  this  bird  is  lial)ituall}'  a   late  breeder. 


TIIK  IIKATII  JII:N. 


W 


"Tim  fiinncrH  aliout  TlMliiirv  miy  that  in  Mpriiij;  tlic  iniilci  Ilcatli  IIcii  lunkcH 
a  l»n(>iiiiu^' or  toiitin;;  imiHc.  TIiIh,  accordiii";' to  tlicir  (IfHcriptioim  must  rt'Hi'iii- 
lilc  tlif  Itivo  luitcM  of  tlif  Wcstcrii  I'iiiiiiiti'd  (iioiisc.  Alxmt  MUiiriMt',  on  warm 
still  morniiijys  in  May,  stncral  liirds  may  lie  sonu-timcs  licanl  at  once,  appar- 


ently iMiswcrmff  one  another. 

''Dmiii);  my  stay  at  Mai'tlia's  Vineyard,  I  obtained  as  nuniy  estimates  as 
possiltle  ot'tlic  imml)er  of  lleatli  liens  wliieli  ant  lielieved  to  exist  tliere  at  tlie 
present  time.  My  most  trustworthy  informants  were,  creditaldy,  averse  to 
what  was  apparently  mere  idle  <;iiessinj>' ;  i)ut  when  I  (picstioned  them,  (irst  as 
to  the  extent  of  the  re;iion  over  whirh  the  liirds  ran;ji('d,  and  next  as  to  how 
many  <»ii  tho  averafjHf  could  he  found  in  a  sipiare  mile  within  this  rcffion,  they 
answered  readily  enoujih,  and  even  with  some  positiveuess.  iVs  already  stated 
the  total  present  ran;,'e  of  the  Heath  lien  covers  aiuiut  4(t  s(iuare  miles.  'Vim 
(.stimatesof  the  averaf^e  numlier  of  )>irils  per  mile  varied  from  three*  to  five, 
{.nvin'T  from  one  Innidred  ami  twenty  to  two  hundred  hirds  for  tlie  total  num- 
lier. These  (estimates,  it  should  lie  stated,  relate  to  the  numlier  of  liirds 
helieved  to  have  lieen  left  over  from  last  winter.  If  tliesc-  liree(l  freely  and 
at  all  successfully,  then*  shoidil  lie  a  total  of  fully  live  hundred,  yoiuij(  and 
old  toj;(*ther,  at  the  lie<fimiinii'  of  the  present  autumn.  When  one  considers 
the  limited  area  to  which  these  liirds  are  confine<l,  it  is  evident  that  within  this 
area  they  must  Ik*  reasonalily  aliundant.  I  was  assured  that  with  the  aid 
(if  a  ;jood  do;r  it  was  not  at  all  dillicult  to  start  twenty-live  or  thirty  in  a  da}', 
and  on  one  occasion  ei^ht  were  killed  iiy  two  j>-uns.  This,  however,  can  ho 
done  only  liy  those  familiar  with  the  country  and  the  haliits  of  the  liinls."' 

The  only  e<f}fs  of  the  Heath  lien  in  any  collection,  as  far  as  known  to 


me, 


n-e  the   sot  of  six  referred  to  ahove  in    Mr.   iJrewster's  article 


and  now 


in  his  cahinut.  These  wen*  taken  July  24,  ISH.'i,  at  Martha's  Vineyanl, 
.Massachu.setts,  and  liniujiht  unlilown  to  ().  J.  Maynard,  from  whom  they  were 
procured.     They  contained  lar}.;e  oudnyos,  and  were  saved  with  considerahlo 


lU 


fficultv. 


Tlu*  specimen   tif^ured   (No.   'i-'ilU'i,    IT.   S.   National    Aru.seum   collection. 


I'l.  ;j,  V"\if.  2)  is  one  of  these  efi';.fs.     It  is  creamy  huff  in  coh 


ir,  with  a  s 


slifj^ht 


^freeni.sli  tint,  ovate  in  form,  and  unspotted.     It  measures  44  liy  3.'$  millimetres. 


.'■  r4il 


>  Forest  aud  Stream,  September  J5,  18'JO. 


m 


'':4 

m 

l:l\M 

w 

m 


■■  i 


<< 


9ti  iAliu  UlSTOUJES  OF  KOKTU  AMERICAN  blKUS. 


34.    Tympp.nuchus  pallidicinctus  (Hidgway). 

LKSSKR    I'KAIKIK    IIKN. 

CupiiJiiuia  ritpido  vfir.  pnlliiliciiictd  RiDCiWAV,  Bullt'tiii  Essex  Institute,  v,  Docomber. 

lsr;J.  l'.i!i. 
Tuinpiniuchiis  pdlliilirinclK.'i  Hiuowav,  Pnx'eediiiKs    U.  S.  National   Museum,  viii, 

1885,  ;)55. 

(B  — .  C  3H4((,  R  4rr((.  C  ;)(;4.  U  3(17.) 

GEociUAHHicAi.  KANiiK:  Soutliwcsteni  parts  of  Kansas  and  western  Indian  Terri- 
tory, western  (and  soutliein 'r)  Texas. 

Tlie  broodiii};'  raiijif  of  rlic  l.csscr  Prairie  Hen,  a  sinallcr,  paler-colored 
species  than  7'.  tnniricdinis,  is  not  as  well  known  as  conM  lie  desii'ed,  and  iis 
tar  as  onr  present  knowled<>e  •■des  inclndes  soutliwestern  Kansas,  the  west- 
ern parts  ot'  Indian  'i'erritory  as  well  as  jiortions  of  nortlnvestern  and 
perhaps  southern  Texas.  The  latter  locality  is  liased  on  the  statement  of 
Asst.  ^5nrji'.  James  ('.  Merrill,  V.  S.  Army,  who  sajs,  in  his  Notes  on  the 
Ornitholoi.''y  of  .Southern  Texas  (pj).  l.")9,  l(i(>):  "I  am  informed  by  a  person 
perfectly  familiar  witli  the  hiril  that  the  I'rairie  ( 'hickeii  is  occasionally  seen 
on  the  prairies  ot'  Miradores  ranch,  which  is  about  iiO  miles  north  of  the 
fort  (referrin<>'  to  Fort  Hrown,  T<'xas),  and  a  few  miles  from  the  coast.  This 
is  prol)al)Iv  about  the  southi'rnn\ost  point  in  the  ranj^c  oi'  this  itird."  This 
statement  is  further  continued  by  i.ieut.  Col.  Lawrence  S.  liabiiitt,  V.  S. 
Ordnance  Corjis,  who  writes  me  under  date  of  .March  IH,  ISitO,  as  follows: 
"'IMu^  I'rairie  lien  is  not  found  in  the  innnediate  vicinity  of  San  Antonio, 
Ti'xas,  but  exist^^  in  <ireat  uund)ers  south  and  southeast  and  in  limited  num- 
bers north  and  west  from  here,  all  at  about  an  axeraj^e  ilistance  of  lOd 
miles  from  the  abo\e  mentioned   localitN." 

It  is  jiossilile,  however,  that  this  species  ma\'  onlv  lie  a  winter  resid<  nt 
in  southern  Texas.  Mr.  William  Moyd,  in  his  Notes  on  the  Hirds  of  AA'est- 
ern  'i'exiis,  states:  '^  'ri/nriiniKrlnis  jxillidiciiii  fus.  Lesser  I'rairie  Hen.  ^^'mter 
visitor;  seen  in  October  and  \o\-end)er  in  Concho  ('(umty  and  also  in  win- 
ter on  Miildle  ( 'oncho  in  Tom  (ireen  County.  AliumlMUt  neai'  ( 'olorado  ( 'ity 
on  the  Texas  and  I'acilic  l>;nlroad.  I  believe  this  record  extends  the  raiijic 
to  the  southwest.  Westward  it  was  aliundant  to  the  foothills  of  the  Davis 
Mountains.  Said  t(.  have  been  driven  from  the  Tan  Handle  counties  by  the 
numerous  prairie  fires."' 

The  nesting'  habits  of  this  species  ai-e  undoubtedly  similar  in  every  res]iect 
to  those  of  TiimjKDiiiilnis  (inirririiinis.  Mr.  C.  S.  McCarthy  found  it  breedin<^' 
abundantly  4(>  miles  west  of  l-'ort  ('obli,  in  tiie  Indian  Territoi'y,  he  takin;:' 
not  less  than  three  nests  with  eyjis  on  dune  1,  Isdit.  Presumably  lint  one 
brood  is  raised  in  a  season.  The  nuudier  of  t'ji'fis  to  a  set  is  |iroi)ably  about 
the  same  as  that  of  the   pi'eviously  mcmtioned  species.     The  three  sets  in  the 

Aiik,  Vol.  IV,  ltJS7,  p.  187. 


Ill 

11:1 


I  \ 


THE  LESSEB  PUAIKIB  HEN. 


97 


IT.  S.  National  Museum  collection,  contain  seven  egjjs  each,  and  art  probably 
incomplete.  They  are  somewhat  lighter  colored  than  the  eggs  of  the  coif.'.r.;;:; 
Prairie  Hen  and  almost  unmarked,  but  this  is  perhaps  not  constant.  Their 
shape  is  ovate. 

Tlie  ground  color  varies  from  pale  creamy  white  to  buff.  The  markings, 
which  are  all  very  tine,  nor,  larger  than  i)in-})oints,  are  lavender  c(dored.  More 
than  two-tliirds  of  the  eggs  are  unspotted,  and  all  look  so  till  closely  examined. 
In  size  they  average  a  trifle  smaller  tlian  the  eggs  of  the  Prairie  lien.  The 
mean  measurement  of  twenty  two  specimens  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum 
collection  is  42  by  32.5  millimetres.  The  largest  agg  measures  43.5  by  33.5, 
tlie  smallest  41  by  31  millimetres. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  4011  (PI.  3,  Fig.  1),  was  obtained  June  1,  IHfiO,  40 
miU's  west  of  Fort  Cobb,  Indian  Ten'itory,  by  C.  S.  McCarthy.  This  set  con- 
tained seven  eggs. 


iim- 
10(1 

lit 

Cst- 

iitcr 

win- 

'ity 

ingc 

ivis 

the 

)CCt 

ling 
dug 

(llIC 

Imllt 
the 


35.    Pediocaetes  phasianellus  (Linn^i's). 

SHARP-TAILED   GROUSE. 
Tih-'io  pJiasiaiidhifi  hxvyM,Vii.  Systciua  Natui'ic.  cd.  10,  I,  n.58,  IfiO. 


l\diiicn'lcs    iihaNiiiiiilliix    Eli.Iot. 


Piv 


'(lilies    Academy    Natural   Sciences,   Phila. 


l«()-i,  403  (nee  Baird,  Ifi.'iS.  (|ili  suh.sp,  roliitiihidiiiis). 

(B  — .  0  :)!S;j.  R  478,  C  501,  U  308.) 

Gkoouaphical  RANGE:  Interior  of  British  America,  east  of  Rocky  Mountains, 
about  James  Bay  (Moose  Factoi'v),  and  tlie  western  sliore  of  Hudson  Bay,  northern 
Manitoba  ;  north  at  least  to  Fort  Sini])sou,  Maciceiizie  River,  Northwest  Territory. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Shaqi-tailed  Grouse  extends  from  about  lati- 
tuile  52^  north,  and  westward  through  British  America  to  the  eastern  slopes  of 
the  Hocky  Mountains,  as  far  north  as  latitude  (>lt^,  and  probably  still  farther 
within  the  Arctic  circle.  Mr.  C.  P.  Gaudet,  of  the  Hudson  Hay  Company, 
t'oiiiid  it  breeding  in  latitude  (IH",  near  Fort  (iood  Hope,  in  the  Mackenzie 
Wiver  i^asin.  Its  northeastern  range  is  not  well  defined,  but  it  probably  reaches 
the  northern  shores  of  Hudson  Hay,  and  breeds  possibly  as  far  south  as  Moose 
Factory,  .bimes  May,  about  latitude  51°,  40'.  It  seems  to  be  especially 
abundant  in  the  vicinity  of  (ireat  Slave  Lake,  between  latitude  (11°  anil  (!3'^; 
most  of  the  eggs  in  the  II.  S.  National  .Museum  collection  coming  either  from 
Forts  Hae,  Providence,  or  Resolution,  all  three  posts  situated  on  ditlerent  parts 
of  this  laki'. 

(^om])aratively  little  is  as  yet  known  about  the  breeding  habits  of  this 
subspecies.  There  is  no  reason  to  supjiosc,  Iniwever,  that  they  ditl'er  iiii.te- 
rially  from  those  of  its  more  southern  rcdatives,  which  will  lie  fully  describi'd. 
The  Sharp-tailed  Grouse  is  said  to  inhabit  the  wooded  districts  of  the  I'ur 
countries,  as  well  as  the  borders  of  the  extensive  prairies  or  tundras  near  the 
numerous  lakes  found  throughout  that  regiim,  and  it  is  probably  more  or  less 
migratory  in  the  winter. 
aiiltoT— Bull.  1 7 


'■mi 

■■;:'. M.*| 

m 


m 


I 


w 


98 


LIFE  H1ST01UB8  OF  NOllTH  AMEKK^AN  IJIUDS. 


Rut  n  sinoflo  brood  is  rjiisotl  in  a  soanon.  Nidificatiou  l)i'pfins,  somctiincs  at 
K^ast,  cxtrciiiely  oarly  with  tliis  spocics,  »'gfj^s  Iiaviti^  hccu  t'ound  May  1,  1S(!^, 
by  Mr.  L.  Clarke,  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Coni|)any,  at  Fort  Hai',  in  latitude  <i3°. 
These  must  have  been  laid  lonjr  before  the  ice  and  snow  disa|)peared  tVoni  the 
surrounding  country.  Mr.  R.  .MacFarlane  also  to(»k  a  nest  eontainiu};-  nine  e<,^g.s, 
on  May  15,  18S4,  near  Fort  IVovideiice.  Aecording  to  this  gentleman,  tlie 
Sliarp-tailed  Grou.se  l)reeds  also  in  the  i)ine  forests  on  both  sides  of  the  Lock- 
hart  and  Upper  Anderson  Rivers,  where  one  or  two  ne.sts  were  taken,  but 
the  eggs  were  afterward  lost. 

The  numljer  of  eggs  to  a  set  varies  from  seven  to  fourteen,  and  their 
ground  color  from  a  fawn  color  with  a  vinaceous  rufous  bloom,  to  chocolate, 
tawny,  and  olive  brown  in  dift'erent  specimens.  The  majorit}'  of  the  eggs  are 
finely  marked  with  small,  well-defined  spots  of  reddish  brown  and  lavender, 
resembling  the  markings  found  on  the  eggs  of  Ti/ni  pan  itch  iis  aniericamifi,  only 
they  are  umch  more  distinct.  Comi)are(i  witli  the  eggs  of  the  two  south- 
ern .sub.species  P.  phasimiclhis  iolmMauns  and  /'.  jilidsidiiclliis  ((impcsfris,  they 
usually  are  very  nuich  darker  colored,  even  the  jjalest  specimens  being 
darker  than  the  heaviest  marked  eggs  of  either  of  the  two  sul)species.  These 
markings  are  entirely  superficial,  and  when  removeil  leave  the  .shell  a  creamy 
white  in  some  cases  and  a  very  pale  green  in  others.  In  .shape  they  are 
usually  ovate.  Tlie  average  measurement  of  thirty-four  eggs  in  the  II.  S. 
National  I\Iuseum  collection  is  441}  by  3'2  millimetres.  The  largest  egg  of 
this  series  measures  48  liy  .'53,  the  smallest  42  by  30  millimetres. 

Of  the  type  specimens  selected  to  show  the  variations,  No.  761!)  (PI.  3, 
Fig.  3),  from  an  incomplete  set  of  seven,  was  olitained  ^lay  10,  1803,  near 
Fort  Rae,  Great  Slave  Lake,  by  ]\Ir.  L.  Clarke,  jr.,  of  the  Hudson  Ray  Com- 
pany; No.  7()20  (IM.  3,  Fig.  4),  from  an  incomplete  set  of  .six,  taken  Jime  1, 
18fi3,  V)y  the  .same  gentleman,  in  the  same  htcality;  and  No.  22503  (PI.  3, 
Fig.  5),  a  single  c^'^,  taken  May  l(>,  1885,  near  Fort  Providence,  Great 
Slave  Lake,  was  obtained  from  Mr.  \l.  MacFarlane,  also  of  the  Hudsou  Rav 
Company. 

36.    Pediocaetes  phasianellus  crlumbianus  (Oru). 

COLUMBIAN    SIIAUI'-TAILKIJ    (iKOU.SE. 

Phnsianiis  cohimliianits  Ord,  Outkrio's  Goofi^raphy,  2(1  Am.  vd.,  Ii,  1815,  1)17. 
PediueveltN  plid.siK  11(11  IIS  var.  columbianus  CoUES,  Key  to  Nortli  Amoricitu  Birds,  187'..'. 
234. 

(B  4U3.  C  38;!n,  R  47Sf(,  C  502,  U  :KKS(,.) 

Gkookaphica^  RA.s'dE:  Nortliwcstcm  Uiiitod  States ;  south  to  novtlicastcru  Cali- 
t'ornia,  iiortliorii  Ncvaila.  ;iiiil  Uiali :  cast  to  Montana  an<l  Wyoming;  west  to  Oregon 
and  Washington  ;  nortli.  chicHy  west  of  Kucky  Mountains,  througii  Britisli  Coluiu))ia,  to 
central  Alaska  (Fort  Yukon). 

The  Cohunbian  Sliarp-taileil  Grouse  inhabits  the  grass-covered  plains  of 
the  Northwest.  Its  breeding  range  extends  from  eastern  Montana  and  Wyo- 
ming, westward  through  northern  and  central  Utah,  the  whole  of  Idaho,  eastern 


^9 

^1 


TUE  COLUMHIAN  SUAltP  TAILED  GROUSE. 


d\) 


and  ceiitnil  Orc^itii  and  \Va.sliiii<;ton,  simtli  to  iiortluMMi  Novada  and  iiortluiast- 
crii  ('alil'itriiia,  aloiif;'  tlio  uastoni  slopcis  of  tlu'  Siskiyou  Mountains.  Tlie  latter, 
as  well  as  the  eastern  spurs  of  the  ( !ascad('s,  t'ornis  a  l)aiTi('r  to  its  westward 
extension  in  ()re<>-on  and  Wasiiinyton,  and  it  is  here,  at  Fort  Ivlaniatli,  ()re<>(>n, 
tliat  tliis  l)ird  reaehes  the  most  westerly  point  of  its  ranj^e.  North  it  is  found 
throu;;liout  i-astern  Hritish  (!oluinl»ia,  on  l)oth  sidi's  of  the  lioeky  ^louutains, 
and  it  has  l)een  taken  as  far  north  as  Fort  Yukon,  Alaska. 

The  Iial)its  of  the  C'ohnnl)iau  Shar})-tailed  (Jrouse,  also  known  as  tlu^ 
Spike-tail  and  the  I'rairie  Chieken,  are  very  similar  to  those  of  its  ea.stern  rela- 
tive, P.  i>li'(si(iiH-lliis  (■(iiiipcsfris.  It  is  one  of  the  most  al)undant  and  l)est  known 
fjame  hirda  of  the  Northwest,  inhabitin^i;'  the  prairie  country  to  l)e  found  alonj;- 
the  foothills  of  the  numerous  mountain  chains  intersectinjf  its  ran^^e;  seldom 
venturinfi'  into  the  wooded  portions  for  any  distance,  and  then  only  duriny  the 


winter  months,  when  it  is  p; 


rtiall 


y  nn}>Tatory  m  certain  sections. 


Accordiuff  to    my  own  e.xperieiice  the  Columbian  Sharp-tail  breeds  more 
fre(pientlv  on  the  sheltered  and  sunny  slopes  of  the  f;rass-covered    foothills 


)f   th 


u-   mountains  tiiaii   in   the  Ktwer  valleys   and    creek    Ijottoms.     At    Fort 


Lai)wai,  Idaho,  this  (rroiisi^  was  exceediiij^'ly  common  aixmt  twenty  years 
a^),  but  it  is  much  less  so  now.  It  then  j^athered  into  larf^-e  packs  duriiif;' 
the  late  fall  anil  winter,  frecpieiitly  niiml)eriiij^'  two  huiulred  and  more.  These 
kept  toj;-ether  until  aluuit  tiie  l)ej>iniiin;>-  of  March,  when  they  commenced 
to  Itreak  up.  The  "danciiifi'"  iiidnlj^ed  in  durinj''  tluf  matin<j  season,  and  whicii 
will  l)e  fully  descril)ed  in  tluf  succeedinj^'  article,  bej^an  at  Fcn't  Laj)wai  (the 
only  ))lace  where  I  had  the  opportunity  of  witnessini>'  it)  usually  between  the 
1st  ami  lOtli  of  .March,  and  l)y  the  end  of  that  month  most  of  the  birds  were 
paired  and  had  selected  their  nestinj^'  sites.  Nidification  be<ran  usually  from 
abciit  .April  lo,  to  May  1,  accordin«>'  to  the  .sea.son.  I  found  a  set  of  fifteen  efif^'.s, 
whi( 
Some 


h  had  been  sat   upon    aljoiit    a    week    or   ten    days,  on 


April    22,     1H71. 
earlier  still,  as  it  was  no  uncommon  .siirht  to  tind 
fully  ^^rowii  birds  l)y  duly  10.     .Vll  the  nests  of  this  species  which  I  e.xamined 


bird 


s  must  liave 


laid 


were    invaria 


bh 


wel 


concealed    and    rather    dilHcult    to    tiiul.     Y 


on    mi"-ht 


scare 
and 


■h  di 


iil\'  for  a 


coup 


le  of 


wee 


am 


1    1 


airain  yon  miirht  stumble  on  two  or 


le    unsuccess 
tl 


iree   on  tne  same  (la\-. 


fill   in    tindiuf^  a  nest, 
A  bunch- 


ivcrcd    iiillside,   with    a    southerly  exi»osure,   seemed    to   Ik'  a    favoriti 


;i'rass    ci 

iiestin^JT  site  with  this  (Jrouse  at  Fort  Lapwai,  while  at  ("amj)  Ilarnev,  Ore- 
;ion,  they  confined  themselves  durinj;'  the  breediiiMf  season  to  the  sa<jje  brush 
covered  jdaiiis  of  the  Harney  Valley,  interspersed  hen*  and  there  with  a 
low  ji-rassy  swale,  nestinji-  alonjf  the  Itorders  of  these,  where  the  j^-rass  attained  a 
'  heavier  j;rowth. 

The  nest,  like  that  of  all  the  (Jrouse,  is  always  jjlaced  on  the  fri'onnd, 
usually  (dose  aloiij^side  some  tall  bunch  of  coai  <e  jj^rass,  which  hides  it 
completely  from  view.  Kveii  if  it  did  not,  the  feinah'  iiarmonizes  in  color 
.so  thoroufi'hly  with  her  surroundiii;;s  that  .she  is  not  apt  to  i)e  noticed,  unless 
she    should    leave   her  nest,   which  she  does   not   ilo  very   readilv,  as  she  is 


■I 


''^.m 


It      '"I 


i>- 


.nfi 


100 


LIFE  UISTOKIES  OF  NOUTJl  AMERICAN  BlUDS. 


a  very  close  sitter.  A  slight  hollow,  usuiilly  scratclifd  out  on  the  upper 
side  of  a  bunch  of  grass,  if  the  nest  is  placed  on  a  liillside,  i:.  fairly  lined 
with  dry  grass,  of  which  there  is  ordinarily  an  alnuidance  to  be  found 
in  the  vicinity,  and  this  constitutes  the  nest.  A  few  feathers  from  tlie  lower 
I)arts  of  the  l)ird  are  usually  nii.\ed  in  among  the  eggs,  eacli  one  of  which  is 
often  imbedded  about  two-thirds  in  its  own  mould  and  does  not  touch  the 
others.  Once  only  did  I  tind  the  eggs  placed  on  top  of  each  other,  eight  in 
the  lower  and  five  in  the  upper  layer. 

Incul)atiou  lasts  about  twenty-one  days,  the  female  attending  to  this  duty 
exclusively,  the  males  keeping  by  tliemselves,  usually  in  small  parties  of  from 
three  to  five,  frocpienting  tlie  higher  hills  and  edges  of  the  table  lands  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  nests.     I  do  not  believe  that  this  Grouse  is  polygamous. 

At  Camp  Harney  I  have  found  eggs  of  this  subsj)ecies  as  late  as  .June  IH, 
and  as  a  rule  they  nesteil  fidly  from  four  to  six  weeks  later  there  tlian  at 
Fort  Lapwai.  The  female  is  exceedingly  devoted  to  her  young  brood,  and 
I  have  seen  one  boldly  attack  my  dog,  who  accidentally  liai)peiied  to  run 
into  a  young  covey  about  a  week  old,  while  I  was  riding  along  one  of  the 
tributaries  of  Lapwai  Creek,  in  tlie  latter  part  of  ^lay,  1H71. 

Hut  one  brood  is  raised  in  a  season.  Tlie  young  are  active,  handsome 
little  creatures,  and  able  to  use  their  legs  at  once  on  leaving  the  shell.  They 
are  at  first  fed  mostly  on  insects,  young  gras.shoppers  and  crickets  forming 
the  principal  portion  of  their  l)i]l  of  fare.  The  former  are  always  abundant 
and  easily  obtaint-d;  latei',  when  the  young  are  able  to  tly,  the  mother  leails 
them  to  the  creek  bottoms,  wiiere  tliey  find  an  al)undance  of  berries  and 
browse.  Tliey  are  esjyccially  fond  of  tlie  seeds  of  the  wild  sunfiower,  wliich 
grows  very  abundantly  in  some  places,  and  wlieii  these  are  ripe,  many  of 
these  birds  can  b(^  found  in  the  vicinity  wiiere  these  plants  grow. 

Tlie  liabits  of  the  Colmnbian  Sliarji-tailed  Grouse  vary  very  materially 
in  ditl'ereiit  jiortions  of  tlie  country  where  I  have  met  witli  tliem.  At  Fort 
Klamath,  Oregon,  wiiere  tliev  are  rather  rare,  I  have  found  tliem  inhabiting 
decidedly  inarsliy  and  swampy  country,  ami  keeping  close  to,  if  not  in  the 
edges  of,  the   pine   timlier  thnuigliout   tlie  year.     At    Fort   (.'uster,   M' iitana, 


tl 


lis  lirouse,   (lurmsi-  tlie  winter,   was   much   more   arliorea 


il   tl 


lan  terres 


trial 


m 


til 

its  habits,   moving    around   on    the    linilis    of   tlie   large   cottonwood  trees   as 

unconcernedly  as  cm  the  ground;  spending  in  this  way  almost  all  tlieir  time. 


«'xcept  when  feeding.     At  Ilarney,  <  )r(' 


"•on,  and 


1  Lajiwai,  Idaho,  tliey  might  b 


freqiu'iitly  seen  in  small  trees  and  liushes  wliich  grow  along  tlie  cri'cks,  but 
scarcely  ever  in  large  trees,  of  which  tliere  was  an  alnuidance.  Here,  tiiey 
uttered  very  few  notes  at  anytime,  wliile  at  Fort  Custer  I  have  freinieiitly 
heard  tliem  cackling  in  tlu^  tall  cottonwoods  which  grew  along  the  Hig  Horn 
River  bottom,  liefore  I  had  ajiproacheil  within  several  hundred  yards  of  them, 
evidently  giving  notice  to  otiier  birds  in  the  vicinity  of  my  coming. 

This  fine  game  bird  is  decreasing  very  rajiirlly  throughout  its  range.     It 


does  not  seem  to 


pro.sper  in  tlie  vicin: 


lity  of 


til 


man,  and  as  the  country  is 


be- 


ii 


THE  COLUMBIAN  SHARPTAILED  GROUSE. 


101 


coming  more  and  more  settled,  it  recedes  before  civilization.     As  it  is  not  a 
])articnlarly  shy  hird,  it  falls  an  easy  victim  to  the  giumer. 

In  Orefjon,  Washington,  and  Idaho,  where  it  nscd  to  be  exceedingly 
abmulant  a  decadt^  ago,  it  is  (n-cry  year  becoming  rarer,  and  at  the  present 
raft'  ot  decrease  it  will  not  be  long  before  it 'will  Ix-  nmnbered  among  the 
game  liirds  of  the  i)ast,  at  least  in  all  fertile  ])ortions  of  the  ctmntry,  retain- 
ing only  a  precarious  foothold  in  the  more  sterile  sections  of  these  States 
wlicre  the  lands  are  too  poor  and  rocky  to  be  successfully  cultivated. 

From  eleven  to  fourtiH'U  eggs  are  laid  to  each  set,  rarely  mon*.  'i'hese 
are  usually  short  ovate  in  shape,  and  very  small  for  th(^  size  of  the  bird.  Tlie 
ground  color  varies  from  creamy  buff  to  pale  olive  brown.  An  occasional 
sjiecimen  has  a  pale  vinaceous  bloom  overlying  the  grtmnd  color.  The 
majority  of  the  eggs  are  slightly  spotted  with  reddish  lirown;  the  markings, 
for  the  most  i)art,  are  very  fini>,  the  spots  varying  from  mere  j)in  jjoints  to 
the  size  of  No.  (!  sliot.  All  these  markings  are  supei-ficial  and  easily  rubbed 
off  on  a  freshly  laid  specimen. 

The  average  measurement  of  s(n'enty-two  sj)ecimens  in  the  U.  S.  National 
]\Iuseum  collection  is  4,'}  ))y  32  millimetres, 
measm'es  4().5  by  34.5,  the  smallest  30  by  31   millimetres, 

Of  the  types,  No.  !(13!)  (I'l.  3,  Fig.  (!),  from  an  incomplete  set  of  four, 
was  collected  May  21»,  1H()2,  near  Fort  Yukon,  Alaska,  by  Mr.  J.  Lockhart, 
of  the  Hud.son  Hay  Comi)any ;  No.  21103  (IM.  3,  Fig.  7),  selected  from  a  set 
of  fifteen,  was  taken  A])ril  22,  1X71,  near  Fort  Lapwai,  Idaho;  and  No.  211 OG 
(1*1.  3.  Fig.  H),  from  a  set  of  eleven  eggs,  taken  June  IS,  187G,  near  Camj) 
Harney,  Oregon.     The  last  two  are  from  the  Bendire  collection. 


riie  largest  egg  in   this  series 


37.     Pediocsetes  phasianellus  campestris  Ridgway. 


I'RAIKIE    HlfAKP-TAILEU   GROU.SE. 


Pedicpreifs  pfKHiiiuiillits  (■(niii)i'stri.s  Ridowav,  Proceeiliiigs  Biological  Society,  W.ash- 

iiiKtoii,  n.  Ai)ril  JO.  18S4.  9;{. 
(B  — ,  C  — .  R  -.  C  -,  U  ■■mh.) 

Oeooraphicai.  KAN(iE:  Plains  und  pi:iiries  of  the  United  States;  north  to  Mun- 
itobii;  cast  to  Wisconsin  ami  northern  Illinois  ;  west  to  eastern  Colorado;  soutli  to  east- 
ern New  Mexico. 

This  recently  described  subspecies  diff(>rs  from  J'cilincd'trs  phasiiniflhis 
rolumhianHS  in  its  rather  lighter  and  nnicli  more  ochraceous  coloration  above, 
in  having  the  black  bafs  narrower  and  le.ss  regular,  and  in  the  V-shaped 
markings  of  the  lower  \r,u-ts  being  nuich  less  distinct.  It  is  thus  descrilx'd 
l»y  .Mr.  U.  liidgway,  and  from  types  coming  from  Illinois  and  the  Rosebud  , 
Hiver,  Jlontana. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Prairie  Sharp-tailed  Grouse  extends  from 
northern  Illinois,  west  through  southern  Wi.sconsin,  northwestern  Iowa, 
middle  and  western   Kansas,  through    ea.steru  Colorado  to   nortiieastern  New 


i,:i(lj 


[•'  ill; 


'A 


^ 


102 


LIFE  HISTOUIUS  OF  NORTH  AMKRICAN  HIRD8. 


^Ic^xico,  north  tlinuifili  western  Nehriiskii,  castcni  Wyoniiii<jf,  ciistcrn  ^fontana, 
Minni'sotii,  iind  the  two  Dakotas,  and  ('.\ttMi(lin<>'  north  of  our  Ixmh'r  into 
soutlicastcrn  Assinihoia  and  soutlicrn  Manitoba.  Specinu-nft  taken  ahnig  tho 
soiitlu'i'u  portions  of  thesis  provinces  are  tyi)ical  /*.  j)l  asiaHcllits  (vrnpcstris; 
and  tliosis  from  niichUe  Manitoba  northwaril  to  about  li  titudo  52°  are  inter- 
mediate between  this  and  /'.  pliiisidiirlliis. 

The  eastern  ranj^e  of  this  Grouse  is  beeoniin;;  rapidly  restricted.  In 
Illinois  they  are  very  rarely  found  now.  Col.  N.  S.  Goss  reports  tlieiu  as 
becoming  rare  in  Kansas;  and  the  case  is  the  same  in  Wisconsin  and  Iowa. 
Mr.  Denis  Gale  writes:  "The  Prairie  Sliarp-tailed  Grouse  was  quite  plentiful 
fifteen  years  ajj^o  on  the  plains  about  Denver,  Cidorado.  They  are  seldom  met 
with  now;  tlie  last  I  saw  was  in  tlie  winter  of  ISSi;.  In  IKS."),  I  met  one  of 
these  birds  far  uj)  in  tlu^  foothills  at  an  elevation  of  over  H,0{)()  feet.  Tnlike 
the  Prairie  Hen,  T/jiiijiiiiiiiiliits  ai)ieriv(ini(s,  })Tain  and  corn  fields  have  but  few 
attractions  tor  these  birds;  this,  and  the  stampin<>'  out  l)y  cattle  of  tlie  whole 
country's  surface,  suj)|)lemented  by  the  ])ot  hunter's  shotji'un  to  secure  a 
toothsome  morsel  in  and  out  of  season,  no  doubt  accounts  for  their  present 
scarcity." 

Mr.  W.  :\I.  Wolfe,  of  Kearney,  Nebraska,  says:  "The  Prairie  Sharp-tailed 
Grouse,  /'.  jilHrnuHcUns  nimpcsfris,  was  formerly  abundant  in  central  Neljraska. 
Now  it  has  retired  before  civilization,  and  the  Piimated  Grouse  has  taken 
its  place.  Cold  winters,  notaldy  tliat  of  IHS,'),  (h'ive  it  back  into  thiidy  settled 
rejriim.s.  In  nortliwestern  Nebraska,  where  both  species  are  still  foimd,  they 
not  infrecjuently  mingUf  in  winter,  Itut  are  bitter  enemies  in  warm  weather. 
Then  they  have  no  occasion  to  be  together,  for  the  Sharp-tailed  Grouse 
always  prefers  its  natural  food,  tencU-r  twigs  and  insects,  while  the  Pinnated 
(irouse  nnist  have  grain.  A  Sharp-tail  never  loves  a  wheat  field  so  well  as 
when  tliens  is  an  al)nndance  of  grasshoppers  to  be  found  tiiere." 

Mr.  George  Bird  Grinnell  lias  kindly  furnislieil  nie  some  notes  on  the 
habits  of  the  Sliarp-tailed  (Jrouse,  whicli  are  mostly  referable  to  this  race. 
He  writes  me  as  follows:  "Tlie  Sharp-tailed  (irouse,  which,  in  certain  sections, 
is  called  "Speckled  Melly"  and  "Willow"  (Irouse,  I  have  found  in  various 
years  almost  everywhere  west  of  the  .Mississi|)pi  River,  east  of  the  Sierra 
Nevadas,  and  north  of  the  Platte  River.  In  tlie  old  days  it  used  to  be  verv 
common  all  along  the  i'latte  and  the  Loup  Rivers  in  Nebraska,  and  in  the 
country  which  lies  between  these  two  streams.  I  have  also  found  it  nearly  as 
abundant  in  the  mountains,  sometimes  even  late  in  the  autumn,  coming  ujion 
single  l)irds  or  a  consideralile  brooil,  far  up  toward  the  edg(!  of  timber  in  the 
most  narrow  wooded  raviiu's.  This  spi'cies  is  partly  migratory,  and  there  is 
the  very  greatest  diHi'erencii  in  the  habits  of  the  i)ird  in  summer  and  winter. 
As  soon  as  the  first  hard  frosts  come  in  tlii'  autumn  the  iiirds  seem  to  take  to 
the  timber,  and  itegiii  to  feed  on  the  bu<ls  of  the  willow  and  the  (piaking 
aspen.  At  this  timis  they  spend  a  large  portion  of  tlieir  time  in  the  trees,  and 
are  verj-  wild.     In  the  Shirley  Rasin,  in  western  \\'yoiiiiiig,  a  locality  where  I 


!  I 


TUE  PKAIKIE  8UAUPTAILEU  (iliOUSE. 


103 


liavo  never  seen  tiny  of  tlieso  hinl^  in  summer,  tliev  an*  iil)iiii(laiit  in  winter. 
At.  this  season  tliey  live  in  iiuakin^'  aspen  thickets  ah)n^f  the  mountains,  and 
th'Te  I  liave  seen  hunch'eds  ^)^'  them  roos'iinf>'  on  top  of  a  hij;-  harii  wiiich 
stands  just  at  ed^-i*  of  ii  <;rove  of  (piakin;^  aspen  timher.  It  was  always  easy 
in  the  morning',  just  after  suin"ise,  to  step  out  of  tin*   house,  and,  vitli 


•>•). 


diher  ritle,  shoot  oil"  the  heads  of  as  manv  of  thescf  hirds  as  were  needed  for 


eatinji'  tor  tlie  next  two  or  three  day 


dti 


1   h 


ive  onl\'   one   no 


nu 
hird 


te   on   these  birds   which  simmus   particularly  worth 
ntioniufr,  mid  of  this  I  spoke  in  my  report  to  ( !ol.  William   Ludlow,  on  the 


loissaiice  to  tint   Hlack   Hills  of  Dakota,  in   1874, 


s  noticeil  din'mji'  a  I'econi 
wliich  was  pul)lished  l»y  the  Kn;.iineer  Ihu'eaii  of  tlu!  War  Department.  The 
Shar|»-tailed  (Jrouse  has  a  cry  which  is  unlikif  that  of  any  other  Groi'so  with 
which  I  am  familiar,  althouii'h  somethin<i-  very  similar  has  l)een  oliserved  in 
the  case,  1  think,  of  one  of  the  I'tarmi}''ans.  On  the  plains  of  Dakota,  in 
1.S74,  h;i\in;''  scattered  a  i)rood  of  Sharp-tailed  (Jrou.se,  consistinj^-  of  a  mother 
and  a  dozen  well-;;rown  yiunij^',  I  sat  down  to  wait  for  them  to  f^'et  toj^'ether. 
The  mother  had  Hown  to  the  top  of  a  hill  not  far  oil",  when*  sIk*  sat  on  the 
jironnd  in  plain  sii^ht,  and  after  a  few  moments  l)ei>an  to  call  to  tlu*  younji', 
whicii  immi'diatelv  answereil  hi-r  from  the  ditl'erent  points  when*  they  had 
taken  refiii^-e.  The  call  of  the  mother  and  the  younj^'  was  a  fi'iittural,  raucous 
croak,  which  (piite  closely  resemliled  the  croiikinj;'  of  a  raven  at  a  little  di.-- 
tance.  I  plainly  saw  the  old  bird  utter  its  note,  and  sulisecpU'ntly  followed 
up  the  calls  uttered  by  more  than  one  of  the  younj''  ones,  until  I  started  them 
and  killed  one  or  two  as  they  tlew.  1  do  not  know  that  this  cry  of  the  Sharp- 
tailed  ( ironse  has  l)een  noted  b\' an\' other  ol)ser\('r."' 

.Mr.  I'lrnest  K.  Thompson  has  also  kindly  placed  some  of  his  notes  on  this 
race,  mad(*  in  soutliern  Manitoba,  at  my  dispitsal,  and  I  make  the  followinjr 
extracts  from  them:  "The  Shar|)-tailed  (Jrouse,  while  eminently  a  prairie  bird 
in  tiie  summer  time,  usually  retires  to  the  woods  and  sandhills  on  the  approach 
of  winter,  but  in  the  spring',  before  the  snow  is  <>'oni',  they  aj^-ain  perforin  a  par- 
tial migration  and  scatter  over  the  prairies,  where  alone  they  an*  to  be  found 
durinji'  the  sunmier.  They  are  very  shy  at  all  tinu  .,  but  duriufi'  the  winter 
the  comparatively  heedless  individuals  have  been  so  thoroughly  weeded  out 
Ipy  their  numerous  enemies,  that  it  re(iuires  no  slij;ht  amomit  of  stalkinjr  ti> 
<;ct  within  the  ranji'e  of  a  Hock  in  the  sprin<>time. 

"The  advent  of  the  (Intuse  on  the  still  snow-('overe(l  jdains  mifflit  prove 
premature,  but  that  they  find   a    <i'ood   friend    in   the   wild  prairie  rose  (Itosa 


lildiiild), 


which  is  a 


i)UU(buit  everywhere:   and  the  ruddy  hips,  ludike  mo.st  fruits 


do  not  fall   when  ripe,  but  continue  to  hani;-  cai  the  still'  stems  until  they  an 


season's  crop.     On  the  '  Miji'  I'lain'  st 


OIU'S 


'dislod}''ed  by  the  comini>  of  the  next 
of  anv  kind  are  unknown,  and  in  nearlv  all  i)arts  of  Manitoba  "Tavel  is  miat- 
tainable  dnrinj--  the  winter,  mi  that  the  Sharp-tails  and  other  binls,  that  n-ipiin* 
these  aids  to  di^-estion,  would  Ik*  at  a  loss,  were  it  not  that  the  friendly  rose 
also  supplies  this  need;   for  tlu*  hips,  liesides  beinj^-  sweet  and  nutritious,  contain 


^.1 


Hi 


-I 


3i 


m 


■m 


!  ;■ 


i  ' 


104 


LIFfi  I1ISTOUI128  OF  NORTH  AMUltlCAN  HIKDS. 


ii  imiubi'r  of  siiiall  iinj,mlar  lunil  sccils  wliicli  iiiiswcr  ])erti'('tly  the  piirijoso  of 
tim  {gravel. 

"To  illustrate  tin*  iiuportaiicc  of  this  shrub  in  this  r('<;'ai'(l,  I  )i]>i)('ii(l  a  table 
of  observations  on  the  eouteiits  of  erojis  and  fjizzarils  of  Clnuise  killed  iluriii;:- 
the  various  uioutlis  as  indicated ; 

./((/((/(( ('(/—Rose-liips.  browse,  anil  Esqiiisfltnu  toj)s. 

Fehruanj — Ruse-liijis  and  ln'owso. 

March — Rosc-liips  aii<l  l)i'owsc. 

April — Rose-hips  and  browse  of  birch  and  willow. 

Mitij — Rose-hips  and  sand-Howers  {Aiii-won)'  jiitfiiis). 

Jiilif — Rose-hi[)s.  yi'ass.  j,'riisslii)|)pers.  and  Procanid  ronhilis, 

Jiih/ — Ro.se-hips.  seeds  of  star-f^rass.  and  /■'.  (■(isldlis, 

j-li((/i/.s7^Ros('-liips.  grass,  strawberries,  and  J',  conliilin. 

Sejiti-iiihf-r — Rose-hips,  grass,  berries,  and  P.  costulLH. 

Orfiilii'r — Rosc-jiips.  grass,  and  various  l)prries. 

NorcniJit^r — Roso-hips.  I)ircli  and  willow  browse,  and  berries  of  arbutus. 

Dfffiiilier — Rose-iiips.  juniper  berries,  and  lu'uwse. 

"This  is  of  courso  u  uiere  list  of  staples,  as  in  reality  nothinjf  of  the  naturo 
of  <frain,  fruit,  leaves,  or  insects  comes  auiiss  to  this  nearly  onniivorous  bird,  but 
it  illustrates  tho  imp ortanco  of  the  rose-hips,  which  are  always  obtainable,  as 
they  grow  everywhere,  and  do  not  fall  when  ripe.  In  the  course  of  my  expe- 
rience I  have  examineil  sonui  hundreils  of  "iizzards  of  the  Prairie  Chicken,  and 
do  not  recollect  ever  tindin<f  one  devoid  of  the  stony  seeds  of  the  wild  rose. 

"After  the  disap])earance  of  the  snow,  and  the  coMiiuff  of  warmer  weather, 
the  tdiickens  meet  every  inoi'nin}r  at  f'ray  dawn  in  com|)anies  of  frctm  six  to 
twenty,  on  sonu>  selected  hillock  or  knoll,  and  indulfi'e  in  what  is  called  "the 
ilance.'  'I^his  perforuumce  I  have  often  watched,  and  it  presents  the  most 
anuisinji'  spectacle  I  have  yet  witnessed  in  bird  life.  At  lirst  the  birds  may 
b((  seen  standinji'  aixiut  in  ordinary  attitudes,  when  suddenly  one  of  them 
lowers  its  head,  s[)reads  out  its  wings  nearly  horizontally  and  its  tail  j)erpen- 
dicularly,  distends  its  air  sacs  and  erects  its  feathers,  tluMi  rushes  across  the 
'tloor,'  taking  the  slnu'test  of  steps,  but  stamping  its  feet  so  hard  and  rai)idly, 
that  the  sound  is  like  that  of  a  kettledrmn;  at  the  sanu'  time  it  utters  a  sort 
of  bid)l)ling  ci'ow.  which  seems  to  come  from  the  air  sacs,  beats  the  air  with 
its  wings  and  vibrates  its  tail,  so  tiuit  it  produces  a  loud,  rustling  noise,  and 
thus  contrives  at  once  to  make  as  extraordinary  a  spectacle  of  itself  as  pos- 
sible. As  .soon  as  one  ((unmences,  all  join  in,  rattling,  stamping,  drmnniing, 
crowing,  and  dancing  together  furiously;  louder  and  louder  the  noise,  faster 
and  faster  the  dance  becomes,  until  at  last  as  they  madly  whirl  about,  the 
birds  lea])  over  each  other  in  their  excitement.  After  a  brief  spell  the  energy 
of  the  dancers  begins  to  abate,  and  shortly  afterward  they  cease,  and  stand 
or  move  about  very  (piietly,  until  they  are  again  started  ))y  one  of  their  num- 
ber leading  oli'. 

"The  whole  ])erformance  reminds  onc^  so  stronglv  of  a  '(."ree  dance'  as  to 
suggest  the  possibility  of  its  being  the  j)rototype  of  the   Indian  exercise.     The 


THE  rUAlHIK  81IAKI'-TAlLi:i)  OKOUSE. 


105 


sort 

witli 

iiiiil 

])()S- 

uiii}--, 

tilStlT 

tlio 


spaco  occupiod  1)V  tlic  (Imiccrs  is  f'niiii  50  to  100  feet  iicross,  and  fis  it  is  rctiiriKMl 
to  v<'iir  iit'tcr  voai",  the  ^niss  is  usiinily  worn  otV,  and  tin*  j^nmnd  tnnr' 'jd  down 
liani  and  smooth.  Tlit'  'dancin};''  is  indidfit'd  in  at  any  tiinc^  of  tlin  morninjjf  or 
cvcuinf'' ill  May,  l)iit  it  is  usually  at  its  licifrjit  lu't'orc  sunrise,  Itscrotic  cliar- 
actcr  can  hardly  he  (|ii('stioiicd,  hut  I  can  not  (ix  its  place  or  value  in  the 
nuptial  ceremonies.  The  fact  that  I  have  several  times  noticed  the  l)irds 
join  tor  a  liriet'  'set-to'  in  the  late  tall,  merely  emphasizes  its  paralhdism  to 
the  druinininfi'  and  struttinj^'  of  the  Hulfed  ({rouse,  as  well  as  the  siiif^'inn'  of 
small  liirds. 

"The  whole  atTnir  bears  a  doise  resenihlance  to  the  mano'iivrin;;-  of  the 
European  Huff,  and  from  this  and  other  reasons  I  am  iiudined  to  suspect 
the  Sharp-tail  of  polyj^amy.  When  the  birds  are  disturbed  on  the  hill  they 
immediately  take  winy  an<l  scatter,  ntterin;>  as  they  rise  their  ordinary 
alarm  note,  a  peculiar  vibratory  'cack,  cack,  cack.'  'i'his  is  almost  always 
uttered  simnltaiUHHisly  with  the  beatinji'  of  the  wini;s,  and  so  rarely,  except 
under  these  circumstances,  that  at  first  I  supposed  it  was  caused  liy  the 
winj;s  alone,  but  sinc(^  then  I  have  heard  the  sound  both  when  the  birds 
were  sailing  and  when  they  were  on  the  {^roinid,  besides  seeinj^'  them  tly  off 
sileiith'.  riicN'  have  also  a  call,  a  sot"t,  (dear  whistle  of  three  slurred  notes, 
A',  .1,  />,  and  a  sort  of  j;runt  of  alarm,  which  is  joined  in  Ity  the  jiack  as 
they  tly  otV.  Tiieir  mode  of  tli<;ht  is  to  tlaj)  and  sail  I)y  turns  every  40  or 
oO  yards,  and  so  i'a])id  anil  stronji'  are  they  on  the  wiiij;-  that  I  have  seen 
a  chicken  save  itself  by  its  swiftness  from  the  first  swoop  of  a  l'ere<;'rine 
Kalcon,  while  another  was  seen  to  escape  i»y  flif^ht  from  a  Snowy  <  )wl. 

"The  ne.st  of  this  subspecies  is  placed  in  the  loiiji'  rank  jirass,  under  some 
tuft  that  will  aid  in  its  concealment,  and  is  usually  not  far  from  a  tract  of 
iiriish  land  or  other  cover.  It  is  little  more  than  a  slii;lit  hollow  in  the 
ground,  arched  over  by  the  f^rass.  'I'lie  eji'j^s,  usually  fourteen,  but  some- 
times fifteen  or  sixteen,  in  number,  are  very  small  for  the  sizi-  of  the  bird. 
Immediately  before  oxi)ulsion  they  are  of  a  delicate  bluish  ji'reeii;  on  ix'iii;;- 
laid  they  show  a  purplish,  jira|)e-like  bloom;  after  a  few  days  they  become 
deeii  <'hocolate  ))ro\vn,  witli  a  few  dark  s|)ots.  After  a  fortnij^'ht  has  trans- 
l)ired  the)'  are  usually  of  a  dirty  white.  This  chaiij^'e  is  partly  due  to 
l)leachiii<;-  and  also  to  the  scratchiii<i-  they  receive  from  the  mother's  bill 
and  feet. 

"Incul)ation  lasts  about  twenty-one  days.  The  younjf  when  first  hatched 
are  covered  with  i^'oldeii  yellow  down,  and  are  spotted  with  black  above. 
This  coNcrinj;'  assists  them  materially  in  hiding  when  they  scpiat  in  the 
•i'rass.  At  the  aji'e  of  six  weeks  they  are  fully  feathered,  and  at  two  months 
'  fully  <;rowii.  Altlioii;ih  still  under  <;uidaiice  of  the  mother  at  this  time,  then- 
are  usually  not  more  than  six  or  seven  yoiinji'  ones  left  out  of  the  orij;inal 
avera<;'(^  brood  of  tburteen,   which   shows  the   number  of  chicks  which  fall  a 


I 


'P.- 


■■.     ■111! 


:!-'.'ll 


as  to 
The 


prey  to  their  natural  enemies,  while   many   sets  of  eji'^s 


ilestro\ed 


by   the  tires  which    ainuially  devastate    the   prairies.     As    the   fall   advances, 


m 


■i'^j^e 


i 


106 


LIFK  IIISTURIKS  OK  NOUTII  AMIilflCAN  BIRDS. 


M 


they  {riitlicr  more  iind  mnn^  into  fldcks  and  Ix'conio  rcj^nlar  visitors  to  tiic 
stul»l)l('  Hclils,  iind   in  (onsciiiK'ncc   icj^iiliir  articles  oC  diet  witli   tlic  fanner." 

The  nesting'  liai)its  are  similar  to  tliosc*  of  the  Colundiian  Sliarp-tailed 
Gronse,  and  tiu'  avera;.;c  nninlier  of  ejij^s  al»oiit  the  same,  from  eleven  to 
foiM'teen.  'I'heir  favorite  nestin<;-  sites,  accordinjr  to  Mr.  W.  ^M.  Wolfe,  are 
usnally  alon;,"-  npland  thickets  or  the  edj;cs  of  timlter,  near  streams,  and  he 
also  states  that  occasionally  two  liro(»ds  are  raised  in  a  season,  lie  found 
one  nest  on  the  i)are  ;;ronnd  under  the  shelter  of  a  rock. 

Dr.  T.  K.  Wilcox,  assistant  surj^'eon,  ['.  S.  Army,  writes  me  from  Fort 
Ni(»l»rara,  Xehraska;  "In  the  sprinj;'  of  1HS!I  a  ne.st  of  this  sjtecies  was  found, 
and  the  hird  was  iiu'uliatinji'.  Xeatly  coiled  amonf"'  tlu'  e}i}^s  was  a  fox 
Idacksnake,  Culiiiin-  niljiiiiKs,  the  death  of  which,  perhaps,  insm'ed  a  success- 
ful residt  of  the  effort  to  rear  ofl'sprinj^.  Here  theV  nest  usually  in  the  sand- 
hills, remote  from  water.  Wild  grapes,  rose-hips,  plums,  sand-cherries,  besides 
grasses,  the  t()ps  of  |»lants,  ^grasshoppers,  and  other  insects  afford  them  food." 

The  nesting'  season  \'aries  according  to  latitude.  In  the  inoi'e  southern 
portions  of  its  range  it  begins  in  April,  usnally  ahout  the  hitter  i  alf  of  this 
mouth,  and  it  is  pi-otracteil  to  tlui  middle  of  June  occasionally,  in  the  more 
northern  localities. 

Iiu'uliation  lasts  idtout  three  weeks,  and  usually  hut  a  single  hrood  is 
raised.  The  eggs,  in  shape  ami  color,  are  exact  coiuiterparts  of  those  of  the 
Coliuuhian  ."^harp-tailed  (irouse.  The\'  can  not  lie  distinguished  from  each 
other  with  certainty.  The  average  measurement  of  thii'ty-eight  specimens 
in  the  H.  S.  National  .Museum  collection  is  4'J..')  liy  li\.')  millimetres.  The 
largest  ("^'^  measures  4(>  l>y  IJ2.."),  the  smallest  40  hy  ,'i(l.r»  millinu'tres. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  KKU')  (I'l.  li,  Fig.  it),  selected  from  an  incomplete 
set  of  three  i"^<x^,  was  taken  liy  Dr.  Klliott  Coiu-s,  near  I'emhiua,  North 
Dakota,  dune  (!,  IsT.'J;  No.  •_'-_>s"2!l  (IM.  3,  Fig.  10).  from  a  partial  set  of 
nine  eggs,  was  c((Ilected  l)y  Mr.  Krne.-<t  K.  Thompson,  in  .May,  l.SS(;,  uear 
Carherr\-,  Jlanitoiia. 


38.     Centrocercus  urophasianus  (UoxAi-Airn;). 


i;,,i 


If:  I 

m 

m 

m 

i.'  /■■ 


SACiK    CKorsK. 

TilriKt  umiiliasitniiix  Box  \pai!TK.  Z(m"i1( laical  Jnurnal.  ill,  L'^iT.  'i\^. 
Ct  iilriift  rcKN  iirdiihiiKiiiiiiis  Swainson,  K'luina  Bdre^ili  AmericiiiiM,  11,  l.'^.'!l,  407,  PI.  SS. 

{B  Wi.  ('  :is-.>.  H  4:11.  C"  r,no.  U  '.m.) 

(iEO(iKAPnicAi.  HAXCJK:  Sa^chiiisli-cdvci'cd  plains  of  the  iiileridr,  jjrincipally 
witliiii  the  Uiiil(Ml  Staffs  from  Xortli  Dakota,  and  soutlici'n  Assinilidia  to  W.asliiiiti;- 
tdM,  ;tiul  casually!?)  to  sdutlicrn  Hritisli  ('dliniil)ia  ;  simtli  to  iiortlicra  New  IVIcxico. 
LJtali.  and  Nevada;  west  to  Oregon  and  Calit'oinia ;  east  td  Cdldrado,  Nebraska,  Sdutli 
and  Nortli  Dakota. 

The  home  of  the  Sage  Grouse  is  fotniil  on  the  dry  sagebrush-covered 
plains  anil  table  lands  of  the  westt-rn  parts  of  the  Fiiited  States.  Its  breed- 
ing range   extends    northward  to    our    lioundary,  latituile    4!>°,  from  western 


TUK  HAOIC  (iltOl'Si;. 


107 


urth 


lU'iir 


|)aiiy 

tiint,'- 

xicii. 

Smitli 

.crcil 
irccil- 

■SttTU 


North  Piikota,  tlironjjh  MontiuiM,  MmIio,  hikI  \Viisliiii^''t(iii,  to  tlit>  eastern  slopes 
ot"  tlm  Caseade  Uaii^^-e,  tlieiice  sitiitli  tliroii;;li  that  |)nrtioii  i>t'  (>n';;<>ii  east  of 
tlie  (Jasea(K's,  northeastern  ( 'aht'ornia  east  ol'  tlie  Sierra  N'evmla,  throii;;h 
Nevaihi,  lUah,  Coh>ra<h»,  and  nui-tliwestern  New  Mtfxicn;  tlience  eastwaid 
aj;ain  tln'oiijih  western  Xeliraska,  Wyoming',  and  westei'n  Sunth  Dakota. 
Acrordini,''  to  I'rot'.  .1.  Ma<'oini,  it  is  not  rare  on  sitnie  ot"  tlie  tributaries  of 
the  U|)l»er  Miss(an'i  in  soiitliei-n  Assinil)oia,  altout  .'{()  niih-s  north  of  the 
l)oundary. 

'I'lie  Saji'e  (Jronse,  next  to  the  Wild  Turkey,  is  tlie  lar;;('st  of  the  f^aine 
l)irds  found  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  full-^'rown  males  attain- 
iii',''  not  infret|uently  a  weij^iit  of  H  pounds.  'I'lu^  female  is  unu'h  smaller, 
rarel\-  weiji'liinix  more  than  o  pounds.  This  s])ecies  usually  is  a  I'esident 
throujihout  the  year  wherever  found,  hut  in  portions  of  its  ran^Hf  is  partly 
mifi'ratory.  'I'his  has  heen  ([Uestioned  hy  some  writers,  liut  I  have  |)ositi\e 
proof  that  in  the  upper  Sylvies  N'all'y,  in  the  IJlue  Moinitains  of  ( )re<^on, 
•.vhere  they  Itreed  very  aliundantly  at  an  altitude  of  fi'om  (!,(K)((  to  (!,r)(M) 
feet,  every  Itird  leaves  the  rej^ion  at  the  approiu-h  of  winter,  mi^ratinj^  to 
tlie  lower  Ilariiey  N'alley,  and  remainin;i-  there  until  tlit!  return  of  spring-. 
The  reason  for  this  ini;ii-ation  is  easily  explained.  Duriu;'-  the  winter  these 
iiirds  feed  idmost  entirely  on  the  leaves  of  the  saj^e  (^Ark'iiiisi((^,  which 
usually  j^rows  to  the  height  of  2  or  ■'{  feet  in  some  of  tlio  richer  valley 
lauds.  In  the  upper  Sylvies  Valley  the  snow  {^'enerally  covers  these  saji'e 
hushes  entirely,  even  during-  a  comparatively  mild  winter,  hence  their  principal 
food  supply  is  cut  otV,  and  the  Itirds  ai-e  necessarily  compelled  to  uiijirate  in 
order  to  find  somethiu}''  to  eat.  Duriu;--  tlu;  ^^reater  portion  of  the  year  .heii' 
food  is  uuich  more  varied  than  is  u-enerally  supposed,  l)ut  the  leaxcs  of  the 
sai^e  are  always  more  or  less  used  jit  all  seasons.  Froui  personal  oliserva- 
ti(»n  I  know  that  the  seed  to|)s  of  various  j>'rasses  and  lej^-uminous  ])lants,  as 
well  as  berries  of  ditferent  kinds,  o'rasshoppers,  and  crickets  (Aiiahns  .siiiij)/i:i), 
are  consuuied  to  ii  consideralil(!  extent  during'  the  sununer  months. 

Cai)t.  William  L.  Carpenter,  Ninth  Infantry,  V.  S.  Army,  writes  nie  on  this 
subject  a.s  follows:  "The  Smu'c  (Jrousc  docs  not  feed  on  the  Aiiniiisid  as  exclu- 
sively as  reported,  only  resortinji'  to  this  diet,  which  renders  it  so  olijectionaltlc 
for  the  tahh',  in  the  season  when  nothinj;-  elstf  is  ohtaiualtle.  In  sunnuer,  its 
principal  fooil  (in  Wyouiin^'  and  Colorado)  is  the  leaves,  blossoms,  and  ])ods 
of  the  dirt'erent  species  of  plants  belon^in^-  to  the  ji'eiuis  Asfnii/iilits,  jiiid 
]'iii(i,  commonly  I'idled  wild  ])ease,  which  are  fdways  eaji'erly  souj^'ht  for 
and  consumed  in  ^reat  (piantities.  At  this  .season  dissection  has  shown  me 
also  <>Tassliop])ers,  <'rickets,   and  a   few  of  tlm  smaller  beetles." 

-Mr.  Robert  S.  Williams,  (ireat  Falls,  Montana,  states:  "1  think  these  Itirds 
arc  seldom  sei-n  far  from  Artrmis'id  tracts;  but  once  I  scared  up  a  tlock  of  six 
or  eiji'ht  in  the  middle  of  a  mountain  meadow,  amon<>'  tall  jirass.  I  obtaiia-d 
one  of  the  birds,  and  its  crop  was  filled  with  the  blos.soms  of  a  species  of 
tioldcu-rod  (Siiliil(if/ii  tiniilu,')." 


^ ,  .-'I 


■m 


. ..    ;'..-.■  ','1  [^ 


it  .■=•.!. 
ST    Ay- 


108 


\AVK  IIIHTOIMKH  OK  NOKTII  AMKKKlAN  lilliDH. 


Mr.  (icdrffc  II.  Wyiiiim  iimkc."*  flic  fdllowiii;;  Htiitciiicnt  in  Forest  iind 
Strciiin,  Aii;^ii.Hf  •_'!•,  iMHit:  "'I'lic  Saj{T  Cock  will  cut  llic  Iciim-s  tVoni  m'^t-- 
luMisli  when  if  cannot  {^ct  Itcnics  or  jrniin,  liiif  it  will  ;;d  t'artlicr  tor  a  niorii- 
\\i'^  t'ccil  from  a  wlicaf  liclil  flian  any  l)ii'il  I  know,  except  flic  Wild  (ioohc. 
I  liavt!  killed  Saj;c  Fowl  wifli  .stomach.-*  iilled  with  ripe  wheat  picked  up  the 
sanu*  inornin;;',  in  places  whei'c  none  was  to  lie  had  nearer  than  H  miles,  and 
in  fact  with  no  cidtivafion  of  any  kind  neafer  in  any  ilirection.  'i'hey  Hy 
loii;.;-  distances  in  search  of  fond,  hnt  return  to  roost  in  the  .same  place  at 
nijfht,  fi'cnerally  (ai  some  steep  iiillside,  free  from  shrnlts  or  hi;^h  ;;rass." 


I' 


•om 


the  foreyoin"'  statements  it  will  1>e  seen  that  the  food  of  the  Saj^e 


(JriHise,  dm'in^i'  the  sunnner  months  at  least,  is  (piite  varied.  The  fact  that  the 
stomachs  of  these  hirds  are  soft,  and  unlike,  in  this  respect,  that  of  all  ^^allina- 
ceons  hirds,  is  well  known.  Xo  doidtt  on  this  accoiuit  it  feeds  mostly  on 
leaves  and  the  tender  tops  of  various  plants,  as  well  as  insects;  still  there  is 
no  reason  to  douht  that  where  j^fain  is  ohtainaltlc,  which  is  not  often  the  case 
where  these  iiirds  are  found,  it  v 


dso  resia-f  fo  it  as  an  article  of  food. 


It  is  a  hardy  hird,  takin;i-  kindly  to  the  hi;;her  altitudes  in  the  momitain 
pai'ks,  as  well  as  to  the  hottest  and  most  liarreii  jiortioiis  of  the  alkali-covered 
\alleys,  as  lonj;'  a>  thev  support  a  scanty  j^'rowth  of  Ait(iu'i!<iii,  which  seems  t<i 


a  positixc  necessity  to  the  existenc(«  of  this  (Srouse. 


Mr.  A.  C.  I 

I'h 


OW( 


11,  <.f  Fort  Mid 
iti 


we 


u'c  mncli  more  numerous  with  us  some  \-ears  tnaii  in  otliers.  an 


( 'alifornia,  writes  mc 
th 


that 


'Sa-ic 


IS 


id  I   iielicve  th 

liird  is  a  victim  of  a  ;.iriil>  which  I  have  several  times  foinal  in  the  walls  of  the 
altdomiiial  cavity.  These  jirulis  are  about  1\  inches  loiij>-,  flat,  with  a  head 
much  hniader  than  its  body;  they  look  like  the  lar^'c  white  worms  whirli  are 
often  found  cuttinji'  shallow  paths  under  the  hark  of  decayiiiji-  loj^s." 


Th 


le  matin;;'  season  lic^'ius  early  in  Marcli,  and  sometmies  cxcii  in  the  lat- 
ter part  of  Fehriiary,  in  fact  loii^  before  the  snow  has  disa|)peare(|.  While 
not  at  any  time  what  mi^lit  be  calle(|  a  graceful  bird  when  on  the  oroiiud,  the 
Sa^'c*  (_'ock,  during'  this  season,  when  actively  eii;^a;^e(l  in  his  courtship,  is 
uiKiuestioiiably  the  most  comical-looking  bir«l  I  hav<'  ever  seen,  and  it  W(Mild 
be  hard  to  say  what  he  most  resembles. 

Directly  west,  and  about  half  a  mile  from  Camp  Harney,  Ore^-on,  on  a 
I'ocky  table  land,  sparsely  covered  with  stunted  patches  of  saye,  a  number 
of  these  birds  wintered  n'^ularly,  and  early  one  morniii;;'  in  the  first  week  of 
March,  1S77,  I  had  the  loii;i-wished-for  opptu'tunity  to  ob.serve  the  actitais  of  a 
i^iii^le  cock  while  payiu;;'  court  to  several  females  near  him;  and  I  presuiue  he 
did  his  very  best.     Mis  lar^fc,  ])ale  yellow  air  sacs  were  fully  inflated,  and  not 


<ai 


ly  ex])aiided  forward,  but  apparently  upward  as  well,  rising-  at   least  an  inch 


ibove  his  head,  which,  coiisi'(|Ueiitly,  was  scarcely   notic(^able,  ^•iviii;4'  the  bird 
exceedingly  peculiar    appearance.      lie    looked    decidedly    top-hea\y   and 


an 


rearlv  to  topple  over  at  the  .sli^-htest  ])ro\-ocatioii.  The  U'W  loll^;•,  spiny  feath- 
ers alou^'  the  ed^cs  of  the  air  sacs  stood  stood  strai;iht  lait,  and  tlu^  ^'raAisli 
white  of  the  ii[)per  parts  showed  in  strcai^'  contrast  w  ith  the  black  of  the  breast. 


m 


TiiK  8A(JH  miouaio. 


lOi) 


lliK  tiiil  wart  Hpn-iul  out  fnn-Iikc,  at  riylit  uiif^Um  from  tlic  ImhIv,  and  waK  iiiovtMl 
t'niin  siilc  to  Hide  with  a  slow  (jiiivcrin^r  inovt'iiiciit.  'I'lir  wiiifi's  were  trailiiij;'  on 
till'  ;;riiiiii(l.  While  in  thin  ponition  lie  niovcii  around  with  Hlimt,  stately,  and 
lii'sitatiiiff  stepH,  slowly  auti  jiiiij^crly,  evidently  Infill)'  '*"'♦''*'"'''   ^vith  his  per- 


turrnance,  utterin}^',  at  tint  sana 


sn 


0  time,  low,  yriuitiny,  unttuial  sounds,  somewhat 

t  up 


iiilar  to  the  purrin;;'  of  a  eat  when  pleased,  oidy  louder.     'I'hi 


s  was  keii 


ten  minutes.     After  havin;i'  regained  his  usual  attitude  it  was  hard  tt» 


tor  SOUK* 

helievo  that  this  was  the  saua-  liird  I  had  soeii  liut  a  few  minutew  before, 


Durinjf  the   winter  the    liinls    park,    an 


d    I    li 


a\t'    iiaire 


til 


an  onre   seen 


from  fifty  to  a  hundred  together,  ily  the  10th  of  March  they  are  already 
pnttv  well  scatterufl,  and  namy  are  paired  hy  this  time.  In  tho  vieiiiity  of 
Camp  Harney  niditleation  usually  he^^ins  tdxait  the  middle  of  April.     1  have 


found  a  full   set  of  nine  slightly  inculiatecl   e^i'^i's  of  this  species  on  I 


IH77, 


am 


I  tl 


u!  lirst  e""'  mi 


1st   I 


aive   heen 


hel 


ore 


.M 


(\pril  7, 


arch 


'resji  speci- 


na'us  wore  also  taken   liv  uu^  as 


lat(^ 


as 


.1 


UH- 


pro  Oil 


l.h 


secom 


I    h 


vini 


the  first  havini''  i»een  dcstro\cd.      Rut  mie  Itrood   is  raised  in  a  season. 


'Ill 


e  nest  is  always  | 


ilaced 


on  the  uroun 


in  a  sim 


ht 


lepressioii,  usually 


\\\ 


under  the    shelter  of 


a    sM 


all    saj;('    hush.      1    iiave    founil    several,    however. 


some  little  distance  frcan  sa;^^  hrush  flats,  iilonj;si(le  and  sheltered  liy  a  hunch 
of  tall  rye  ^rass  (Kl/iiiiiis  loiiiliiisatiis/),  near  the  Itorders  of  small  <'reeks. 
'i'lie  nest  is  usually  very  poorly  lined,  and  in  fact  the  i'<x<^x  fre(piently  lay 
oil  the  liare  ^iTouiid  without  any  lininji'  whatever,  and  are  often  found  in 
i|iiite    exposed  situations.      I   toiind   such  a  one  on   .May    11,  1H7"».      My  notes 


reail  as 


foil. 


I  stuuiltled  accideiitalh'  on  this  nest.      It 


wa 


s  placed  witlim 


a  \ard  of  a  much-used  Indian  trail,  in  a  xery  exposed  position,  so  much  so 
tiiat  I  .saw  the  e-ij^s  while  still  ;'»  yards  off.  There  really  was  no  nest,  siin])ly 
a  mere  depression  scratched  out  Ity  the  hird  on  the  south  sifle  of  a  wry 
small  sa^e  hush,  which  afforded  no  concealment  or  protection  from  ■•ain  \vliat- 


■\'er.     'Pile   hush   itself  was   not   over  a   foot  and  a  half  hijih.  "ro 


win;;-  on  a 


rocky  plateau  alioiit  iJ  miles  east  of  Camp  Harney  A  few  feathers  were 
scattered  aiiuai;;'  the  e^'^j's  which  laid  (ai  tlii'  hare  j;round,  and  wero  separated 
fivaii   each  othi-r  l>y   hits   of  jirass  and   dry  leaves  of  the   sa;ie.     Ouo  of  the 


eiiU's  was 


nearlv  covered  with  dirt  and  almost  Imrieil  (uit  of  sinlit.     'PI 


e   set 


con 


taiiied  eij^lit  e^'fj^s,  anil   these  were  nearly  hatched.     'Pliey  were  cold   when 


found,  anil  the  nest  had  evidently  heen  ahandoiied  for  soiiu^  liays." 

As  a  rul(^  the  Saj^e   Men  is  a  very  closi'  sitter,  and  is  loath  to  leav(?  her 


nest   at  any  time, 
tl 


lave  almost   stepped   on   them 


hefore  they  would  ipiit 


ii'ir  I'li'trs. 


Cai)t.  William  L.  Carpenter,  V.  S.  Army,  writi 


s  me:  "I  found  a  nest  at 
Fort  Ikidfi'er,  Wyomiiii;-,  where  this  species  is  nimierous,  June  1,  with  nine 
fresh  ejrji'.'*.     I  was  standiuif  alongside  a  sajic  hush  watchiiifi'  butterflies;  seV' 

leti 


eral    times   lookin}^   down    carelessly   without    seeinj;    anything;'    uniisal,    wl 
ppeniu;f  ajrain  to  jilance  at  the  foot  of  the  hii.sh,  in  the  very  place  hef 


lia 
obi 


servei 


I,  1 


saw  thu  winking 


)t  an 


L'}' 


eve. 


Look 


111"-  more 


intently 


a  ji-rj 


oro 


Mf 


A-m 


;J   i' 


S:f 


w 


!  i 


110 


LIFE  lllSTOltlES  OF  XOllTU  AMElilUAX  JUltDS. 


Hi 


Ij 


niaxs  was  (lisccriicil  lilciidiii;!'  pcrt'cH-tly  witli  tlio  color  of  tlu'  l)usli,  wliicli 
oiitliiu'd  itsflt'  into  tlic  t'onii  of  a  Sa^c  Hon  not  '2  feet  from  my  foot.  She 
certainly  would  liav(!  been  overlooked  had  not  the  movement  of  her  eyelids 
attracted  my  attention.  I  .stood  there  fully  live  miinites  adinirin<;  the  lieauti- 
ful  hird,  which  could  have  been  caujilit  in  my  huttertly  lu't,  then  walkt'd 
hack  and  forth,  and  Hually  passed  around  the  iiush  to  observe  it  from 
behind.  Not  until  then  did  it  l)ecome  fri;;-htened  and  tly  away  with  a  loud 
cacklinji'.  The  nest  was  a  depression  at  the  foot  of  a  saj^e  bush,  lined  with 
dead  jii'ass  and  saji'e  leaves.  The  spot  was  marked  and  visited  several  tinu-s, 
always  passin}^'  within  a  few  feet  without  alarmiu};'  the  bird." 

Iiu'ubation,  I  think,  lasts  al)out  twenty-two  day.s.  'I'he  males  take  no 
part  whatever  in  this  duty,  and  keep  to  themselves  till  the  younj^  are  <;Town. 
Many  attain  their  full  y'n>wth  l)y  the  l.st  of  .Vu^i'ust.  Vounji'  Saj^e  Fowls  are 
excellently  tiavored,  sajjerior  in  my  opinion  to  either  the  Sooty  Grou.se  or  the 
("oluml)ian  iSharp-tailed  (Irouse,  always  provided  that  they  ar<'  drawn  at 
once  after  beinj"'  shot.  The  female  is  devoted  to  her  youn<;',  and  will  protect 
them  at  the  risk  of  her  life.  They  are  very  export  at  hidinj;-  themselves,  in 
the  manner  of  youn<>'  Huffed  Gnmse. 

.Mr.  William  (J.  Smith  writes  nu'  as  follows:  "Whih'  <'ollectin^  in  Carbon 
Countv,  Wyomiuj;',  1  caught  six  younn'  Sajio  Cliickens,  probably  about  four 
days  old,  on  .Tune  10,  The  female  Hew  at  my  le<is,  and  followed  me  2(>(t 
yards  to  where  my  wa<>on  was  standin^i',  constantly  makin<f  hostile  demon- 
.stratious,  while  the  younjj'  kept  callin<>'." 

Their  ordinary  alarm  note,  uttered  usually  oidy  when  about  to  take  win;i', 
is  a  sort  of  cackle  "kiik  kiik."  Fre(|uently,  when  they  believe  that  they  have 
not  l)cen  oliserved  or  noticed,  they  will  (piietly  sneak  away,  crouchiuji-  low 
and  runninji'  fairly  fast.  Their  tliiiht,  after  they  ai'e  once  startt-d,  is  (piick  and 
often  (piite  protractoil,  sailinji'  Ions.''  distances  without  any  mo\emeut  of  the 
wiufi's,  in  the  manner  of  tlu*  Siiar])-tailed  (Jrouse. 

i'hese  birds  always  I'oost  on  the  <iround,  and  usually  in  the  same  ])lace, 
as  can  be  seen  from  the  amount  of  droppiufi's  nu-t  with  in  certain  favorite 
localities.  On  only  a  single  occasion  have  1  seen  three  of  these  iiirds  sittiuji' 
on  a  horizontal  lindi  of  a  junipi-r,  alxait  2  feet  trom  the  <rround,  which  was 
then  covere(l  with  about  a  toot  of  snow. 

Mr.  (Jeorjic  WiM  (irimidl  writes  me  about  the  hal)its  of  these  i)irds  as 
follows:  "On  a  very  few  occasions  1  have  sei-n  the  Sajio  (irouse  standin;;'  on 
the  branches  of  a  sajic  bush,  sometimes  2  or  8  feet  from  the  "i'round,  but,  1 
imaji'ine  that  this  is  (piite  an  unusual  position  for  the  bird.  This  species,  com- 
monh',  I  think,  pies  to  watei-  twii'c  a  day,  flyin;;'  down  to  the  sprinii's  and 
creek  l)ottoms  to  drink  in  the  excniu^'.  then  fecMliuji'  away  a  short  distance, 
but  roostiiifi'  near  at  hand.  In  tlie  mornini,i'  they  drink  aji'ain,  and  spend  the 
middle  of  the  day  on  the  uplam!.  The  younj^  l)irds,  when  feeding-  toj^-ether, 
constanth'  call  to  one  another  with  a  low  pee])iu<i'  cry,  wiiicli  is  audiitle  fmly 
for  a  short  distance.  This  habit  1  have  noticed  in  se\-eral  other  species  of  our 
Grouse,  notably  in  the  Dusky  (Jrou.se  ami  the  Sharp-tail. 


'■■-» 


'I 


n 


THE  SAOE  GUOU8K. 


Ill 


lliU'l', 

ivoriti' 

1  WHS 

(Is   ilS 
lo-  on 

l)Ut    I 

COIll- 

S     illlll 

taiH'c, 
1(1  tlic 
ictlicr, 
Hilly 
di'  our 


"  In  westorn  Wyomiii<j  tlio  Sajjo  Grouse  parks  in  Si'iitcnibor  and  October. 
Ill  Octolicr.  ISHIi,  wlitMi  Ciunpcd  just  liclow  a  liifrli  IdiilV  on  the  border  of 
Mates  Hole,  in  Wyoniini'i',  I  saw  ;j^reat  numlicrs  ot"  these  birds,  just  after  sun- 
rise, tlyin<^  over  my  eainp  to  the  little  spriii<i'  which  oo/.ed  out  of  the  blulf 
•JOit  vards  away.  Lookinij^  iij)  from  the  tent  at  the  I'd^j-e  of  the  blutf  above 
us,  we  could  see  iirojectin^'  over  it  the  heads  of  hundreds  of  the  birds,  and, 
as  those  staudiiif^  there  took  flight,  others  stepped  forward  to  occupy  their 
places.  The  iniinber  of  Grouse  which  tiew  o\-er  the  camj)  reminded  iii(»  of 
the  oldtimi'  Hijihts  of  Passeni^cr  l'ij;-eoiis  that  I  used  to  see  when  1  was  a 
boy.  Hefore  loiifj:  the  narrow  valh-y  where  the  water  was,  was  a  mov- 
iii^j  mass  of  }j^ray.  I  have  no  means  whatever  of  estimating-  the  numliei-  of 
birds  which   I   saw,  liut  there  must  have  been  thousands  of  them." 

Accordiiif^  to  my  own  observations,  confirmed  by  that  of  .si'veral  other 
observers  in  widely  different  localities,  the  number  of  e^^j^.s  laid  by  this 
species  usually  varies  from  seven  to  nine,  and  I  consider  eij^lit  a  fair  aver- 
afi'e  number.  In  sixteen  nests  examined  liy  iiu,  but  one  contained  ten  eii^j^s, 
three  contained  nine  each,  six  coiitaiiie(l  ei<>-ht  ejiji's,  four  liut  seven  each, 
and  two  less,  umpiestionably  incomplete  sets.  Mr.  W.  S.  K(mj'is,  of  Wyo- 
miuji',  j^ives  the  number  as  from  ten  to  fourteen.  Mr.  W.  M.  Wolfe,  writes 
me  that  tlu^  avei'aj;-e  number  is  iifteeii,  and  that  he  has  found  seventeen  e;i';;s 
ill  a  nest  of  this  species.  1  have  no  n-asoii  to  doubt  the  correctness  of  these 
statements.  It  only  shows  that  no  lixed  rule  can  be  laid  down  in  such 
matters,  and  what  will  be  Ibiiiid  a   usual  set  in  one  .section,  or  in  one  season 


even,  will  not  ho 


Id 


th 


Ti 


le   (•(■■ys   (. 


f  th 


oil  111  anotlier 


fr( 


"lajic    drouse    vary  in    shape    from    ovate    to    elhptical 
)vate  and  eloni^ate  (»vate.     The  coloring;'  matter  is   all  superficial,  and  easily 


WIlKM 


1  off  on  a  freshlv  laid  (•"•y,  leaviii";  the  slu 


i'll 


[ireeiiisli   w 


the   siiecimeiis    and 


|ial( 


lea  "•reen    in    otliers. 


T 


le    "•roiiiK 


hite 
I    col 


in  som(>  ot 


or   varies 


from  an  olive  buff  with  a   greenish  tinye,  in  a  few 


h  b 


specimens,  to   ccr 


U     I 


Iral) 


reeinsli  Drow 


nil 


1  sharply  (h 


rii.     Tlie\"  are  more  or  less  heavily  spotted  with  well  rounded 


fined 


iiots 


s  ot  chocola 


te  1 


irowii,  raiijiiiif;'  in  size  from  a 


X 


o.   :; 


shot  to  that  of  mustard    seed.     The    mark 


in"s   varv  consideralily  in  amount 


some  eii'si's 


Tl 


beiiiff  profusely  spotted,   while  others  arc  Imt  faintly  so. 


le  averaj'(^    measiireiiiei 


It    ot 


one 


hundred 


iiKl    nine    sitecmieiis  in 


Tl 


th 


V.  S.  National   Museum  collection  is  ,"),")  by  .'Js  millimetn 

of  the  series  iiH'asures  ,")!(. o   by  JJll.."),   the   smallest  o'J   by   ;{(!   millinu'tres. 


le  lar^'est  e;;;. 


The   t 


111 


tl 


ype  specimi'iis  selected  to  siiow  the  diflereiices  in  size 


iff( 


as  we 


III 


le  li'rouiid  color  and  markin;is,   were  obtaineil  as  follows:   No.  IT.'JS,")  (IM. 
V\<^.  11),  selected  from  a  set  of  nini'  ej^'fi's,  was  collected  by  Mr.  F.  A.  Ilir.st, 
■ar    Fort    Hrid<rer,   Wyomiiifi',    May   10,    1S77;    No.  21()!»r)  (IM.  3,   Fifj.    12), 


Irom  a 


set   of  eiji'ht    c: 


was    taken  near  (Jaiiii 


n 


iriiev. 


Ore- 


oil, 


May 


2s. 


is7<!;  and  No.  21()IMi,  (IM.  3,  Fij,'.  i;5),  from  an  incomplete  .set  of  five  e^^fi's, 
was  taken  near  Malheur  i.,ake,  Oreyou,  ou  April  i,  1877.  The  last  two  are 
from  the   liendire  collection. 


'm 


:t<t 


i%\ 


m 


IH 


a  I 


mffi: 


112  lilFK  IllSTOHlK.S  OF  XOKTU  AMlilUCAN  lURUS. 

Family  l»IIASIANID.E.     Piikaj^axts,  ktc. 
39.     Meleagris  gallopavo  LiNNitrs. 

WIM)    Tl'KKKY. 

Meleagris  qnllopnvn  LiNN.Krs,  Systoma  Natiiru".  imI.  li),  i.  i;r)S.  ISfi. 
(B  ir,7.  C  ariid.  R  4;(),(.  c  r,rA,  V  -mo.) 

Qeooraphioal  Raxok:  KastiTii  Uiiiti-d  States;  iiDPtli  to  Soutlu'i'u  Cauaila;  siuitli 
to  Florida  and  iniddli'  Ti'xas;  west  to  tlio  t'dj^i>  of  ilii>  ( Jrcat  Plains. 

Tilt'  biTcdini''  raii^o  of  the  Wild  'rurkcy.  tlio  laificst  and  liiit'st  of"  our 
Hiiiiu'  birds,  is  yt^arly  l)('comiu<>'  luori'  and  inofc  restricted,  and  at  tlie  preseiil 
rate  ot"  decrease  its  total  extinction  east  of  the  Mississippi  and  north  of  tlm 
Ohio  River  is  only  a  question  of  a  tew  years.  The  nortiiern  ranjye  of  this 
sjiecies  may  he  defined  as  follows:  It  is  still  to  he  foinid  in  smaU  numbers  in 
the  thinly  populated  and  wooded  ])ortions  of  I'eini.sylvania,  westward  in  similar 
localities  to  Ohio,  soutiierii  Michi<;'an,  southern  Wisconsin,  and  possibly  south- 
ern Miimesota,  as  well  as  in  some  portions  of  Iowa,  and  a  few  probably  remain 
ill  southern  and  western  Ontario,  Canada;  south  throiij;h  .Missom-i  and  Kansas, 
where  tiiey  are  nearly  exterminated,  thence  through  the  Indian  'i'erritory,  east- 
ern and  ceiUral  'l\'.\as,  where  they  are  still  al)undant,  tiieiici'  east  throM<ih  all 
the  (iidf  Suites  to  Florida  and  north  to  the  first-named  State.  In  the  .south- 
western po,rtions  of  Indiana  and  Illinois  the  Wild  'I'm-key  is  not  uncommon 
iilon;;'  the  extensi\c  ri\cr  Ixittoms,  and  tiiron^hoiU  iii'arly  all  the  Southern 
."States,  includinji'  Maryland,  it  is  still  moderately  common  in  siiitaitle  localities, 
especiallv  in  the  moimtainous  districts.  It  was  not  micommon  in  southern 
South  Uakota  and  Nebraska  within  the  last  ten  years,  but  these  birds  are  110 
long'er  fomid  there.  At  the  present  time  it  is  most  common  in  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory iind  tlu!  thiidy-settled  portions  of  eastern  and  central  Texas  and  Florida. 

The  Wild  Turkey  is  a  resident  wherever  foimd.  Numerous  records  attest 
the  al)undaiu'e  of  tliis  magnificent  j^ame  bird  throuiihout  the  southern  New 
Kn^i'land  States  in  former  years,  and  i'\ideiices  of  its  existence  have  been  found 
in  southern  .Maine. 

Tile  Wild  Turki-y  is  essentially  a  woodland  liird,  and  inhabits  the  damp 
ami  ofh'ii  swampy  bottom  laiuls  aloii}>-  the  borders  of  the  larjifi'  streams,  as  well 
as  till-  drier  moimtainous  districts  fouml  within  its  raiij^c,  spending-  the  f;reater 
part  of  the  dav  on  the  lirouiid  in  search  of  food,  and  roostiii".;'  bv  ni<iht  in  the 
tallest  trees  to  l)e  found.  From  constant  pi-rsecution  in  the  more  settled  jmr- 
tions  of  its  rau^'e,  it  has  iieconie  liy  far  the  most  ciinnin;;-,  suspicious,  and  war\' 
of  all  our  ;:ame  iiirds.  while  in  sections  of  the  Inilian  Territory  and  Texas, 
where  it  has  till  recently  been  l)Ut  little  molested,  it  is  still  by  no  means  a  shv 
bird. 

Oa])t.  William  T..  Carpenter,  Ninth  Infantry,  U.  S.  Army,  writes  me  as 
follows:   "March,  ISHO,  found  me  encamped  on  the  Niobrara   Uiver,  Nel)raska, 


TllK  WILD  TUHKKY. 


113 


iit  llio  mouth  of  Miimcciiiliisii  ("reck,  tlic  jKUaiuc  <iiiar(l  to  cstaltlisli  tliu  new 


post  of  Fort  N'iol)riira. 


'I'l 


lis  was  tlicii  a    wi 


1(1,   iiiiiiilial)itc(l  foiiiitry,  mvorcd 
iirkcys  were  (|iiitc  imiiu'roiis,  and 


witli  oak  timluT  ami  full  (»f  larj>-('  j;aiiit'. 
several  were  killed  near  eaiiip.  It  is  Mcucrally  conceded  that  tliis  is  tiie  most 
wary  of  all  ^fame  hinls,  yet  an  incident  which  occurred  in  this  camp  would 
seem  to  jirove  tiiat  the  all-controlling'  power  of  animal  appetite  was  siiHicient 
to  overcome  natural  caution. 

"When  the  camj)  was  first  established,  some  corn  was  scattered  at  one 
end,  in  the  hrush.  .My  tent  was  pitched  ahoiit  .!(»  yards  from  this  spot,  and  it 
was  reported  that  every  morninj>-  and  eveniiif;-  a  Turkey  came  here  to  feed.  It 
was  certainly  the  lirst  ^^rain  the  hird  had  seen,  and  the  new  food  proved  an 
irresistiltle  attrat'tion.     .Inst  before  sundown,  while  1  was  sittiii"'  in  the  tent,  it 


aiiie  from  the  brush  and  be"an  feediu"'  in  plain  si<>lit  of  several  iiersons,  ami( 


dst 


1,  wi 


11  the  noise  of  a  lar^^c  camp.     1   watched  it  lor  some  time,  and  tliei 
aviii"-  the  tent,  'collected'  it,  not,  howevi-r  this  time,  for  the  'Smithsonia 


thont 


n    a.s 


lie  mess  clamored  loin 


II V  f 


or  roast  tnrkev  without  arsenic. 


Dr.  T.  K.  \Vil('ox,  11^.  S.  Army,  who  is  now  stationed  at  Ktirt  Niobrara, 
Nebraska,  informs  me  that  he  iiiids  aimndant  and  rcdiable  testimony  that  the 
Wild  Turkey  was  found  there  a  few  yeai's  ;\<xo  and  that  this  point  marked  the 


most  western  limit  ot  its  ranu'e, 


Ih-.   Willi; 


un 


l(al 


N 

.f  I't 


one  occur  tliere  now 


th 


ica. 


N 


ew 


York 


writes  me 


•  Fift 


i'o  I   found  the  Wild   Turkey  aimndant   in  "lost  ])arts  of    Fl 


oriil 


een   vears 


nor 


th   of 

Lake  ( )keecho! lee,  with  ])erliaps  the  exception  of  the  Indian   liiver  rejiion,  but 
the\  ha\e  ^radnalK'  decreasi'd  in  numbers  since  then,  ami  tlioii<ili  still  common 


III  places  \\\\{ 


lllL 


th 


re  the  country  is  wild  and  unsettled,  they  are  rapidly  disappoi 


U"- 


lose  parts,  in  tiie  vicinit\  o 


f  villi 


iii'es  and  iia\i"alile  waters 


.\t  that  time  they  would  fre(pient  the   \iciiiity  of  dwell 


hev  were  not  molesteil  woiilil  become  iiuite  taim 


comiiiinv  WI 


ci 


iited  with 


th  domestic  fowls,  and  on 


I  1 


lave  o 


111- 
ftell 


UK 


1   wl 


lere 


<eell   them  III 


one  occasKi 


11,  where  a  w  ihl  "obbler  a.-^ 


some 


tame  hen  Tiirke\  s,  the  chicks   that  were  hatched  from  their 

tched 


wa 


i'lrtrs  showed  their  wild  iilood  ])Iainly,  Imtli  in  color  and  actions, 

this  uiibiiler  with  a  j^reat  deal  of   interest  at  the  times  when  the  fowl 


s  were 


'iim'  fl 


.\t  first, 


wlieii  an\'  one  was  near,  lie  woiilil  onl\   com 


■iome 


bushes,  alioiit    bt 


\ar(l 


au  a\', 


iiiit 


e   to  the  ed^i'e 


eacli   succeeilmj;'   (|a\    lie  came  a 


httle  nearer,  until  at  las 


won 


Id  f( 


t  h 
.11 


almost  as  tame  as  the  domestic  birds,  and 


eed   iineoncernedly   within  a    few   feel   of   a   person. 
•()iie  can  liardlv  lielieve  that  the  Wild  Tiirke\s  of  to-da\-  are  of  the  sain 


species  as  those  o 


th 


.f  fift 


•liirds.  which  it  did  not  re(|iiii 


vi']\  or  twenty  years  a^'o.      I  hen  they  were  rattier  stiipn 


th 


e  mm 


h  skill  to  slioot,  but  now  I  do  not  ku 


if 


I  j,''ame  iiird  ur  mammal  more  alert  or  more  diflicnlt  to  approach.     FornierI\-,  I 
lave  often,  as  the\   were  sittin;^'  in  trees  on   the  banks  <if'  some  stream,  passed 


verv  near 


tl 


lein, 


botl 


ill  rowlioats 


nut  111  steamer; 


without   eansmi;'  them   to 


fix 


am 


1  I 


once,  witli  a  p,M't\    c 


if  fl 


d.< 


ran  a  smai 


steamer  within  2U  vai- 


ls of 


a  flock,  which  did  not  take  win;;'  until  several  siiots  had  beiMi  fired  at  then 
1'0957— lluli.  1 H 


m 


Wm 


m- 


'^% 


m 


BTT 


.«» 

■fl 

1 
1 

s 

114 


LIFE  U18TOKIES  OF  NOllTU  AMEKIOAN  lUliDS. 


"Turkeys  are  still  to  Ixf  fouiiil  ((iiite  ('(Hiiinuiily  in  suitahle  places  in  the 
localities  where  the  foHowiiij;'  observations  were  made,  viz:  The  southern  halt' 
of  St.  Johns  County  and  that  part  of  Putnam  County  east  of  the  St.  Johns 
Hiver.  These  hirds,  thou^fh  resident,  arc  j»iven  to  wanderin<y  a  {yreat  desd, 
and  do  not,  like  the  Hob  Whites,  become  attaciied  to  any  particular  locality. 
At  times  they  will  remain  in  a  favoral)le  place  for  weeks,  l)Ut  they  are  very 
inicertain,  and  will  often  leave  such  a  spot  for  no  apjjarent  reason.  When 
they  are  molested,  or  when  there  is  a  scarcity  of  food,  they  will  keep  in 
motion  most  of  the  time  durin}^'  the  day,  and  will  often  travel  many  miles  in 
a  few  hours. 

"Wild  Turkeys  usually  j^o  in  tlocks,  consistinji'  of  from  two  or  three  to 
fifteen  or  twenty  birds,  and  are  also  occasionally  found  sinjilx'.  Small  flocks 
and  single  birds  are  nau-e  apt  to  l»e  found  now  tlian  formerly,  and  the  larf^e 
droves,  ct)iisistiug  of  several  flocks  associating,''  toj^ether,  are  sehhan  if  ever  to 
be  seen  of  late.  Their  favorite  i)laces  of  resort  are  woods  with  swamjis  in 
them  or  in  their  viciuit)',  and  they  alwajs  go  to  these  swamps  to  roost  or 
when  molested. 

"These  birds  are  polygamous,  and  the  female  takes  all  the  cares  and 
duties  of  inculcation  upon  herself  The  gol)blers  are  very  pugnacious,  and 
will  often  tiglit  fiercely  for  the  favors  of  the  hens.  The  love  seasi>n  begins 
in  Florida  about  the  mi(Mle  of  February  and  lasts  for  about  three  months, 
and  during  this  jjcriod  the  gobblers  f're(iuently  utter  their  call  and  are  then 
easily  decoyed  within  gunshot.  Native  iuuiters  iiave  informed  me  that  the 
hens  roost  by  themselves  at  this  .season  of  the  year. 

"The  nest  is  a  slight  depression  in  the  ground,  either  at  the  foot  of  a 
tree  or  under  a  thick  bush  or  saw  ])ahiietto.  It  is  lined  sparingly  with  dead 
leaves  and  grass,  etc.,  but  1  could  never  fiiul  out  whether  this  material  was 
placeil  there  by  the  birds  or  was  there  tn'iginaliy.  I  think  the.se  birds  raise 
but  one  brood  a  season,  though  1  have  found  fresh  eggs  as  early  as  the 
middle  of  March  ami  as  late  as  tlu^  1st  of  May.  I  have  never  found  more 
than  thirteen  eggs  in  one  nest,  nor  less  than  eight,  unless  they  were  fresh, 
the  usual  nund)er  being  ten.  The  chicks  of  this  species  are  very  tender, 
and  as  they  follow  their  mothers  as  soon  as  hatciied  I  have  often  wondered 
how  the  latter  could  raise  so  many  as  they  do.  The  natives  of  Florida  say 
that  a  hen  Turkey  will  (h'sert  her  nest  if  the  eggs  are  handleil.  Whether 
this  !)('  tru(^  or  not  1  ilo  not  know,  for  1  never  tried  to  find  out  but  once, 
and  then,  tliough  the  l)ird  was  gone  on  my  second  visit  to  tlat  nest,  1  alwavs 
had  a  .strong  sus[)icion  that  .she  was  shot,  for  its  wherealjouts  was  known  to 
several  persons  besides  myself" 

These  birds  feed  on  beechnuts,  acorns  (especially  those  of  the  white  and 
cliiiKpiapin  oaks),  chestnuts,  pecan-inits,  black  persinnnon.s,  tunas  (tiie  fruit  of 
the  ])rickly  pear),  leguminous  seeds  of  various  kinds,  all  the  culti\ate(l  grains, 
different  wild  Ix-rries  and  grapes,  and  the  tender  tops  of  plants;  also  grass- 
hoppers, crickets,  and  other  insects.     Tiie  actions  of  the  goljbler   lurnig  the 


1 


I 


THE  WILD  TUKKEY, 


lis 


;S 


I 
I 


% 
* 


inatiii},''  si'iisdii,  wliilo  payiii},''  ctiurt  to  tlio  foinalo,  aro  similar  to  those  of  the 
(loiiu'stic  Turkey,  nn<l  well  enough  known  to  need  no  description. 

The  nesting  season,  in  the  southern  i^trtion  of  tlieir  range,  begins  some- 
times as  early  as  the  middle  of  February,  and  later  northward,  where  fresh 
eggs  are  orcasionally  found  up  to  the  mid<lle  of  Juno.  It  is  more  than  prob- 
able that  in  sueh  lato  sets  the  first  eggs  were  destroj'etl.  The  number  of  eggs 
to  a  set  varies  from  ten  to  fourteen,  eleven  and  twelve  being  most  often  found, 
'i'lie  nests  arc  usually  well  concealed,  a  favorite  site  being  near  old  stumps 
surrounded  by  a  dense  mass  of  vines  and  bu.shes  in  bottom  lands.  Occasion- 
ally an  exposed  situation  is  also  selected. 

Cajjt.  William  L.  Carpenter,  U.  S.  Army,  foun<l  such  a  nest  on  ^lay  1, 
IHHO,  near  the  present  site  of  Fort  Niol)rara,  Nebraska,  containing  at  that  time 
seven  eggs.  It  was  a  simple  affair,  on  a  grassy  hillside,  in  an  exposed  posi- 
tion, and  lined  with  dead  grass,  very  much  like  that  of  the  Sharp-tailed  Grouse. 
On  May  20,  it  contained  eleven  eggs,  and  on  June  1  another  visit  was  paid, 
when  only  the  vacant  nest  and  Ijroken  shells  remained. 

IJvt.  Maj.  S.  L.  Woodward,  Tenth  Ca\ahv,  U.  S.  Army,  sent  me  a  set 
of  eggs  of  tiiis  species,  collected  near  Onion  Creek,  Archer  County,  Texas. 
This  nest  was  found  in  the  high  grass,  well  protected  from  observation,  near 
some  rain-water  holes,  .several  hundred  yards  from  Onion  Creek.  Happening 
to  stroll  close  to  the  ne.st  the  hen  flew  off,  and  was  thus  discovered.  It  con- 
tained six  perfectly  fresh  eggs  on  May  7. 

Mr.  J.  A.  Singley  writes  me:  "The  hen  leaves  and  approaches  the  nest 
invarlaltly  by  the  same  route,  and  rememl)eriug  this  I  trailed  one  to  its  nest. 
Tiiere  really  was  no  nest.  A  dead  Ijlackjack-oak  to|)  had  fallen,  the  wind 
had  drifted  the  leaves  up  against  it,  and  the  eggs  were  laid  on  the  leaves.  1 
found  this  nest  in  a  thicket,  inside  of  an  inclosurc,  on  April  20.  It  contained 
eight  eggs.-" 

Sometimes  two  hens  lay  in  the  same  nest,  and  an  extraordinarily  large  set 
of  eggs  is  tlie  result.  Mr.  George  K.  Beyer,  of  New  (Jrleans,  Louisiana,  writes 
me  as  follows:  "On  May  25,  1S.S8,  I  foim<l  a  nest  with  twenty-six  eggs;  (»ne 
hen  sitting  on  the  nest  and  one  standing  l)y.  I  think  both  hens  kept  the  same 
nest.  In  piney  woods  they  like  to  build  near  old  |)inc  stumjjs,  as  the  latter 
are  generally  surrounded  by  a  growth  of  galllterry  l)ush(!s.  The  nest  is 
coiiijiosed  of  leaves  and  pine  straw.  Our  swamp  Turkeys  like  to  build  in 
Iiammock  lands,  near  old  and  disused  fields,  in  blackljerry  or  scrubby  post-oak 
tliicket,s." 

The  call  notes  of  the  Wild  Tui'key  resend)le  those  of  the  domesticated 
liird  very  nuich;  still  tli(\y  differ  somewhat.  In  feeding,  their  usual  note  is 
"(piitt,  cpiitf"  or  "|)it,  pit."  When  calling  each  other  it  is  "keow,  keow,  kee, 
kee,  keow,  keow,"  and  a  note  uttered  when  alarmed  suddenly  souud.s  some- 
what like  "cut-cut." 

U.sually  but  one  l)rood  is  rai.sed  a  season,  but  Mr.  J.  S.  Cairns,  of  Weaver- 
ville.  North   ('arolina,   suspects   that   a   second    brood  is  occasionally  raised, 


'iir.v. 


■)■■>■. I 


t 

i! 


■if 

if 

■  i! 


116 


LIFIO  1I1STOU1E8  OF  iJOKTII  AAlKltlUAN  JUltKS. 


III  Wsp'-  I  ■■' 


liiivinj;' t'lHiiid  ('};•<;•«  of  this  spcfics  as  lato  as  , Inly  1<>.  liiciil)ati(in  lasts  al)tiiit 
tniir  Wffks,  and  this  duty  is  entirely  ju'i'tunncd  Ity  the  t'cnialc. 

In  sha|)t',  the  ('{ij^s  of  the  Wild  '{'nrkcy  arc  nsnally  ovate,  occasionally 
they  are  elonj^ati'  ovate.  The  ;^ronnd  color  varies  from  ])ale  cri'aniy  white  to 
creaniy  hiill".  I'll*'}'  iii'<'  nioi-e  or  less  hea\ily  maiked  with  well-delined  spots 
and  dots  of  pale  chocolate  ami  reddish  hrown.  In  an  occasional  set  these  s|)ots 
are  pale  lavender.  (K'uorally  the  inarkin;fs  arcs  all  small,  ran;4'iii>f  in  size*  fi'om 
ii  No.  (!  shot  to  that  of  dust  shot,  lint  an  exceptional  set  is  sometimes  heavily 
covered  with  hoth  s])ots  and  Idotches  of  tlu^  size  of  hnckslwit,  and  even  larjrer. 
The  majority  of  eji'fi's  of  this  species  in  the  l'.  S.  National  .Mnsemn  collection, 
and  such  as  I  ha\e  examined  elsewhere,  resendde  in  coloration  the  (ij^ured  type 
of  M.  !/iill(>i)tir<i  iiir.iifdiiiis,  l)nt  averafi'e,  as  a  rule,  somewhat  smalh-r  in  size. 

The  averaj^e  measurement  of  thirty-eij;ht  eji'^^'s  in  the  V.  >S.  National 
Museum  ('(•lloctiou  is  (11. o  hy  4(1..')  millimetres.  The  largest  egg  mea.sures  68. A 
hy  4(>,  the  smallest  ')!)  hy  4.")  millimetres. 

The  t}'i)e  specimen,  No.  •JKMill  (I'l.  ;5,  Fig.  14),  selected  from  an  incompU^te 
si't  of  six  eggs  from  the  Hendire  collection,  \\as  olitained  liy  him  through 
the  kindness  of  Hvt.  Maj.  S.  L.  Woodward,  Tenth  Cavalry,  l'.  S.  Army,  near 
Onion  Creek,  Archer  County,  Texas,  May  7,  1S74.  This  specimen  .shows  the 
lavender  markings  referred  to  ahove.' 

40.     Meleagris  gallopavo  mexicana  (Goild). 

MKXKAN    TlKKlvY. 

Ml  If  iKjris  till  .ricdnii  (lori.l).  Procrciliiin's  Zmiloi^ic-il  Siii'ii'ty,  is.'iil.  01. 
Ml  li  itiiriN  iiiilliiiiitro  var.  iiii  .ricdiiii  Haikd,  History  nf  North  Aiiu'iiciia  Birds,  in,  ISM. 
410. 

(h  4.^s,  (• :!;!!,  R  Ko,  (•  r^:,■^,  U  :ii(V/.) 

(lEooK.M'nicAl.  HANOK:  Talilo  lands  i>l'  Mexico,   and  north   to  .soutliern  hurdcr  of 
Uniteil  States  Ironi  western  Texas  to  Arizona;  sontli  to  Vera  Cruz  (temiierate  retfion). 

Tluf  breeding  range  of  the  Mexican  Turkey  extends  from  the  monntainous 
portions  of  s<iuthern  and  wt'stern  Colorado,  tln-ough  similar  regions  in  New 
Mexico,  Arizona,  western  anil  southwestern  Texas,  into  Mexico.  In  southern 
( 'olorado  the  hird  is  rare,  if  still  found  there,  while  sjiecimeiis  from  the  Lower 
Kio  (Jrande  region  in  Texas  seem  to  be  interuuMliate  between  true  M.  (idllopuvi) 
and  the  M.  f/iillojuird  iiiijiiinid,  leaning  more  towaril  the  latter. 

This  magnificent  game  bird,  the  progeintor  of  our  domestic  Turkey,  is 
more  of  a  nHiimtain-loving  species  than  the  eastern  bii-d,  and  is  still  reasonably 
abundant  in  the  wilder  jioi-tions  of  western  Texas,  the  Territories  of  New  Mexico 
and  Arizona,  and  \ery  connnon  in  portions  of  Mexico.  I  li(lie\-e  this  sub- 
species attains  a  greater  size  than  M.  (/(illnjiiin).     I  shot  ti  specimen  weighing 

'Silicic  thU  iirliclii  was  wiittiMi,  Mr.  W.  I",.  D.  Siiiit  liiis  sepiiriitcil  tin'  I'loiiila  Tiirltiiy  IVoiii  tlii^ 
ciiiiiiiiciu  WiW  Turke.v  aud  deaciibud  it  uud«t  tlio  uami'  of  J/( (oiyiio  ijallnpiiio  o»i:eola,  in  Auk,  Vol.  Vll,  ISOO, 

p.  a76. 


THE  MEXICAX  TURKEY. 


117 


m). 


OUS 

«'cw 


UTU 


IS 

il.ly 
dt't) 


HIH), 


^■A 


'2H  pounds,  nftor  lK'iii<r  drawn,  iinil  I  liiiv(*  been  infonriCtl  tlnit  hirds  nuich 
liciivier  than  tliis  onu  an*  killi'<l  (iccasionally;  wliicli  1  can  readily  lu'Iicvc, 
as  I  Iiav<^  seen  tracks  ot"  this  snhsjx'cics  ah)nf;'  llic  l)anks  ot"  tlie  San  I'cdra 
River,  in  Arizona,  nieasurinj;'  Ix'tween  r>  and  (!  inches  in  kMii«tli,  and  un- 
(luestionaldy  made  by  a  nuich  hu'^^cr  l»ird  than  the  inu^  kiUed  by  me. 

Mr.  IIerl)ert  Hrown,  of 'I'ncson,  Arizona,  writes  me  as  follows:  "I  liave 
seen  many  of  these  Tnrkeys,  a  few  in  Arizona,  and  1  believe  thousands  in 
.Mexico.  Without  knowinjj;'  it  positively,  I  am  of  the  l)elief  that  they  raise 
two  l)roods  of  younj;-  u  season,  as  I  have  seen  almost  all  sizes  in  the 
mastinj-'  season  (October)  when  they  coiij^'rei^ate  in  larj>e  numbers  in  the 
canons  to  feeil  on  liallotr.s,  u  small  l)itter  acorn,  connnon  to  the  canons  and 
parks  of  snutheru  Arizona  and  southward.  I  liavi'  seen  their  roostinj''  places 
at  niji'ht,  in  sycamore  (-i//'.sy<)  trees;  I  also  saw  one  in  an  oak  ^'rove  on  the 
side  of  a  hill,  but  they  appear  more  to  favor  the  cafion.s.  On  tlu^  head- 
waters of  the  Santa  nomin^a  1  have  seen  not  less  than  fifty  or  sixty  in  a 
lamch,  and  Turkey,  in  tliost;  da^'s,  was  a  conujion  camp  fare.  I  have  been 
told  1(\'  Mexicans  that  coyotes  catch  Turkeys  by  runninj;-  in  circles  muha' 
tlieir  roostinji'  trees,  till  the  birds  "^ct  <lizzy  with  watchinj>'  them,  and  fall 
down.     1   ne\-er  saw  it  done,  l)ut  hav(^  been  assured  that  it  is  a,  fact. 

"This  Turkey  is  (piitc?  abundant  in  the  Sierra  Ancha,  about  130  miles 
northeast  of  Tucson,  and  can  ])r  found  to  a  j^reater  or  less  extent  in  every 
timbered  ran^i'e  ItetHcen  here  and  thi're.  ( )ne  morning'  while  camped  in  a 
i)ox  canon  in  Snnoi'a,  southeast  of  the  Sierra  Azul,  I  counted  tiiirty-four 
Turkeys  flyin^i'  over,  at  another  time  six,  and  (piite  fre(piently  three  and 
four.  Times  were  not  so  peaceful  then  as  now,  and  wheneNcr  tlu^  'i'urkeys 
appeared  to  fly   wild,   we   would   be  on  the  lonkout   lor  Apache   Indians." 

Capt.  William  !..  Carpenter,  Ninth  Infantrx,  l'.  S.  .\i'm\-,  writes  me  as 
This  biivl  is    (piite    numerous    in    the    Wiiite    Mountains,    Arizona. 

ble  to  Hy  a  f( 


nws: 


foil 

I   ne\cr  succeeded  in  llndin^'  the  nest,  l)Ut  collecte(l  \ 

feet,  on   Mlack   Ki\'er,   .Vrizona,  July   1.     'I'heir  cro])s    cnntaiiied    j^rasslioppers 


cMlU!"-,  a 


aiK 


I  I 


eaves. 


Iter  in  th(^  season  acorns,  juniper  l)erries,  and  iiine  nuts  furn 


food.      It 


a|)pears  to  lie  sironii'er  on  the  wii 


'1' 


sh 


ny  than  the    eastern    Turkev  and 


mor 
for 


('  really  to  resort  to  lonj^'  Hij^lits  for  safety,  freepiently  alijihtiuf''  in  tree; 
coiU'ealnuMit;   also,  not  so  readlK'  deco\-e( 
Tl 


1   1 


)y  callini 


Hi 


le  matmji'    season    commences    accordiny'  to  latitude, 

f  th 


fron 


.M; 


nrh   1   t( 


the  middle  uf  A|)ril,   l)y   which  time  some  of  the  liinls  connnence  nesting- 


.Mr.  William   IJovd  stat. 


•In    ISSI,    I    f 


ound    n\aii\'  n 


f   tl 


leu'    roosts    ni 


western 


,  exas; 


tl 


lese    Ou'ds   col 


dd   I 


»e  seen   1>\'  hiiiidreils  in   tlie    Xueces  (J 


n 


ear  Uvalde;   thev   wer( 


of  th 


'('  eipiany  common  ni 


th 


'rio  (!aMon  aiK 


1  tl 


inon 
II. 


alio  and  ( 'oiicho,   east  to    the    Colorado    Kiver.     Thev 


111 


le  valleys 
ited   from 


the  first   to    the    end    of    .March,    according'    to    tlu*  weather,  and    would  tl 


leii 


•k  d 


ense 


brush 


N 


ear  a   river 


tl 


leir  nests  would  Ite  made  on  small  islets  siirroiinded  l»v 


reeds;  on  the  hills  in   shin   oak   clumps.     Their   principal   fooil  beiuf^-  acorns, 


hM 


i^:  U 


1 


.*  I 


b.H 


118 


LlFli  JIISTOKIKS  OP  NOllTn  AMERICAN  BlltDS. 


they  were  most  al)un(liiiit  wlicri^  there  was  imirli  mast,  mii^ratinfj  considerable 
distances,  l)iit  in  this  ease*  ••"'y  ^''^'t'l'i^t^''^  '*}'  ^"""1  f^upply.  I  iiave  seen  them 
freely  eatin<j^  mesciuite  l)eaiis  wiien  they  tall  in  the  late  sunnner,  and  pecan 
nuts  are  also  a  favorite  food.  I^liey  also  fcu'd  on  ;irassho[)i)ers  and  other 
insects  durin<^  April  and  May,  running  after  them  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
Chaparral  Cock." 

They  are  Hununer  residents  in  the  higher  mountain  ranges,  reaching  an 
altitude  from  .S,()()()  to  1(),0()()  feet,  and  retiring  ro  the  more  sheltered  canons 
and  the  tiuihured  river  valleys  in  the  late  fall,  congregating  at  such  times  in 
large  Hocks. 

The  nuud)er  of  eggs  to  a  sot  varies  from  eight  to  fourteen,  rarely  more ; 
eleven  or  twelve  are  al)out  the  average  nund)er. 

'IMiat  well-known  ornitiudogist  and  collector,  Mr.  F.  Stephens,  took  a  jn-oh- 
ably  incomplete  set  of  nine  fresh  eggs  of  this  si)ecies,  on  June  1  o,  1884.  lie 
writi'S  me:  "I  was  encamped  about  5  miles  south  of  ("raterville,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Santa  Rita  Mountains  in  Arizona;  tlie  nest  was  shown  to  my 
assistant  l»y  a  charcoal  burner.  On  his  apjjroach  to  it  the  bird  ran  otf  oi' 
flew  before  he  got  within  good  range.  He  did  not  disturl)  it  but  came  to 
camp,  and  in  the  afternoon  we  both  went,  and  1  took  my  little  camera  along 
and  piiotograjjlieil  it.  The  bird  did  not  siiow  up  again.  'Vhv  localitj*  was 
on  the  east  slope  of  the  Santa  Rita  Mountains,  in  the  oak  tind)er,  ju.st  where 
the  first  scattering  jjines  commenced,  at  an  altitmh'  of  ])erhaps  r),(HI()  feet." 

A  good  photograph,  kindly  sent  uie  by  Mr.  Ste|)lieus,  .shows  the  nest  and 
eggs  jdalnly.  It  was  jdaced  close  to  the  trunk  of  an  oak  tree  on  a  hillside, 
near  wliich  a  good-sized  yiu-ca  grew,  covering,  apparently,  a  part  of  tlie  iie.st; 
the  hollow  in  which  tlu^  eggs  were  placed  was  about  12  inches  across  and  3 
inciies  deep.     .Judging  froiu  the  photograph  the  ne.st  was  fairly  well  lined. 

Caitt.  U.  F.  Goss  found  a  nest  of  this  snl)specie.s,  on  May  !),  lsS-_>,  in  south- 
ern Te.xas,  containiug  eleven  eggs.  He  states:  "It  was  as  usual  on  the  grounil, 
in  open,  busiiy  country.  A  coar.se  .structure,  not  very  deeply  excavated,  lined 
with  grass,  weeds,  and  leaves,  placed  in  (piite  an  o])en  situation,  but  well 
concealed  liy  a  few  small  busiies  and  bunches  of  growing  grass. 

"\V(^  were  encamited  (juite  near  the  nest;  one  morning  I  noticed  a  hen 
Turkey  stealing  tlirougli  the  bushes,  and  suspected  she  was  going  to  her  nest. 
We  watched  her  carefully  for  three  uioniings,  and  having  pretty  nearly  located 
the  nest,  counnenced  a  clost;  search,  and  examined,  as  we  thought,  every  inch 
of  ground.  I  was  about  giving  up,  when  looking  down  aliuost  at  my  feet,  I 
saw  the  binl  sitting  on  tlu^  nest.  She  at  once  ran;  she  had  allowed  me  to 
pass  several  tiuies  within  a  foot  of  her  withoiU  moving,  and  seemed  to  know 
at  once  when  she  was  seen.  I  have  often  noticed  this  trait  in  birds  of  this 
gemis;  as  long  as  unseen  you  can  tramp  all  around  them,  but  they  seem  to 
know  at  ouce  wlu'U  they  ar(!  seen,  and  lose  no  time  in  getting  away." 

The  Mexican  Turkey,  like  the  eastern  subspecies,  is  polygamous,  and  the 
female  attends  exclusively  to  tlut  duties  of  incidtation.  which  lasts  about  four 


u 


i!) 


THE  MKXICAN  TUliKEY. 


119 


weeks,  the  nialo  not  only  not  assisthif,',  l)iit,  iU'conliuir  to  oljscrvntlons  made 
l»y  I.ieiit.  J.  M.  F.  I'artello,  Fiftli  Infantry,  IJ.  S.  Army,  tliey  often  destroy  tlu^ 
^"•"•s  mill  tlie  tcndiT  youu"'. 

In  addition  to  tlie  different  foods  already  mentioned,  I  know  from  personal 
(djservation  tliat  tlu-  Mexiean  Turkey  is  exeeedini^ly  fond  of  the  wilil  muUu'rry. 
as  well  as  the  fruit  of  the  ijrickly  jjear,  which  in  soutliern  Arizona  attains  a  very 
res|u'('taltle  size;  and  aji'ain  of  tlu^  somewhat  smaller  hut  still  more  palafaltle 
fruit  of  the  <>iant  cactus,  the  pitayah  or  the  sahuara  of  the  natives,  which  is 
alike  a  favorite  nrtiide  of  food  with  man,  hird,  and  henst. 

The  onlv  »'^'^'s  of  this  species  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum  collection, 
about  whose  identity  there  can  be  no  iMissiblc  doul)t,  wvvi^  collected  on  Tpper 
Lynx  Creek,  Arizona,  in  the  sprin<r  of  l.S7(>,  by  Dr.  K.  I'almer,  wliose  name 
is  well  known  as  on(f  of  tlu;  pioneer  naturalists  of  that  Territory. 

Tlie  e^'ji's  are  ovate  in  shape,  their  ;;rnund  color  is  creamy  white,  and  they 
are  jjrofuselv  dotted  witli  tine  spots  of  reddish  brown,  pi'etty  e\enly  distrilinted 
over  the  entire  i'<X'^.  Th(!  avera;.;(!  measurement  of  these  t'jiji's  is  (111  by  HI  milli- 
metres.    Tile  lar<;est  measures  70.">  liy-4ll,  the  smallest  (i7  l»y  4S  millimetres. 

The  tv|ie  specimen  (No.  l'}i')T6,  IJ.  S.  National  .Museum  collection,  1*1.  '.i, 
V\g.  to)  is  one  of  the  set  referred  to  above. 


Fauiilv  CRACID.K.     (.'ikas.sows  and  CSians. 


ml, 
ned 
■11 

len 

■St. 

ited 
ncli 
•t,  1 

to 
now 
!iis 

to 

the 
bur 


41.     Ortalis  vetula  maccalli  Haihd. 

('UACnAI.ACA. 

Orfaliila  macraJli  BAiitn,  Birds  of  Norlh  Aiuericti,  1S58,  Cll. 

Or/alidi  I'ifiihi  vai'.  mnccdlli  liAtRD,  HistDry  Noi-tli  Ainericjui  Birds,  iii,  1S74,  .'iOS. 

(B  4-)ii,  c  ;irs.  li  -it)!),  o  ■.:)•.'.  u  :ni.) 

Qeogkai'UU'AI-   uanok;    Xo-tlieastei'n  .Mexico  from  Vera   Cruz,    noi'tli    to  lower 
Rio  (Jnillde  Valley  (hotli  sides). 

The  Oliachalaca  occu])ies  but  a  very  restricted  area  within  the  borders  of 
the  United  States,  l»ein<^'  found  oidy  alon^-  the  thickly-timi)ered  river  bottouis 
of  the  liio  (Irande,  from  its  uiontli  to  n  siiort  distance  above  Fort  Uinj^'jfold, 
Texas,  ii  distance*  of  a  I  lout  loo  miles.  It  is  conunon  in  suitable  localities  in 
this  rej;ion,  and  breeds  wherever  found. 

Asst.  Surji'.  James  ('.  .Merrill,  V.  S.  .Vrmy,  in  his  nntes  on  the  "Ornithology 
of  southern  Texas,"  writes  as  follows;  "The  'Cliiu'lialac,'  as  the  j)re.sent  species 
is  cidled  on  the  Lower  liio  (Ji-iinde,  is  oui'  of  the  nuist  characteristic  birds  of 
that  region.  Itan^ly  seen  'iny  distance  from  woods  or  dens(>  cliai)arral,  they 
are  abundant  in  those  places,  and  their  hoarsi;  cries  are  tlat  lirst  thint;-  heard  liy 
the  traveler  on  awakinj;'  in  tla*  morninjr.  Duriii}'-  the  dny,  unless  rainy  or 
cloudy,  the  birds  art*  rarely  seen  or  heard;  hut  shurtlv  before  sunrise  and 
sunset  they  mount  the  topuiost  br.inch  of  a  dead  tree,  and  make  the  woods 
rin^'  with  their  discordant  notc^s.     (Jontrary  to  almost  every  description  of  their 


•»i*l 


o 


120 


LiTK  insTomioa  of  noijtii  amkkic-an  iuuds. 


cry  wliicli  I  linvr  seen,  it  consists  ut"  flircc  sxllahlcs,  tli(iu;>'Ii  occasiniiallv  a 
f'liiirtli  is  aildcd.  Wlicii  one  Itinl  Ix'^iins  to  cry,  tlic  nearest  liinl  joins  in  at  tlio 
secon<l  note,  and  in  tliis  way  tiie  t'ourtli  syllalde  is  made;  Itnt  tliey  keeji  such 
ji'ood  time  that  it  is  often  very  ditlicnU  to  satist'y  oneseH'  that  this  is  the  fact. 
I  cannot  say  certainly  whether  tlie  lemah-  utters  this  cry  as  \Mdl  as  tiie  male, 
l)ut  tliere  is  a  widl-marked  anatomical  distinction  in  the  sexes  in  re^iard  to  the 


>f  th 


10 


devehipment  of  tlie  trachea.      In  tlie  male  this  j)asses  down  the  outside  < 
]iectoral  uuiscles,  heiu'ath  the  skin,  to  within  ahout    1    inch  of  the  end  of  tl 
sternum;  it  then  douldes  on  itself  and  passes  up,  still  on  the  ri<;ht  of  the  keel, 
to  descend  within  the  thorax  in  the  usual  maiuu'r.     This  duplicature  is  wanting 


in  the  female.      'i'l 


lese 


l)irds  are  nuich  hunted  for  the  MrownsNille  market, 
thouji'h  their  tiesh  is  not  particularly  f^ood,  and  the  hody  very  small  for  the 
apparent  size  of  the  hird.  Kasily  (h»mesticate(l,  they  hecome  troulilesoinely 
familiar,  and  decided  nuisances  when  kept  about  the  house,      lieyond  l{inii';idld 

1   to    liecome  rare,  and  soon  to  disapjieai';  and  it 


Hi 


n-rat 


ks  tl 


us    species   is  saii 


prolialdy  does  not  pass  more  than  .')()  miles  to  the  north  of  the  l{io  (Jrandi 
'The  iiests  are  shallow  structures,  often  made  entirely  of  Spanish  moss,  and  an 
place(l  oil  horizontal  limhs  a  few  feet  from  th 


e  iiroiUKl 


.Mr.  ( 


•  eoriic 


H.  S( 


iinett,  in  his  "Further  Notes  on  the  (>rnit]iolo"V  of  th 


Lower  h'io  (Irande  of  Texa? 


de  during-  the  .spriiij;- of  tSTS,  makes  the  tnl- 


lowiiii^-  statement  aliout  this  species:  "  I'rei'iiiineiitly  a  hird  of  the  woods;  and 
Lomita,  without  douht,  is  the  heart  of  its  very  limited  liahitat  in  the  I'liited 
States.      Here   it  is  resident;  and  amonj;-  the  heavy  timber  and  dense  under- 


growth   it    breeds    in    seclusion,   secuiHi   from    its  enemies. 


more    intimate 


acipiaintance  with  this  liird  enables  me  to  {i'ive  a  better  description  ot'  its  note: 


than  the  attemnt  in  m\-  former  me 


verv    rapid  succession,    aiK 


iioir. 


'I'll 


e  notes  are  loud 


nd  uttered  m 


closelv,  w 


1  those   of  the  female  follow  those   of  the  male 
liile  so  well  do  tlie\'  harmonize,  althoU"li  in  ditl'ereiit  keys,  that  1  ii 


took  the   tirst   note  of  one  for  the  last  note  of  tin;  other.      It    reallv  utti-rs  but 


three  sy 
liefore. 


HIS  strain   and  wi 


Ilablcs.  tlius:    'clia-clia-lac,'  instead  of  four,   '<'Iia-cha-lac-ca,'   as  fiiveu 
It  also  has  a  hoarse  ;;ratinji'  call  or  alarm  note.  Uttered  in  one  contiuu- 


thoiit 


moiliilatiou,  SOI 


iiethiii"'  like   'kak-kak-kak.'     (Jeiierallv 


this  bird 


•en  ill  trees,  but  on  one  occasion  four  or  ti\'e  werc^  seen  rnnnin 


about  on  the  jiroiind,  after  the  maiiiier  of  <'liickeiis  when  freeil  from  a  coop.      It' 
mmunities,    but  in  isolateil  paii's,  and  from   all    accounts 
less  the  iiest  is  desjioiled,  when  it  will  la\' 


d. 


.t   1 


floes   not    oreed    in   coi 


raises 


but 


one 


b 


•rood  111  a  season,  uii 


another  clutch.     The  clutch  almost  invariabl\-  consists  of  three,  rareh-  h 


Oi 


the  iDtli  of  April  we  olitaineil  t'resh  e;i';is,  and  oil  the  "JOtli  sets  were  jiciierally 
full  and  fresh,  atter  which  time  they  contained  emliryos.  The  ej;<is  were  exceed- 
ingly hard  to  diill.  The  chicks  are  hatched  well  coateil  with  down,  and  they 
leave  the  nest  as  soon  as  hatched,  the  old  ones  leadinji'  them  into  the  thickets, 
where  they  are   scry   hard  to  capture.      I    had   the  pleasure,   at    the  ranch,  of 

The  little  ones  looked  and  actei!  exactly  like 

Vdl.  I,  ISTS,  11.  i,-,<i. 


ltd 


seeiii"'  SIX  liatcli  umler  a   lien 


HliiijfH  \1.  S.  N'alliiii.'il  Miisi'i 


TIIK  (MIA(MIAIiA(iA. 


121 


lilt 

IVCll 

iiiii- 
illy 
liiifi' 

It 

nuts 

lay 

Om 

Iv 

(■(i- 

ll'V 
LftS, 
I,    of 

ik.' 


cliickoiis,  pickinjr  uj)  flu-  corn-lMittcr  tlimwii  tn  tliciii,  riinniii^i'  in  iintl  init  t'ntni 
luuh'r  tlic  lien's  wiiijis,  anil  jiiinpin;;'  uihui  licr  liack.  Four  of  tlic  six  died 
within  tlie  iirst  twn  weeks,  lint  tlie  utliers  lived  and  tlivived.  A  few  are  ilnines- 
tieated  every  \'ear  at  almost  every  raiieli,  and  tliey  lieconie  incoii\-enieiitly 
t'ainiliar,  jyettinji'  aliont  under  loot,  jinniiiiiji'  ii|ion  tallies,  lieds,  ete. 

"Tlie  voiuiif  from  tlie  ej;'};-s  are  tliii'kly  covered  witli  down.  ITpper  parts 
mixed  ash,  fulvous,  and  brown,  with  a  black  line  from  the  crown  to  the  tail 
and  a  black  patch  on  the  forehead;  under  parts  white,  with  the  exception 
of  the  ju;,ndum,  which  is  fulvous  ash,  meetiiiji-  the  same  colors  above.  When 
three  or  four  weeks  old,  the  fulvous  ash  and  white  become  tawny,  and  the 
black  onlv  shows  on  the  crown  and  the  forehead."' 

The  breediui^'  .season  lK'<;ins  about  April  10,  and  lasts  till  the  bejjinnini;' 
of  .lulv.  Mr.  .1.  A.  Sini^Iey  writes  me  that  he  took  i'HiXx  on  .Iiine  'J — prob- 
alilv  a  second  layinjf,  tlu^  first  e^iTis  havin<>'  been  taken  or  destroyed,  lie 
savs;  "1  found  this  i)ir(l  abundant  on  the  l.,ower  l\io  Grande.  It  is  a  noisy 
fellow,  and  two  or  three  can  make  noise  eiiouiih  to  make  the  listener  think 
that  there  are  a  dozen  or  more  birds  at  hand.  Xoisy  as  they  are,  it  is  a 
hard  matter  to  ^et  sij^-ht  of  one,  and  I  found  the  most  successful  plan  was 
to  hiile  in  the  thicket  and  wait  for  the  birds  to  put  in  an  appearance.  No 
matti-r  how  (piickly  and  stealthily  you  ap|)roache(l  one  when  sinjiin;;  (?),  he 
would  notice  yon  and  ipiickly  take  his  departure.  1  never  saw  oim  on  the 
ground.     They  are  noisiest  in  the  nioriiini;-  and  just  before  a  rain. 

"All  the  nests  1  found  were  in  mesipiite  stubs,  where  the  limbs  lia<l 
been  cut  off  to  make  brush  fences.  'I'liese  limbs  ai'e  never  cut  close  to  the 
tree,  and  beinjf  close  toji'ether  form  a  cavity;  leaxcs  and  twi^s  will  fall  in 
this  and  ac<Mniiulate,  and  the  bird  occupies  it  as  a  nestiii;^'  site.  1  did  not 
find  a  nest  that  I  could  say  was  built  by  the  bird.  When  the  nest  is 
approached  the  bird  (piietly  flies  off,  rarely  remaininj;'  in  sii>lit,  and  soon 
calls  nji  its  mate." 

Accoi'din^'  to  most  observers,  three  eji'ji's  are  said  to  usually  constitute  a 
full  set,  rarely  more.  Mr.  Thomas  II.  .lackson,  of  West  Chester,  Pennsyl- 
vania, informs  me,  however,  that  of  t'orty-foiir  sets  rei-eived  liy  him  this  season 
(1S!I0),  all  but  one  contained  four  t'^X'^n,  the  other  bein<i'  a  set  of  three.  The 
first  of  these  sets  was  found  May  l;{,  the  second  May  rl\),  and  the  balance* 
between  that  <late  and  duly  1.  In  iss;i,  he  received  a  sin<i'le  st't  of  five, 
which  must  be  considered  an  unusually  larji'e  one.  These  eji'^'s  were  all  col- 
lected near  Hio  (Srande  City,  Texas. 

The  egji's  of  the  Cliaclialac;i  are  a  ]iale  creamv  white  in  color,  varying,' 
.in  sha])e  from  ovate  to  short  ovate,  as  well  as  eloiin'ate  ovate.  The  shell  is 
extremely  thick,  rou;;'h  to  the  touch,  and  strongly  ^raiiulateil.  The  avera^-e 
measurement  of  twenty-five  specimens  in  the  l'.  S.  National  .Museum  collection 
is  ri.S.o  by  H.o  inillimetres.  Tin-  largest  v<x<<;  measures  (ji'),;")  by  47,  the  smallest 
r)3.r»  bv  40  millimetres. 


1  Sil'IJ 

m 


'  V.  8.  (ieoloKiuul  iiuil  ai'U);rii|iliii'ul  Siirvt'y,  Vol.  v,  No.  :l,  pp.  i'iti,  HI. 


FfT^^^ 


V'.  ■! 


122  MPK  iifsTouiEa  or  noutii  amkkkwn  luuns. 

'I'lit'  tyiM'  .spcriuK'H,  No.  "iKXiH  (IM.  .'I,  Kiy.  K!),  frniii  a  set  t>\'  tlircc  fffffH, 
was  collfctcil  hy  Mr.  (jeorjjfo  U.  Si'iiiictt,  near  lioniita  IJancli,  lliilalj^n,  Tj-xiih, 
May   12,   IS77. 


!i   ,' 


Family  COLUMHID/E.     1'xik 
42.     Columba  fasciata  Say. 

IIAM>-T.\ll.i:i>    I'KiKuN. 


OXH. 


Columba  fasciata  Say.  Lung's  Kxpt'ditiDii.  11,  \h->:K  UK 

(I!  11:..  (':!•;:.  K  i,m;,  Ci.T.i.  U;ii'v'.) 


(iKDdKAiMlicvi,  KANOK:    Wi'stci'ii   lliiili'd  Sditis,  linm   Kucky   MouiitainH  to  tho 
I'iicilic  cciusl  ;  SDiiili,  tlirciuu'li  Mcxicd.  to  liij^liluiuls  nl'  ( iiiiitcinalii. 

'I'lic    liaml-tailcd    I'lj^coii    is    an    irrcjiiilar    iniialiitant    (if   western    Nnrtli 
Aineriea,  ranj;in}>-  tVuni   IJritisli  (;()linni)ia  south  tlu'ouoji  Wasliin^i'ton,  Orejfou, 


Calit 


nrnia, 


u'l/.ona, 


N 


ew 


M 


exico,  and    nnrtiiwestern    I  exas   n 


Itn    M 


exico   am 


1   Oreo. 


on,  It  is  a  siinnner 


( Jiiatemala.     In    liritisli   ("dlunihia,   W'asiiinii'tuii,   aix 

resi<lent,   and    only   occnrs   reji'iilarly    west    of   tlie    (Cascade    Kan^-e,   near   tlie 

coast,  wliile  cast  ot'  tliese  mountains  it  can  onlv  l)e  considered  as  a  strayi'lcr. 


tlllC,    IK 


>  doidit,  to  tlu^  absence  of  oak    forests    in   tliese   re' 


'•ions. 


It  li 


liccn  ohserved  in  ("olorailo,  Nevada,  and  Idalio,  Itiit  it  is  doiilitfid  if  it  can 
ite  considereil  as  of  reji'iijar  occnrrence  in  tliese  localities.  It  jirohahly  Itreeds 
tliroiiolidiit  tlie  ranu'e  tlins  iiidicateil.  In  Arizona,  soiitliern  New  Mexico,  and 
iiortliwestern  'I'exas  it  is  found  tliroii^ihoiit  the  year. 

Capt.    William    L.    (Carpenter   writes    nie    as    follows; 
I'i^-eon  occnrs  in  the  inonntain  rcf^ioiis  of  northern  Arizona.     It  is  sometimes 
(liiite   numerons    in    the   vicinity   of    I'l'escott,    in    Aiii>iist    and    Se|)teniher;    at 


The    Hand-tailed 


otiicr  seasons,  wi 


thont 


ny  apparent    reason,  very  rare. 


It 


IS   always 


y 


to    I 


)e 


found  in  siunmer  in  the  foothills  of  the  White  Mcamtains,  at  ahout  .5,000  t'cet 


tl 


elevation,  wherever  the  oak  j^rows,  altlioii;;h  not  jilentitu 


hh 


aiK 


1    al 


wa\s  (luitc 


snv. 


I 


saw 


tl 


lein    1 


n   this   rejiion    in   small    flocks  diirinj.;'   May,   .1 


niie. 


dub 


.Vuji'iist,  and  .Septemher,  and  although  not  successful  in  fiiiiliii',''  the  nest,  I  feel 


ontideiit  that  tliev  lireed  here 


\s  far  as  mv.oltservation  extends,  tl 


tl 


lis   species  is  most  numerous  near 


le   mouth   of  tlu^   (!oliniiliia    lii\'er,    where  immense 


Hock 


s  were 


to    1 


){',    seen 


from  May  to  Octolier  in  lS(i,"),  which  fairly  rivaled  tli(»se  of  the  I*asseii}>'i'r 
I'iji'eoii,  oiicc!  so  common  over  the  Atlantic  watershed.  Their  favorite  food  in 
this  re<>ion  ajipeared  to  lie  salmon  berries,    liiifms  inifl,(iiiiis." 

Mr.    II.  W.    Ilenshaw,   in    his  arti(de  on    the   "Minis    of  the    Upper   Pecos 


Uivtir,   New   Mexico,"   makes   the   following''   state 


N 


one 


of  th 


lese  Itirds  nested  near  our  camp,  tliou<ili  they  prolialily  did  so  not 


meiit  re}j:ardin^-  this  species 
th 


far  away.  The  latter  jiart  of  Au;:ust  they  were  found  feedin<"-  upon  tho 
berries  of  the  Sdnihiiriis  nici'iiKisii,  a  small  slirubliy  plant  from  -J  to  4  feet 
liiirli.  Subse(piently,  when  the  acorns  be^aii  to  <;row  larjic  Ioii<>-  bclore  they 
bejiiin  to  ripen,  they  aiijieared  to  devote  tlieinsehi-s  exclusively  to  them,  and 


)5 


Tin:  IIA.M)  TAIKKI)  I'KiKON. 


123 


IK'S 

at 
be 

li'.'f 
[iiitc 

iilv, 

iifiir 


'('(IS 

•it's: 
not 
tlio 
feet 
h.-y 
iiud 


l)i't\v(Mii  tilt'  l*i;,'t'tiiis  mill  tlic  stiuirrcls  iitit  iiti  mtirii  wnn  tillitwcil  tii  ripen. 
'Plif  iifiirns  wiTf  lit'  flic  .siTiili  tiiik,  (^iirriKi  iiinliiliilii  (twn  ViiricticH),  jinil  art' 
cxtn'Mifix  pjiliitiililt'.  l'i;;i'iins  wtTf  slmf  not  only  wilii  tlifir  ci-ops  lull,  Itiit 
with  tlif  ;iiillt'l  iTinnnii'il   np  to  tlif  very  liill."' 

Mr.  !-.  ISi'Min;:'  statt's:  "1  lia\c  st'i'ii  lint  t'fw  of  tlit'Sf  liinln  in  tlif  nionii- 
tainsiit'  <'alitoniia  in  .siniinn'r,  tlnuiyli  it  prtihal)ly  Itn't'cln  tlitTf,  a.s  I  liavf  oi'ca- 
sitiiiallv  nliot  youn^' l)inls  at  Hi;;'  'IVt't-.H,  apparently  aiioiit  a  niontli  tild.  'I'liey 
were,  at  tliat  a^fo,  excelltiit  food,  wliieli  tainiot  lie  saiil  tit"  it  at  any  other  time, 
it.-*  tli'sli  lieini;'  \vv\  liitter  troin  eatin;;'  actiriis  in  winter  aiitl  oak  hiids  in  .><prinj;'. 
''It  is  soiiietimes  t'oniimai  in  the  totttliills  in  winter,  lait  iie\'er  alaniilant,  as 
eonipared  witli  the  ahiinihinee  of  the  I'as.sen;;'er  I'i^i'eoii  of  the  Atlantie  States."' 

Mr.  Charh's  II.  'rowiiseiiil,  in  his  "Field  Notes  on  the  Hinls  of  northern 
Calitoniia,"  savs;  "'I'iie  Maiul-taileil  l*i;.j-eon  is  very  altnnilant  in  the  foothills 
of  the  Lower  MfCltuid  River,  in  the  fall  and  winter,  ;iiitlieriii;i'  in  the  jiine 
trees  on  the  hi^iher  riil;;t's  in  iiniiiense  Hticks.  It  was  \-ery  seldom  seen  in 
the  lii^'li  mtiimtains  in  siinimer,  and  tliil  nttt  appear  to  ileseeiid  at  all  ti>  the 
vallevs  in  '.vinter.      I  do  iitit  know  where  it  hreeils."' 

Mr.  >.  15.  .lolmson,  in  his  "last  of  the  iJirds  of  the  Willamette  Valley, 
Ore^^-oii,"  states:  "An  aitiindant  slimmer  resident,  feeilin^'  ehiefly  on  herries. 
Thes  nest  in  various  situations,  imieii  like  the  etimmoii  Dove,  X.  idioHiinisis. 
1  loiind  tiiie  ()f  leaves  ami  moss  lieside  a  tree,  |ilaeed  on  the  ;;'i'oiind  Itetween 
two  roots;  another  one  upon  an  oM  stump  that  had  heen  split  and  hrokeii 
alioiit  S  feet  from  the  ;;roiind;  another  was  in  tin  top  of  a  tir  (.(.  (irniidis), 
anil  was  Imilt  tif  twi^^s  laid  mimhi  the  ileiise  Hat  liml'  of  the  tree,  alioiit  1S(» 
feet  from  the  ^riviintl.  'riiese  eaeli  hail  twit  e^i'^i's,  i  ue  white,  and  elliptieal, 
ililVeriiij;'  from  those  ttf  Z.  nirfiHiiciisis  only  in  size;  a  set  liefore  me  iiieasiiriii;;' 
l.Cit  hy  1.20,  and  !.').''>  Iiy  l.l'.t  iiiehes"  (eipialin;;'  KM!  hy  .-{(i.'),  and  ;i!l.4  liy  ;!ii.i» 
millimetres.)* 

Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  states:  "This  Pi^icoii  is  a  coiniiion  siiniiiier  resident  in 
Washiiiji'toii  County,  Ore^i'oii.  South  of  ISeavertoii  is  a  larjie  spring-,  the  waters 
ot' whicli  foiitain  some  mineral  wiiifli  has  j^reat  attraetioii  for  these  I'iyetais,  and 
iiere  they  are  always  found  in  larp'  iiiimhers.'"'' 

Mr.  Henry  ]].  Ankeiiy  writes  me  from  .lacksoinille,  Ore^'on,  as  follows: 
"The  liand-tailed  I'i;:ioii  is  not  very  eommoii  in  the  K'o^^iie  Wiver  \'alley, 
<  h'euoii,  ext'eptin;^'  when  there  is  a  i^nod  aeorn  erop.  In  sneh  years  the\  are 
oi'i'asitaially  ipiite  jdeiitifiil  in  the  fall  months.  ()iily  a  few  seatterin^i'  pairs 
lireed  here;  all  the  nests  I  have  seen  hasc  lieeii  plaeed  on  limlis  of  small  lirs, 
j^cnerally  in  thiekets  of  these  trees.  They  lay  two  eji'^is,  and  I  l»elie\e  rear 
lait  a  sin;rlo  hrood  a  season." 

Mr.  William  Lloyd  informs  me  as  follows:  "The  Hand-tailed  I'i^i-eoii 
ia'ceds  in  the  mountains  in   I'residio  Ctninty,  and  oeeasioiiall}'  in  the  iiei^ih- 

'  Auk,  Vol.  Ill,  Issi;,  )..  Mh 

•TrocrcdiiiKs  K.  S.  NallDiial  .Miisi'iirn,  IS?'',  Vul,  i,  p.  |;!7. 

^l'ici<'i'itliiij;M  r.  iS.  Nntiiiiial  Mnsi'iini,  I""",  Vul.  .\,  |i.  'JUO. 

'AiiiiTiraii  Niilnralisl.  .Iiil.v,  Is-li,  |i|i.  (!;IS,  illlil. 

'Aiik,  IrtStl,  Vi)l.  ni,  p.  KM.  ..-••■ 


i<. 


it',    ■' 


m 


W:^\ 


^tM-'J^ 


r  D  -i 


IP 

m 


i. 


i-  ; 

i. ' 


i,    '-i- 


124 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


l)orhon(l   of  Fort    Davis,    Toxiis.     Tlu'v   nro   oxccptioiially   alMiiidant   in   tlie 
at'ori'said   inountaius,  in  J-ily,  wlicrc   tlicy  collect   in  larjic  flocks  to  t('(>(l  o)i 

li   of  ai'onis.      Kacli  Hock   I 
lo  wonlil  Hv  around   a  tree  scv- 


tl 


ic   wiUl   }>rai)<'s.  am 


.1  aft. 


c  rtaril   tlisDcrsc  ni   scan 


aw  was   niidcr  tlic  jruidancc  of  a  leader  wl 


era!   tnnes  alone,  am 


I  wl 


len 


latisiic 


tl 


lere   was    no    dani-'er  it   would  alinlit. 


ai 


id  the  rest  of  the    hand    followed    its    exain]»le.     'i'liese    flocks  ranji'ed  from 


twenty  to    fifty.     1    oid\'  found 


>f  th 


us    six'cies    ni 


M 


exico. 


liey 


I  re 


abundant  all  down  the  Sierra   Madre  to  at  least  the  Sieira   Nevada  de  ('(dima. 


It  lays  two  cfijfs  to  a  set,  and  I  fouml  them  nestin<i'  on  dune 


The  nests 


are 


nu 


placed  on  lindis  of  trees,  oaks  preferred," 
'I'lie  Arizona  records  of   the    nestiuji'  of  this  species    ditl'er  as  far  as  the 
mber  of  eji'jfs   are    concerned.     Mr.  F.  Stephens  writes    me  that    he   found 


three  nests  of  this  s]»ecies  at  an  altitnile  of  from  ."),(>()()  to  S, (!(»(»  feet  in  Ari- 
zona.    They  prefer  the  open  forest,    where  the    oaks  and 


nmes  mix,   iiestiii"' 


on  both  kinds  of  trees.  The  nest  consists  of  a  very  slij;]it  ])latf(>rm  of  sticks 
ill  one  case  it  was  composi'd  of  a  t'ew  pine  twifj-s  laid  across  a  horizontal 
fiirk  of  a  small    branch   of   pine,  about    "Jit   feet    from    tlii'  jiroiind.     Another 


nest    was    but    S    '<'et, 
date    of   iiestiii"'    i 


am 


1  the   third   12  feet,  fi 


om 


the  }.■ 


round 


Tl 


March  C,  1S77,  the  latest  duly  IS.      Kach  nest 


le  earliest 
contained 


but 


I   siUfi'le   v<^if. 

Ill  my  notes  on  a  collection  of  e<r<>'s  from  southern  Arizona,  made  by 
Lii'Ut.  Harry  ('.  Heiisoii,  Fourth  Cavalry,  V.  S.  Army,  at  Fort  lliiachiica, 
I  make  the  following-  statement  based  uiion  his  ol).scrvatinns:  "This  I'i^i'eon 
is  fairly  common  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Iliiachuca  during:-  the  summer  moiitlis, 
arriviiiji"  alxmt  dune  1  to  1(1  in  lar>i-e  fio(d<s,  t're(|U<'ntiiij;'  the  oak  f>'roves 
alniiji'  tlie  foothills  and  mountain  sides.  It  feeds  on  a  berry  about  the  size 
of  a  larji'e  pea,  ;jrowin^'  on  a  hardwooil  tree  not  known  to  laeiiteiiant   Men- 


sun, 


till  tl 


le  acorns 


re  ot'  suitable  size,  about  .lul\'  lo,  when   it   i\ 


iiiiost 


exclusivelv  on  them. 


'It  cuimneiices  iiestiu;;'   about    the   beiiiiiiiinji'  of  duly,  and   continues    to 


lav  till   lat"   in    ( (ctober;    it  d« 


not    breed  in    communities,  however,  there 


MMll"' 


tree; 


but 


one  or    two    nests  to  the  acre.     The  nests  are    ]>laced    in  live-o.-ik 


iirrcKs  inid 


liihifaf),  from   Ifi  to  ,'{(•  feet   from  the   <;rouiid.     The  nest 


sim]ilv  a  sliu-ht  phitf.irm  of  twill's  ini  which  the  cfsii  i-^ 
from  .lul\"    l.'i   fo  September  -J.j,    ISS,"),    iiiclusixe. 


aid 


;s  were 


tak 


IS 

en 


Miit 


a  smale  e'-!''  l^ 


laid  in  a  clutch,  in  that  \iciiiit\'  at  least.     This  is 


elliptical  ovate  in  shape,  abruptly  point.'d  at  the  smaller  end;  ]tun  white  in 
eoiv>r.  slijihtly  jilossy,  and  the  five  specimens  sent  measure  l.oS  l)y  1,10,  ].(;•_> 
by  1.10,  l.(i-_>  by  1,1;$,  l.llS  by  1.04.  l.(i!l  by  1.0!t  inches"  (ecpial  to  40.1  by 
•J7.:t,  41.1  by  -iT.!!,  41.1  by  -JS.T,  4l>.7  by  2(i.4,  4lMl  by  -JT.T  milliinetre.s).' 

Mr.  Othn  < '.  Poling-  h.is  also  made  sume  further  nbserxations  reji'ardin^' 
the  Maiid-taih'd  I'Imciu  <luriii;i-  the  seasini  nf  1S!I0,  in  close  proximitx  to 
Fort   lliiachiica,  Arizona,  and   I   make 


<ucli  extracts  iron 


is  notes  as  are  o 


'fMcecUiuga  r.  8.  Nalioual  Miiwinii,  lrttt7,  Vnl.  .\,  p.  Ml. 


li 

1   ] 


TIIK  liAND-TAlLEl)  TKiliON. 


125 


•s|icci;il  iiiicri'st.     lie  writes  me  iiiidiT  (late  ot"  May  "):  "I   have  cainiM'tl  tor  tlio 


)as 


t  iMKiitli  ill  Uaiusev's  ('afiuii,  which  is  the  must  lieaNily 


.h-.I 


oiiu  in  tins 


jocalitv,  situated  in  about  the  renter  of  the   lliiaeliueii  Mountains.     About  a 
(iiiarter  ot"  tlie  way  up,  dose  to  tlie  main  trail,  at  an  eh'vation  of  aliout  (),0()0 


lc;'t.  is  a  swampy  spr 


ill"',  around  which  several   acres  of  wild  miillierrv  trees 


d  huslies   irrow.     I   camped  close  ti>  this  place,  and    l*'fieons  were   always 


alidut  in  abundance.     Probably  sixty   pairs  visiteil  or  staid  altoiit  this  sj 


)riiin' 


at  a 


11  ti 


mes. 


"I  shot  a  number  of  these  birds  for  fo<id,  and  one  day  on  approachinji' 
me  sittinjf  on  a  spruce  bonji'h,  aliout    1<>  feet  up,  and  not  itein;;  altle  to  start 

nil,  and 

liroiiu'ht  it  down  in  rather  a  inutilattid  condition,  as  1  was  not  ovt'r  (!  feet  otf. 
It  proved  to  be  a  female,  and  much  to  my  surprise    I    found    that   the  dust 


it  from  its  perch  tor  a   win^  shot,  I    put  a   'hummer  load'  in    my   '^> 


shut  had 


smaslied 


an  e 


b 


As   I 


could 


'r<x,   which    1    found    emlieildcd    in   the  feathers  of   her 
f  a    nest   on   the   liml)   on    which  she  had 


been  sittni' 


aiK 


1  tl 


liiul    no   si^n   o 
le  ei;"'  was  eiitireh'  surruiindeil   with   feathers,  I  concluded 


he  must  carr\'  it  around  with  her.     Th 


IS   was  on 


.March  lio,  and  the  v^ 


rtr  was 


tresh. 


"Durinif  the  month  of  April,  iteiiij;:  very  busy  with  other  matters,  I  j;avo 
onlv  a  dav  or  two  to  searchin<i-  for  the  nestN,  and  was  not  successful   in  lind- 


mj'' 


any.     On    April    14,   1    killed  a   few   yoiin;:',  about  a  month  old,  and 


an 


a( 


lult  female   with  an  v<X}X  i'l  her  ovar\',  aliout 


OIK 


-third 


size, 


On   Mav  .'i,   I 


m;ide  another  trial,  and  duriiii;'  a  liaivl  (la\'s  hunt   I   found  livi-  nests,  each  co 


ith 
tainiii;:'  a  sii 


;le   wtdl-inciibated 


'i'l 


lese 


nests    were  all    found  in  spruco 


pines,   from    1.")  to   70  feet   up.   and    were   coustructeil 
twiifs  laid  across  a  limb.      Xext  day   I   touiid   four 
12  feet  up,  containing'  a  sipiab  aliout  a  week  ohl; 


simiiiv    o 


d  a  f 


ew  smal 


more  nest 


s;   one  in  an  oa 


mother  in  a  muliterrx',  a 


lb 


iboiit 


>!  feet  from  the  ground,  with  a  fresh  eiiu',  and  two  others  in  spruce  pines.     ( )n 


ipproaclim;;'  one  o 


lesc 


trees  the  female  ili 


)tf  heavilv,  and  si'emed  to  1 


10 


tr\  in^'  to  balance  herself  on  a  limb  ot' a  tree,  far  down  below.      NViieii  I  climbed 


to   the 


nest   I   found  no  '■'<:•':   in   it,  and  am  almost    certain 


sh 


arried    it    otf 


with  her.      I   also  allowed  the  female  to  tl\-  otf  from  the  next   nest,  and 


liki 


wise 


found  it  without  an 


\Vi 


to   test    tne    111 


itter,  I   afterward  shot 


d  females  on  the  nest.      In  one  ca? 


tl 


ler  came  the  ('"•"•,  hreakiiii''  am 


d 


nreai 


■asi'  one  drojiped   to  the  j;rcinnd,  ami  with 
liiiM-  ,.j^u-  jinil  shell  ainoii;;-  the  feathers  of 


thi' 


In 


SO'MC 


later  notes  sent,  ^^r.  Poliii;,''  says:  "Since  writing'  to  you  in  reji'ard 

have  taken  o\er  a  dozen  e^'^'s,  which 
le,  or  else  are  due  to 


IV 


to  die  iiaiid-tailed   I'iii'eon,  on   .M; 
show  mv  previous  expi'riences  to  I 


n:  i:rfi'ii!iini-i   to   the  rule,  or  else  are  i 


di'Vereiice  ill  season  or  localitv.     .\s  tar  as  m\-  know 
i.'v.hat  puzzled  in  re 


Ml 


•e  now  extends. 


am 


-.iin 


ard   to  these   birds.     The   fact  of  their  iiotiii';-  at   al 


seasons,  without  an\'  reL;'iilarit\',  seems  to  be  wt 
\omi!;-,  two  or  three  months  old,  in   l''ebriiar\ 


'II   establisiied,  as  I    liaNC   taken 


ami 


that    t 


line  voimt;-  ami 


eir'fs  eiioiedi  to  show  that  tliev  lav  and  nest  from    December  to   Aii'riist,  mv 


'■!-T<- 


Wr- 


K 1.' 


.*■ 


1 

126 


LIFK  UlSTOKlliS  OF  NOUTU  AMlililCAX  lilUUS. 


last  fresh  v<j;'^  liaviii;^   Itci'ii    tfikcii  only  a  few  days  lator;    and    the    foniales 
exaniinoil  show  that  tlu-y  will  lay  on  tor  twt>  niontiis  iiioru  at  least. 


'In  ref^ard  to  their  carryin<^  the  ej,f<^  al)out   I  have,  in   aildition  to  tl 


10 


cases  noted,  shot  two  other  females  haviii<jf  the  ej^}"-  enil)edde(l  in  ih.-j  leathers 
of  the  Itelly,  and  fnrtlier,  hehl  l»y  the  le<i's  while  tlyin}^;  l)iit  in  sneh  eases 
they  seem  simjily  to  ali<fht  on  the  limh  of  a  spruce  and  incubate  there  with- 
out any  nest.     This  accounts  for  the  slmotin;;-  of  I'ijfeons  haviufj  a  broken 


i'lX'A  ••<niear 


ed  over  the  feathers,  as  1  have  done  when  no  ne.st  was 


to  1 


)e  seen. 


I  have  found  tiu'm  nestinjf  on  oaks,  maple,  and  spruce  trees,  often  in  old 
nests  of  some  other  l)ird,  or  on  a  slight  platform  of  twi<fs  laid  loosely  on  a 
Hat  limb. 


"These  birds  sit  clo.selv,  and  allow  one  to  <fo  much   nearer  them   th: 


ui 


to  k 


now  wneii 


when  merely  fi'edin<i"  or  restinj^.     in  fact,  this  is  the  <)uly  way 

you  have  found  a  nest.     The  entire  bird  may  Vs  in  jilain  siglu,  but  no  nest 

can  be  .seen  from  below,  even  when  within  10  feet  of  her;   and   1   had  wn- 


erallv    to    note 


th 


spot    from     whence    she    tlei 


am 


1    dim!)   aI)ove   this 


when  on  lookiu",'  down  the  ejjj^  mij>ht  be  seen,  which  usually  laid  directly 
over  the  limb,  and  hence  was  invisilde  from  below.  The  avera;;e  di.stance  of 
the  nests  from  the  ;;roun(l  is  about  10  feet,  the  e.\tremes  Ijein;i'  (i  and  70  teet. 
'I'ijicons  are   most   plentiful   in  these   mountains  during  the   months  of 


,r 


une  ant 


1  Jul> 


They 


arc* 


tl 


len   scattered  over  the  entin*   ranjie,   fr 


<>ni 


tl 


le 


oak  groves  at  the  bases  of  the  foothills  to  the  pines  at  the  highest  point. 
They,  hov.'cvi'r.  have  certain  points  where  they  congregate,  favorite  feeding 
irrounds,  which  are  Lfeuerallv  near  the  mouth  of  a  canon,  and  to  which  they 
repair  regulai'ly,  coming  ami  goiug  singly  or  in  ))airs  and  flocks  of  all  sizes. 
In  coming  down  from  the  higher  points  to  tliese  feeding  places  their  Hight 
is  exceedingly  swift,  and  tlie  noist;  made  1)\-  their  wings  is  wonderful.  It 
appeared  to  me  similar  to  the   rush   of  steam   from   an   engiiu',  and   can   be 


lieard   when    tlie    l)irds   are   scarcely   visil)le 


and 


1   thousand    \anls  o\-er 


rhead. 


The  crop  of  a  godd-sized  male  after  feeding  contains  from  twenty-five  to 
fifty  acorns." 

I  have  (pioted,  without  further  comment,  the  remarkable  statenuMit  of  Mr. 
I'oling,  in  reganl  to  tie*  allegeil  rc'Uioval  of  egii's  li\'  tliis   Pigeon. 

rndoulttedly  the  irregular  distril)Ution  of  tiu-  Mand-t.iiled   Pigeon  at  cer 


taui   tunes    is 


ue,    to   a 


ar"-e    i 


xtent,   to  tile    comijarativc 


d)und 


UH-e 


•f  its 


favorite    fond,   acorns,    which    are    found    only   in    certain    localities.     ( )n    tii 


eastern  slniies  of  the  Sierra  Nevada   in 


Calif 


orma,  a 


nd  the  (' 


iisca( 


le   I 


vanye  ni 


( )regon  and  Washington,  oaks  are  but  seldom  seen:  iience  tlu*  scarcity  of 
these  birds.  I  have  scmi  flocks  of  the  Hand-tailed  Pigeon  repeatedly  while 
stationed  in  southern  .Vrizona,  lait  only  along  the  foothills  of  the  mountains 
where  oaks  were  abundant.  Tlie  fruit  of  some  of  these  trees  is  excee(liiig|y 
sweet   and  palatabh',  e(pial  to  the  liest   of  nuts.     There   is,  however,  a  great 


deal  of  difference  in  the  taste  of  tl 


lese  acorns 


W 


iile  oil  one  ti'e(>  sweet  ones 


in 


;iy  bo  found,  those  of  the  next,  although  of  apparently  the  same   species, 


THE  BAND-TAILKD  PRJEON. 


127 


limy  l)e  Itittcr  and  uuHt  to  be  eutoii  by  nmn,  tliou^fli  (luittt  aci-eptablo  to 
these  birds. 

In  southern  Arizona,  at  least,  it  would  appear  tliat  tlie  lireedin;^  season  of 
tlie  liaiid-tailed  l*i}>eon  covered  nearly  every  month  in  the  year,  and  several 
broods  MUist  l)e  reared  by  eaeh  pair  durinj^-  tlm  season.  In  Oregon  and  Wash- 
in'-'ton  two  broods  are  probably  the  iisnal  nnnd)er. 

In  Arizona  the  nests  of  tiiis  .speeies  seem  to  be  always  placed  in  tree.s, 
wiiile  in  Oregon,  according  to  I'rof.  O.  1$.  Johnson,  they  Im^ed  occasionally  on 
tiie  ground.  This  statement  is  confirmed  l)y  Dr.  (!ooper,  who  says:  "In  Junct 
tliey  lay  two  white  eggs,  alxtut  the  .size  of  tiiose  of  tlu^  House  Pigeon,  on  the 
groun<l,  near  streams  or  openings,  and  witlmut  constructing  any  nests."' 

In  southern  Arizona,  according  to  the  nl)servations  of  .several  well-known 
and  relialde  collectors,  but  a  single  egg  is  laid  at  a  sitting,  and,  as  far  as  I  am 
aware,  at  no  time  have  two  been  found.  Tiuir  cooing  resembles  that  of  the 
domestic  Pigeon,  and  the  young  are  fed  in  a  simihir  manner.  Incul)ation  la.sts 
from  eigiiteen  to  twenty  days,  both  si'xes  a.ssisting.  Tht;  \oung  grow  raj)idly, 
and  are  able  to  leave  tlie  nest  when  about  a  month  old. 

Tiie  egg  ot  the  Hand-tailed  Pigeon  is  large  for  tlie  size  of  tiie  bird,  and  is 
somewhat  rieculiar  in  shape.  This  may  la;  called  a  pointed  eUiiilical  ovate.  All 
the  eggs  i  have  seen  show  this  featuri'.  Tliey  are  pure  white  in  color,  the  siiell 
is  close  grained,  smooth,  and  slightly  glossy. 

Tiie  average  measurement  of  thirteen  specimens  is  Kt  by  "iS  millimetres; 
The  largest  of  these  eggs  niea.suriiig  4k\.')  by  ^0,  the  smallest  38  by  27  milli- 
metres. 

Tlie  tyjie  specimen  (Xo.  2iJ"_*40,  l',  S.  National  Museuni  collection,  PI.  3, 
Fig.  17)  was  obtained  by  Lieut.  II.  (J.  IJenson,  11.  S.  Army,  near  Fort  Ilua- 
cliiica,  Arizona,  on  Septemlter  2"),  1SS,">. 


I 


'I 

■m 
m 


%,^ 


43.     Columba  fasciata  vioscae  Bkkwstkk. 

V|o,v;(a'.s    IMOKON. 

ViAumba  fasciata  vioHvir  Rkkwstkk,  Aiik,  v,  isss,  sc. 

(B-.  C—  U— .  C—  U  .il-,'-!.) 

Geookaphical  UA.\(iE:  Lower  California. 

Acconliug  to  Mr.  Brewster,  this  iicwly-flcscribcd  siibs|)ecies  differs  froin 
the  Band-tailed  Pigi'on  in  being  a  trifle  smaller;  the  tail  band  is  wanting,  or 
only  faintly  indicated;  the  ground  coloring  lighter  and  more  uniform;  the 
•\iiiaceous  tints,  esjiecially  on  the  head,  neck,  and  breast,  much  fainter  and  more 
or  less  re])laced  l)y  bluish  ash.  Ir  has  been  named  after  Mr.  Vioscii,  the  I'.  S. 
I'oiisiil  at  La  Paz,  Lower  ( "alifornia. 

Little  is  known  regarding  the  haliits  of  this  bird,  which  are  probably  very 
similar  to  those  of  the  preceding  sulispecies. 


II 


i'  li 


■Ririlsor  North  America,  Vol.  ill,  |i.  363. 


nrrr 


128 


LIKE  JIISTOUIKS  OF  NOlJTli  AMKUICAN  lUUDS. 


hi 


m 


iMr.  M.  A.  Frazar,  wliilc  collfctiiifr  near  Pcairc's  Raiicli,  in  Lowor  Cali- 
fornia, (»l)taint'(I  two  Mcsts,  each  containin;;'  a  sinj^k!  cji};'.  (hut  of  tlicso  is  now 
lu'foro  nic.  I'liis  i"^if  was  taJKcn  .July  !!•,  1SH7,  and  tlio  nest  in  wiiich  it  was 
fonnd  was  coinposcd  of  a  few  sticks,  placi'd  on  a  lnokt-n  iipriji'lit  liranrli  in  tlie 
center  of  ii  '/umt  cactns,  altont  IS  tcct  from  the  ;;ronnd.  The  v^i^  was  fresli;  it 
is  pnre  wliite,  sli<;litly  filossy,  elli|)ti(al  ovate  in  slisipi-,  and  not  (piite  as  notably 
pointeil  at  tiie  small  end  as  tlie  ejiys  of  ('dIkiiiIki  fitsc'iaiii ;  it  measures  38  by 
■Jd.")  millimetres. 

'Pile  type  specimen  (Xo.  ■J.'UlWi,  U.S.  National  Museum  collection,  IM.  'A, 
V"\\^.  1<S)  al»ove  described  was  kindly  donated  1>\'  Mr.  William  Brewster. 


H 


44.     Columba  flavirostris  Waglkk. 


.* 


UKi)-iiii.i,i;o  i"i(ii:uN. 

Cohniihii  HdrirnatriN  WA(ii,Kl!.  Isis.  is:!l.  Alli. 

(H  441;,  ('  :tti8,  R  457.  C  54n,  U  .'{i;i.) 

0KO(iKAPni(Ai,  i!A.\(;p;:   ^Irxiro  ami  Ci'iitr.-il  Aiiicririi ;  south  to  Costa  Rica;  iiortli 
to  soutlicrn  Tcmis.  SDiitliciii  Arizona,  and  Lower  C'alitdinia. 

'I'lie  Red-billed  IMji'eon  can  only  Im?  considered  as  a  sunmier  visitor  over 
tlu'  j>reater  portion  of  its  ranji'e  within  the  bonlers  of  the  I'niteil  States.  It  is 
most  connnonly  found  alon^-  the  heavily-tindiered  Itottoni  lands  of  tlio  valli-v 
of  the  b'io  (Jrande,  in  'Pexas,  where  it  breeds  al)undantly,  and  a  i't'W  may  pos- 
sibly remain  tin-onjihoiit  the  year  near  tlie  nmuth  of  tlnit  river.  It  extends 
tlii'nce  into  southern  Arizona,  but  is  of  rar*^  occiu'rence  in  that  Territory. 

.Mr.  (leoi'ji-e  15.  SeniU'tt,  in  his  "IJirds  ot'  tlie  K'io  (Jrande  of  Te.xas,"  {rives 
the  following;'  account  of  this  interesting^  species:  "I  found  tiiis  line  lai'^jc 
I'iji'eon  common  in  lieavv  tindier,  nion^  i'sj)eciall\-  in  tiie  tall  scattereil  clum|is 
near  the  larji'er  tracts.  Its  ap|tearanco  is  so  marked  tiiat  it  can  lie  reco<rnized  at 
ail  times  tVom  other  members  of  the  famlK'.  Like  all  l'i;;('oiis,  it  is  fond  of  the 
water.  .\iiv  moriiiuji'  will  tiiid  numbers  of  all  the  ditVereiit  species  ;j-oinj»'  to 
and  cfiminj;'  from  the  sand-bars  in  the  river,  where  the\  are  in  the  haliit  of 
drinkiii;--  and  bathin;;-. 

"The  cooin;;'  ot  this  bird  is  clear,  short,  and  ratliei'  lii;^h  pitched.  It  is 
more  secluded  in  its  habits  than  any  of  the  others,  except  the  one  I  lia\e  latelv 
found  new  to  oui-  fauna,  .■J'jiliiiinjitilii  iilhifrniis.  In  point  of  numbers  it  is  much 
less  numerous  than  the  ( 'aroliua  and  the  W'hiti'-wiuii'eil  i)o\cs;  still  it  is  shot 
(piite  extensi\-ely  for  the  market.  I  found  it  breedjn^i-,  and  secured  several  sets 
of  nests  and  eji'^^s.     «     «     * 

"On  April  ."io,  I  found  my  first  nest  of  this  bird  in  the  vicinity  of  Hiilalffo. 
The  localitx'  was  a  j^-rove  of  lar^ic  trees,  \>ith  uiider;:'rowtli,  and  clum|is  of 
bushes  matted  with  vines.  While  |iryiii;i'  about  the  thick  vines,  I  (lushed  the 
bird  off  its  nest,  and  it  alighted  in  one  of  the  I. (II  trees  near  bv.  It  took  me 
but  a  moment  or  two  to  examine  the  nest  and  slmot  the  bird.     In  less  tliaji  teu 


TUK  UED-BlLLliU  IMGEON. 


129 


luiimtes'  tiiiio  I  lia<l  also  its  iiuiti'.     TIu!  lUist  was  only  8  or  9  foot  from  tho 
"Tountl,  and  sot  upon  tlio  horizontal  l)ram'lK's  of  a  saplinif,  in  the  midst  of  tho 


It  was  oomi)osod  of  sticks,  hncd   with   lino   st(uns  and  jjfrassos, 


had 


vnios. 

doprossion  of  an  incli  i>r  nioro,  and  was  aljout  .S  inchos  in  outsido  (Uamotor 
•J.J  inches  doop.     It  contained  ouo  oj^ff  with  ombryo  just  formed.     Dissection 
tlie  bird  showed  that  she  wouhl  have  laid  no  more. 


h- 


"On  Mav  8    at   Lomita  Uanch,  a    few  miles   above  IIidal"'o,  in  the  fine 


"•rove  o 


f  el 


lomes  ni 


the  rear  of  the  biiildinjfs  of  the  ranch,  I  found  two  nests. 
Both  wore  well  up  in  trees,  one  ai)out  2.^)  foot  and  the  other  about  30.  The 
nests  were  situated  close  to  the  Ixtdy  of  the  trees,  (»u  lar<j(i  branches,  and  wen; 
coniposod  of  sticks  iind  f^rassos,  with  an  inside  depth  of  about  2  inches.  One 
(■(intained  a  sinj^le  o^jf  far  advanced,in  the  other  also  lay  a  solitary  e<^fr,  from 

The   parents  persisted   in  stayin;;- 


wlncli  a    vounjf  ( 


hick 


was  just  enior<jfni^. 


iltout,  notwithstandiiifi'  we   wore  makinji'  a    jireat  disturl)ance,  even  .shootin 


llto  tl 


10  same  trees. 


\y 


lonovor  wi'   won 


M 


off 


some  ( 


listi 


ince, 


tl 


liatoh 


ley 


won 


M 


V  "o  on  their  nests,  and  seemed  loath  to  leave  on  our  n^fiu'u.     These 


brood 


m<>'  so  near  ha 


bitati 


ons. 


Tl 


10  i>rove  was  a  com- 


iniinoc 

wore  tho  only  ones  soon 

iiion  resort  for  man  and  bc-ast,  liesides  l)einff  the  place  where  wayons,  tools,  etc., 

wore  kept  and  repaired.     *     *     * 

"I'rom  my  observations  I  conclude  that  the  He<l-billed  I'i<^eon  breeds  on 
our  extreme  southein  l)or<!./  durin;^  A|»ril  and  May,  that  it  builds  a  nest  ditl'er- 
iiijf  from  those  of  other  I'ifi'oons,  and  lays  but  oiu'  o^rff.     »     »     * 

"The  shape  of  my  live  ofijis  of  tho  bird  under  consideration  is  (ddou}"- 
oval,  with  the  greatest  diameter  in  the  center.     Smne  vary  slij^htly,  tending 


soniotimos  to   douido    poii 


itod,   nnd   ayain   to   double   romulod.     The   c(d 


or   IS 


pure  w 


hito.  They  measure  l.fld  by  l.lO,  l.of)  by  1.12,  1.(10  by  l.OH,  1.4S  by 
l.OS,  iind  I.K;  by  1.07  inclie.s,  avora<>in<''  ].r>[  by  1.0!»  inches"  (ociualiufr  40.(! 
by  27.!»,  .'{:t.4  by  2.S.4,  40.(1  by  27.4,  ;}7.(;  by  27.4,  and  37.1  by  27.7  millimetro.s, 
avora^iu}::  .'{l».l  by  27.1)  millimetres).' 

In  his  "Further  Notes  on  the  Oniitliolojiy  of  the  Lower  Kio  (irando  of 
Mr.  («oorj>-(^  li.  Seniiott  ^-ivos  the  following  information  roji'ardiufi-  this 


oxas. 


siu'cios: 


Throu":li  tho  kinilut 


of  Dr.  S.  .M.   Kiidev,   l'.  S.  .Vrmv,  who 


stationotl  at  camp  near  Ilidaljio,  and  a  i>-ood  observer  <if  animal  life,  I  obtained 
vidiialile  information  coucerniu>i-  the  arrival  and  departure  <if  the  I'ijicons.  In 
answer  to  my  iu(piirios  in  re^^-ard  to  this  species,  he  j^ave  tho  followin<;  from  his 
note  l)ook  for  1S7H:   'First  noticed  on  danuarv  24,  in  tlocks;  al)out  tho  midille 


ni'  Feliruarv  the\'  wore  seen  in  ilie 


woods  in  pairs,  and  cooin 


Th 


ast  soon 


of  tlioiu,  in  1SS7,  was  the  latter  part  of  N'ovend)or.  These  l*i<i-oons  were  seen 
:Je\t'ral  times  consorting'  with  tame  Pijicons  in  the  el»on\'  trees  in  the  neij;hl»or- 
IiixmI  of  the  village  of  llidalji'o.'  This  bird  is  I'osident,  therefore,  on  the  Lower 
Wio  (irando  al)out  ten  months  in  the  year.  Tho  romaininu'  two  montlis  it  is 
l»rol)al»ly  in  the  more  <'ontral  part  of  our  continent,  wandorin;,^  in  flocks  from 
place  to  place  in  search  of  food. 


'(ieol<i|;i('ikl  and  Oi'iifrrapliical  Survey,  IliiyiU'ii,  187S,  Vol   IV,  No.  1,  [ip.  45,  40. 


20»57— null.  1- 


•!» 


:-:n 


m 


I 


/  :ii 


mr 


^ 


I 


1- 

•  '■    :  i  • 

^       .1 

•i 

' 

;    . 

ij 

180 


I.IKK  UISTOUIKS  OF  NORTH  AMKUILAN  BIliDS. 


"On  April  {t,  tlu'  day  atW  my  iirrival  at  Loinita,  I  went  to  Ilitlalpo  to 
make  aiTaiijyemeiits  alxmt  mail,  Huppliew,  etc.  Alntiit  a  mile  alK)vo  the  vill«g;e, 
on  t'amiliar  eollectin;^  fjround  of  the  season  het'ore,  I  discovered  a  Ued-hilled 
IMfi'eon  on  her  nest  in  a  thicket,  and  ahoiit  H  feet  from  the  ^jfronnd.  It  was 
not  until  I  had  approached  to  within  arm's  length  that  slu^  arost^  and,  tnm- 
blinff  heavily  inti^  the  l)nshes,  Muttered  away  over  the  {i'round  in  ca|)ital  feint 
of  injury,  in  order  to  attract  attention  away  from  tlu*  nest.  The  nest,  made 
of  twin's,  was  frail,  saucer-sha])ed,  and  contained  a  sin;;le  nearly  fledjied  yonn;^'. 
This  bird  breeds  irrejiularly,  and  lays  several  times  in  a  season.  I  foinid 
nests,  diuin^i'  tluf  whole  time  of  my  stay,  containing'  e<i<;s  and  youu};  in  all 
stajres  of  development,  but  in  no  case  did  a  nest  contain  moi'e  e<j"<;"s  or 
younj"'  than  a  sinjile  one.  The  parents  are  fond  and  all'ectionate,  and  both 
assist  in  incubation.  Their  food,  when  I  saw  them,  was  chiiffly  the  hack- 
berry  fruit. 

"The  younjf  from  the  ('<;•<;•  have  the  upper  parts  plumbeous  and  sparselv 
covered  with  dark  hair-like  feathers.  Under  parts  art*  pale  and  naked.  'Hie 
lialf-;xro\vn  younj;'  have  pluma;;*'  on  the  Itody  like  the  adult.  Head  and  Hanks 
do  not  become  feathered  until  l)ird  is  nearly  Hcdjicd,  and  in  the  lialf-;;rown 
younj;',  just  connnences  to  show.  From  a  lar^e  series  of  e<i<;s  I  iind  them 
to  averajye  I..'")")  by  1.10  inches  (e<pial  to  31I.4  by  27.1)  millimetres),  the  len^ith 
varyiufr  from  l.<!()  to  \.A'^  inches  (('(pial  to  4().()  to  \M\.H  millimetres),  and  the 
breadth  from  MX  to  l.(i.'{  inches  (eipial  to  4"). 7  to  "-'(i.'i  millimetres)."' 

Asst.  8ur^'.  .Fames  (".  .Merrill,  I'.  S.  ,Vrmy,  writes  me  as  follows:  "This 
handsome  and  lar;;'e  I*ij;eon  is  found  in  abundancv'  durinif  the  suumier  months, 
arriviufi'  in  Hocks  of  lifteen  or  twenty  aliout  the  last  week  in  Fehruarv. 
Thoufih  not  very  unconnnon  about  Fort  Brown,  it  is  nnich  more  plentiful 
!i  few  miles  hij{her  up  tlu*  river,  where  the  dense  woods  otTer  it  the  shade  and 
retirement  it  seeks.  Three  nests,  found  in  a  ;;rove  of  ash  trees  on  the  Itanks 
of  the  Uio  (irande,  near  camp  at  ilidal^io,  were  frail  platforms  of  twi^is,  such 
as  are  usually  built  liy  other  I'iji'cons.  Kach  contained  one  ejifi-.  These  are 
of  a  ])early  whiteness,  and  avera;;-e  l.")0  by  I.OS  inches  (e(pial  to  ,'W.l  by 
27.4  millimetres).      Moth  sexes  incul)ate.'"       «     *     * 

('apt.  William  L.  Carpenter,  Ninth  Infantry,  II.  S.  Arm\',  wiites  nuj: 
"While  at  Fort  Grant,  Arizona,  .Inly  2."),  IXXd,  three  specimens  of  this  species 
were  shown  me,  which  hatl  been  shot  that  day  near  the  post,  in  the  f"o<»thills 
of  the  (Jrahani  .Mountains,  which  woid<l  indicate  that  thesi;  birds  l)ree(l  in 
Ari/.ona.  Ciraham  Mountain  is  distant  aliout  \M  mih>s  from  the  Mexican 
border." 

I  can  add  nnthin;^-  new  to  these  accoimts;  the  length  of  incubation  is  prob- 
ably the  same  as  that  of  the  Uand-tailed  I'iji'con  and  a  sin;;le  ejij;-  seems  to  con- 
stitute a  set. 

There  are  only  tour  e<r}rs  of  this  species  in  the  V.  S.  National  Museum 
collection;  the   shape  of  two  of   these  may  be  called  elliptical    oval,   the  re- 

'II.  8.  OcoUiKiciil  ami  (ipiiRriipliiciil  Survey,  Unyilon,  1S7'.»,  Vol.  V,  No.  :i,  pp.  4*J,  423. 
-ProceediiiKH  U.  8.  NaUouuI  Miiih^uiii,  1S7H,  Vol.  i,  p.  1,^>7. 


THE  UEU-BILLED  PIGEON. 


181 


inainin^''  two,  iucluiliiij,'  tlu;  typo  siKicimcii,  two  sliirlitly  pointed  at  the  smaller 
(•11(1.     Tiicir  color  is  pure  white  with  hut  little  j^Ioss. 

The  type  speeiiiieii  (No. --'(I.S.'il,  T.  S.  National  Museum  colleetiou,  IM.  4, 
Ki;,'.  2),  was  eolleeted  near  lli(hiI^o,  Texas,  April  ^(i,  1.S7H,  l»y  Asst.  Surff. 
.lames  V,.  Merrill,  U.  S.  Army.  It  measures  40  hy  •27..'")  millimetres,  another  ;{!• 
\t\  27.4  millimetres,  and  tlus  reiuaiuiug  two  spet'imeiis,  each  measure  ii7  by  27.;') 
millimetres. 

45.     Columba  leucocephala  Linn/Kis. 

WIllTK-CKOW.N'KI)    I'KiKON. 
f'nhiinhn  Iriirncephnla  LiNN.Kl's,  Systciiui  Nat  line.  (^il.  10.  r.  1758.  ir.4. 

(H  44r,  c;  ;i()ii,  li  t.w.  c!  .541.  U  :fi4.) 

frKooRAPHlCAi,  i{A>r(iK:  Soutlioni  Koys  of  Florida.  Grijator  Antilles,  Bahamas,  also 
Santa  Vvn/..  St.  Bartholonicw.  and  jirohahly  other  islands  of  tin?  Virj^in  Group  and 
Little  Antilles,  also  alonj;  ilw  coast  of  Hondni'as. 

'Hie  breedin;^  ranpe  of  the  Wiiite-erowned  I'ijjceon  witliiu  tlie  borders  of 
the  United  States  is  eontiued  to  tiie  southern   Florida   Keys. 

Mr.  W.  E.  D.  Scott,  in  his  jiaper  on  the  "lairds  of  tlu^  (»idf  Coast  of  Flor- 
ida," refers  to  this  speeies  as  follows:  "A  rejiular  summer  resident  at  Key 
West  and  vieinity,  and  .Mr.  Atkins  also  took  it  on  one  occasion  at  I'unta 
h'a.ssa  (see  Auk,  V(d.  v,  [>.  IH't).  TIiou<ili  a  rej^ular  summer  resident,  it  seems 
not  at  all  common  at  Key  West,  thouji'h  (piite  abundant  on  neifi'hlxirin;;  keys 
ill  .July,  Aujiust,  and  Seiiteinber.  Mr.  Atkins  says  that  they  arrive  at  Key 
West  from  May  1   to  lo,  and  remain  till  November."' 

Ur.  Henry  Bryant,  in  his  "List  of  Hirds  seen  at  the  Mahamas  in  IS.'iO," 
makes  the  followiii<>-  statement  about  this  species:  "This  bird  is  a  con.stant 
resident,  thouj;h  not  freipiently  seen  in  winter,  at  which  time  it  is  much  less 
jin-uarioiis  in  its  haliits  than  in  sprin^r  jiiid  summer,  'i'lie  number  is  proba- 
bly auj;iiieiited,  duriiiff  and  after  the  lireediii;;'  .season,  l)y  birds  that  have 
[lassed  tiie  winter  further  south.  It  br(;eds  in  communities,  in  some  places, 
as  at  (Jras.sy  Kays,  .Viidros  Island,  in  vast  numbers;  iiere  the  nests  were 
iiiadt*  on  the  tops  of  tlie  prickly  pear,  which  coscr  the  whole  kay;  at  tiie 
Biniinis  and  Ihieiia  Vista  Kay.  l{a;iii-ed  Island,  on  the  iiianjjroves;  and  at  Lon;;- 
IJock,  near  Kxuma,  on  the  stunted  biisiies.  I  do  not  think  they  ever  select 
a  larji'e  kay  for  their  bre(Mliiif>-  place.  The  e^jis  are  laid  by  the  middle  of 
May.  and  the  youn<i'  leave  the  nest  about  the  1st  of  .Inly,  previous  to  which 
threat  numbers  are  killed  by  the  iiej;roes.  It  is  a  shy  bird  when  not  l)ree(lin<,"', 
even  in  the  most  uninhabited  localities.  Its  food  consists  entirely  of  berries  and 
fruits."^ 

.\ccordiiif,f  to  .\uduboii,  the  White-headed  Pi;;'eoii  arrives  on  the  .south- 
ern keys  of  Florida  about  the  2()th  of  .Vpril,  sdinetiines  not  till  tlu^  1st  of  .May. 
Pliey  an;  at   all  times  exceedinjily  wary,  probably  on  account  of  tiie  war  that 


1 1. 


'Auk,  VI,  ISh;I,  p.  mc. 

-l'r<ii^i'iMliii);ii  Uiititoii  Hocioty  Naliinil  UiHtorv,  1H.V.I,  pii.  Vil,  \-i-i 


1 

Sr 

!      ' 

'i; 
sr 


'? 


4      " 


■I' 

132 


Lil-'K  UI8TOK1ES  OF  NOKTll  AMKUICAN   lUKDiS. 


is  iiict'«siU)tly  wnfjcd  afjainst  tlii'ni,  tlu-ir  Hcsli  liciii^jf  very  jiiit'V  mul  (iiicly 
flavored.  This  sIiyiicsH  is  only  piirtially  altatctl,  even  diiriiifi  the  lMCf(|iii;;'  scii- 
«on,  iiH  thoy  will  silently  slide  troiu  tlicir  nest  wlicii  sittiii;;:,  it"  it  is  appnmciicd, 
and  retreat  to  the  dark  shade  of  the  inau^froves,  and  do  not  return  tor  an  inter- 
val to  their  ehar}>'e.  They  were  more  abundant  in  the  more  southern  keys, 
e.\ce|)t  the  sterile  Tortujfas. 

Audid)on  t'ound  the  nests  placed  hiji'li  or  low,  accordinjj  to  eirenni- 
stanees,  Itnt  never  saw  two  on  the  same  tree,  lie  has  met  willi  them  on  tlie 
top  of  a  cactus  only  a  few  feet  from  the  <;rounil,  or  on  a  low  hranch  of  a  man- 
jifove    almost   toiU'hin<;'   the    water.     TlieN'  ai'e   said   to   resendile    those   of  the 


connnoii 


I' 


issenyer 


I 


ii;-eon 


lait 


lire  more  compact  and 


liett( 


Imed 


he  outer 


part  i)einjj  composeil  of  small  dry  twi<is,  the  inner  of  fd)rous  roots  and  ;^rasses. 
The  ejfffs  are  two,  of  an  opaipu'  white,  roundish,  ;iiid  as  larj;t'  as  those  of  the 
common   I'i^feon.  Auduhon   thinks  that   these  hirds  mav   have  .several   Itroods 


m  a  season. 


1  am  unahle  to  add  anythinj;-  new  to  these  accoimts.     The  e^ffs  of  this 
sjiecies  in  the   II.  S.  Nationid    .Museum   collection,  olttained   mostly  from  Cuha 


ind  the    Bahamas,  are  more  "lossv,  and  the  .shells  are 


nni 


h  smoother,  than  in 


tl 


le  eirtrs  o 


f  other  species  of  this  family.     Thev  are  [)ure  white  in  c(dor  and 


ellijjtical  oval  in  shape;  some  are  nearly  (»val 

The  avera<re  measurement  of  eleven  specimens  in  the  II.  S.  National 
Museum  collection  is  ;{7  hy  "Jt!.."*  millimetres.  The  larjit'st  v>^fx  nieasures  y!t.r> 
hy  2(!,  the  smallest  .'U.i")  hy  "Ji!  millimetres. 

The  type  specimen  (No.  .")"»(!,  IM.  4,  Fij;'.  4),  from  a.  set  of  two,  was  collected 
on  Indian  Key,  Florida,  in  the  spriu<;'  of  1S,">!»,  l»y  Mr.  (J.  Wiirdeimum. 

46.     Ectopistes  migratorius  (Linn.euh). 

i'.\,ssi:N(ii;iJ   I'KiKoN. 

Colfinilia  mUjrfitoviii  Linn.ki's,  System;!  N'atiir;e,  cil.  1-',  i,  l^ili!,  :.'S.')  (i). 
EclopiNfi's  miijmhrHi  Swainson,  7i(M"iloj,'ical  Jdiirnal.  111,  ISv'r,  :!'!•.'. 
(B  US,  {'  :i:(i,  K  t.Vt,  ('  .^14:!,  U  ;5I").) 

Gko(!Kapiiicai,  I!AN(;k:  DccidiK his  forest  ivf^imis  of  eastern  Nortli  America  ;  west, 
casually,  to  Wasliiiif^tcm  and  Nevaiia:  C'iil>a. 

The  hreediii};-  ran^c  of  the  l'assen;.i'er  l*ii;'eon  to-day  is  to  he  look(Ml  for 
principally  in  the  thinly  settled  and  wooded  ref^ion  alou};'  our  northern  border, 
from  northern  Maine  westward  to  northern  Minnesota;  in  the  Dakota.s,  as  well 
as  in  similar  localities  in  the  i-astern  and  middle  portions  of  the  Dominion  ot 
C'anada,  and  north  at  least  to  Hudson  Hay.  Isolated  and  scatterin<i'  pairs  |»rob- 
ably  still  breed  in  the  New  Kniilaiid  States,  northern  New  York,  Pennsylvania, 
Michi<,'an,  Wisconsin,  .Minnesota,  and  a  few  other  localities  further  .south,  but 
the  entirinous  i)reedinji'  colonies,  or  pij^eon  roosts,  as  they  were  formerly  called, 
frequently  coverinjf  the  forest  for  miles,  and  so  often  mentioned  by  naturalists 


■  liirda  u{  Nurtli  Aiiicric;!,  1S74,  Vul.  Ill,  pp.  364,  365. 


Til  15  PASSRNC.HR  PIORON. 


133 


and  liuntcrs  in  foriiiiT  years,  arc  Mkii  tlio  iiiimcuso  herds  of  tli«  Aiiierieau  Itison 


iliiel 


I  loained  over  the  j^reat  plains  of  tlie  West  in  eoiuitless  tlionsands  Imt  ti 
coniile  of  decades  aj;'o,  tliin^^s  of  die  past,  prol)al»Iy  never  to  he  seen  af;ain. 

In  fact,  tlie  extermination  oi"  the  l'assen;;'er  l*i<;'eon  lias  pi-ojiicssed  so 
rapidly  dnrin<;'  the  past,  twenty  years  that  it  looks  now  as  if  their  total 
extermination  mijjht  l»e  aeeoni|tlished  witiiin  the  present  eentnry.  The  oidy 
ihieh   it'tards   their  complete  extinction    is   tiiat   it    no  lonj^cr  pays   to 


tllMI^ 
net 


l»irds,   the 


y    hein^    too  sc 


arc(!  for  this    i 


low, 


at   least   in   tlu 


nore 


settled  portions  of  the  conntry,  and  also,  perhaps,  that  from  constant  and 
uin-emittinii'  persecution  on  their  l)reedin;;  f^ronnds  they  have  chanji;ed  their 
haliits  somewiiat,  th((  majority  no  Ion;,;er  ltreedin;f  in  colonies,  lint  scattering'' 


over  the  country  and 


hreedi 


i;^  III  isolated  jiairs. 


.Mr.  William  Hnnvster,  in  his  article  "On  the  {•resent  Status  of  the  Wild 


jo-eon,'    etc.,   writes  as 


f.ill 


ows: 


'in  tlie  sprinj>'  of   ISHS  my  friend.  Captain 


ellilire,    w 


rote  me  that  he  had  received   news  tV 


om  a  correspondent  in  cen- 


tral   .Miclii;i'aii    to   the   etfect    that    Wild    l*i;.-eoiis 
iiiimhers  and   were  prepariii;^'   to  nest.     Act 
at    once,   ii 
'llestillJJ 


ha.l 


irrived    there    in    ^jreat 


iim'  on  this   information,    1  .started 


1   comitany  with    .Mr.  .lonatlian    I >wi;;ht,   jr.,  to   visit   the   expecte<l 
•h   as   possilde  alioiit   the   haltits  of   the   lireedinj^ 


aiK 


1    1. 


birds,  as  well  as  to  secinc  specimens  of  their  sk 


ins  am 


1  eM-f.-H 


"On  reaching''  Cadillac,  .Michigan,  May  S,  we  found  that  lar;i-e  flocks  of 
I'iji-eons  had  passed  there  late  in  .\pril,  while  there  were  reports  of  similar 
flights  from  almost  every  county  in  the  southern  jiart  of  the  State.     .\lthoii<^li 


ist  of  the    l)ird? 


nil 

iietters,  coll 


had 


on 


het 


ore  our  arriva 


1,  th 


prot 


essional 


iji'eon 


lideiit   that   tliev  would   tinallv  lireed   somewhere   in  the  soiitheri 


eiiinsiila,   were    l)iisilv   eii^a;i'ei|    Nettinn'    their   nets    an( 


<l    otl 


ler  a]i])aratus    in 


on 


ler  for  an  extensive  camiiaijin  a;^-ain 


it  th 


iioor 


hirds 


"We  were   assured   that 
lished  tile  fact   would    lie  known 


as   soon  as  tlii'   lireediny^  eolonv  liecame  estal)- 


all   over  the  State,  and  tlier 


ih 


tiicult 


y    m    ascertainiiiL;-    its    precise 


locat 


itai. 


lccf)ri 


\[n<x]\ 


■e  Would   \ti'  no 
we    waited    at 


le   w(*   wen^    in   correspoiiuence 


( 'adillac  ahout  two  weeks,  during  wlii(di  tin 
with  Iietters  in  dilVereiit  parts  of  the  reji'ion.  Xo  news  came,  however,  and 
one  l»y  one  the  netters  lost  heart,  until  linally  most  of  them  ajjfreed  that  the 
l'i;;'eons  had  ^foiie  to  the  far  north,  i)eyond  the  reach  of  mail  and  telejfraphic 
communication.  As  a  last  lioju',  we  went,  on  May  If),  to  Odeii,  in  tln^ 
iiortlii  rii  part  of  the  southern  peiiinsnla,  about  "JO  miles  south  of  the  Straits 


if   .Mackinac.      Here 


found    that   there   had   Iteen,  as  elsewhere 


ni 


M 


iclu- 


uan,  a  heavy  tlij^ht  of  birds   in  the  latter  part  of  A|)ril,  but  that  all   passed 


fill. 


Tl 


us  our  trip  ))rove( 


1  a  fi 


dure  as  tar  as  tu 


tnall 


V  seenijr  a  I'mcoii  'nest- 


iii;^"  was  concerned;  but  ]iartly  by  (diservation,  jtartly  by  talkin;j'  with  the 
Hitters,  fanners,  sportsmen,  and  lumitermen,  we  obtained  much  information 
II 'U;i riling-  the  flight  of  ISSS,  and  the  lar^'er  nestinj;s  that  have  occurred  in 
.Michigan  within  the  past  decade,  as  w(dl  as  many  interestinj'-  details,  .some 
III  which  appear  to  be  new    ■>lioiit  the  habits  of  the  liirds. 


j> 


m 


TT 


H 


" 


ii  1 .1  i 


ifi^ 


1 


134  lilFK  IIISTOUIES  OF  NORTH  AMIMJICAX  lUUUS. 

"Our  |triii('i|ml  iiirormaiit  wiis  Mr.  S.  S.  Stt'vciis,  of  ('adilliu*,  ii  vctcmn 
l*i};«'(>ii  iicttcr  <it'  liMf^f  cxin'rit'iicc,  ami,  as  we  were  assured  Ity  cvciyoui*  wlioin 
\v«'  askcil  rouccniiu^  liiiu,  a  uiau  of  lii;;li  irpiitatiou  tor  veracity  and  caretiil- 
ucss  of  statt'Micut.  His  tcstiiuony  was  as  follows:  'i*i;;<'oiis  appeared  that 
year  in  uundiers  near  Cadillac,  ahoiit  the  'JOtli  ot  A|ii'il.  lie  saw  fully  sixty 
in  one  day,  seattereil  ai)oMt  in  l)eecli  woods  near  the  head  of  Claui  Lake,  and 
on  another  occasion  about  one  hundred  driukiu;,'  at  the  mouth  of  the  hrook, 
while  a  Hock  that  covered  at  least  H  acres  was  ohscrNftl  hy  a  friend,  a  per- 
fectly reliaiile  man,  living'  in  a  nurtheastly  direction.  Many  other  smaller 
Hocks  were  n^portetl.' 

"The  last  nestiii},''  of  any  importaiu-e  in  Michifjan  was  in  1S81,  a  few 
miles  west  of  (Jrand  Traverse.  It  was  only  of  moderate  size,  perhaps  H  miles 
louff.  .Sid)se(piently,  in  \HHil,  Mr.  Stevens  found  alxtut  lifty  dozen  pairs  nest- 
ing in  a  swamp  near  Lake  City.     He  does  not  douht  that  similar  small  colonic; 


occur  everv    year, 


liesidi 


■attered    i»airs.     In   fa<'t,  he  sees  a    few    I'i"cons 


ahout  Cadillac  every  simuner,  and  in  the  early  autuuin  yonnj^'  Itirds,  harely 
aide  to  Hy,  are  often  met  with  sin<ily  '""  ''i  suiall  parties  in  the  woods.  Such 
straj^j^lers  attract  little  attention,  and  no  one  attempts  to  net  them,  although 
many  are  shot. 

"The  largest  nesting  he  ever  visiteil  was  in  1H7(I  or  1S77.  It  liegan 
near  IVtosky,  and  extended  northeast  past  Crooked  Lake  for  2H  miles,  aver- 
aging 3  or  4  miles  wide.  The  l»irds  arrived  in  two  separate  Itodies,  one 
directly  from  the  south  l»y  land,  the  other  following  the  east  i-oast  of  Wis- 
consin, and  cros.sing  at  3Ianitou  Island.  He  saw  the  latter  liody  come  in  from 
the    lake  at    about   .'5   o'clock    in    the  afternoon.     It    was  a   compact   mass  of 


igeons, 
tl 


at  least  "i  miles  long    liy   1   mile   wide.     The  birds    began    buildin;. 

12   inc'ieti   deep   in  tin-  woods,  although  the   tields   were 

rapidly   did   the    colony    extend  its  boundaries  that  it 


when  the   snow   was 


i)are  at   the  time. 

soon  passed  literally  over  and  around  the  place  wliei'e  he  was  netting,  although 
when  he  Itegan,  this  point  was  several  miles  from  the  nearest  nest.  Nestings 
usually  start  in  ilecidiious  woods,  but  during  their  j»rogress  the  I'igeons  do  not 
skip  any  kind  of  trees  they  encountei-.  The  I'etosk)'  nesting  extended  S  miles 
through  hardwood  timlier,  then  crossed  a  river  bottoui  wooded  with  arbor- 
vita-,  and  thence  sti-etcheil  through  white  ])ine  woods  about  "JO  miles.  I''or 
the  entire  distance  of  2.S  miles  ever\'  tree  of  an>'  size  had  more  or  less  nests. 


ant 


1  n 


laiiv  trees  were 


fdl( 


nth  tl 


lem. 


N 


one  w 


ere  lower  than  about   1")  feet 


above  the  "round. 


'Pigeons  are  very  noisy  when  Ituilding,     They  make  a  sound  resembling 
I    froys.     Their   combined    clamor  can  l>e  heard  4  or  ■") 


u'  croakmi''  o 


Woo( 


tl 

miles  away   when   the   atuiospheric   conditions    are   favorable.     Two  eggs  are 


usua 


iiy 


laid 


but 


man\'  nests   contain    onl\'   one.     IJoth    birds    incubate,   tlu 


femah's  l)etween  2  o'clock  p.  m.  and  !l  or  l!)  o'tdock  the  next  morning;  the 
males  from  It  or  10  o'clock  a.  m.  to  2  o'clock  p.  m.  The  males  feed  twice 
each  dav,  namely,  from  da\liii'ht  to  about  S  o'clock  a.  m.,  and  a<rain  late  in 


i|li 


Till-:  I»AS8KN(}KK  I'UiKON. 


135 


tlic  al'trrni»mi.     Tlif  t't■lllllI(•^<  t'ccd   mily  iliiriii;>'   the  lurciiMoii.     'I'lic  clmiifii^  is 
mii<l«'  witli  "^rciit   rf;;iiliirify  .is  to  time,  nil   tiic    iiuilcs  ln-iiij;-  uii   tin-   iit-st   liy 

III    (M'llick    il.    III. 

"l)iiriiiji'  tlic  imn'iiiii;;'  ami  cvciiiiiji'  im  Iciiialt's  arc  ever  (iiii^flit  Ity  tin* 
iii'ttcrs;  iliirinji'  tlit'  turriiduii  no  iiialcs.  'I'lit'  sitting;'  liinl  (lues  in>t  Icmnc  tlu' 
lies!  until  tlu*  liill  of  its  iiicoinin^'  mate  iii'arly  toiii'lics  its  tail,  tlic  t'oriiici' 
sliiiiiiiif;'  oil'  as  tlic  latter  takes  its  place. 

"'I'liiis  the  cii'^i's  arc  constantly  covered,  ami  Imt  tew  an-  c\er  thrown  out 
(|es|tite  the  t'ni;;'ih'  character  of  the  nests  ami  the  s\vayin;i'  of  the  trees  in 
liiMh  winds.  'I'he  old  liirds  never  feed  in  or  near  the  nestinji',  leaviiiji'  all  tlit) 
lieccliniast,    etc.,    there   for  their   Ndiin;;'.     .Manv   of  them    j^o    lOO   miles  each 

I 


m 


dav    for    food.     Mr.    Stevens    is    satisfied    that    l'i<;eoiis    continue    hiyiiifi-  a 
hatcliiii'i'  duriii;;'  the  entire    summer.     'I'hev    do    not,   however,   use    tiie    san 


le 


iiestinji'  j)lace  a  second   time  in   one   season,  tlie  entire   colony   always  moviiif^" 
I'nmi  ■_•!)  to   l(M)   miles    after    the   appearance  of   each    hi I   of   yoiiii^'.     Mi-. 


Ntevciis,  as  well  a 


s  inan\'  of  the  othei-  netters  with   whom  we  talked   helievt-H 


that  tiiev  hreed  diiriiiji'  their  aliscnce  in  the  South  in  the  winter,  assertinj^ 
as  proof  of  this  that  youn;^  hirds  in  coiisiderahh*  numhers  ol'tep  accompany 
the  earlier  sprinj-'  Hifiht.s.     *     * 


"ive  weeks  ai'c    consumed  hy  a   sinjile    nestiii 


Tl 


en    the   youn»- 


-n  tins 


forced  out  of  their  nests  liy  the  old  liirds.  .Mr.  Stevens  has  twice  se 
done.  One  of  the  {'ij^eoiis,  usually  the  male,  pushes  the  v  oiiii;.;  olV  the  nest 
liv  force.  The  latter  striiiitiles  and  sipieals  precisely  like  a  tame  sqiiali,  hut 
is  linallv  crowded  out  aloiiji'  the  hrancli,  and  after  further  feelile  resistance 
Ihitteis  down  to  the  firoimd.  Three  or  four  days  elapse  liefnre  it  is  alile  to 
Hv  well.     'Ipon   leaving;'  the  nest    it  is  often  fatter  and   heavier  than    the  old 


liirds;  hut  it  (pnckly  liecomes  much  tlinmer  and   lijjhter,  (les|)ite  the  enormous 
(piantity  of  food  it  ( 


oiisumes. 


(hi  one  occasion  an  immense  Hock  of  yoiuiir  hirds  hecame  liewildered 
ill  a  foji'  while  crossing'  ("rooked  i.ake.  and  desceiidiiifi'  struck  the  water  ami 
perished  l»y  thousands.     'i"he  shore    for    miles    was    covered    a    foot  or    more 


eep   Wit! 


leli 


The  old    liirds   rose  altove   the   f 


o<;-,  ami  none  were 


kill. 


At 


least   live    hundred  men    were    eiiiiaued    in    iiettiii"- 


i<;e(Uls    (lurintr 


the  jii'cat  I'etosky  nesting-  of  l.SSl.  Mr.  Stevens  tlioii;;lit  that  they  inay 
li.ive  captured  on  the  avera<;c  2(l,niM)  hirds  apiece  diiriii;:'  the  season.  Some- 
time: 
less  he   helieved    that   not    one  hird 


two  carloads  were  shipped  south  on  the  railroad  each   day.      Neverthe- 


in  a    thousand    was    taken.     Hawks   and 
( (wis  often  ahoiind  near  the    nestinii-.     Owls  can    lie   heard   hootiii;;-  there   all 
.iii^ht  loiiji".     The  Cooper's   Hawk  often  catches  the  stool  pij^eoii.      Dnriii;;- tli« 
I'etosky  st'ason  Mr.  Stevens  lost  twelve  stool  hirds  in  this  way. 

"Then*  has  heeii  much  dispute  amoii^i'  writers  and  ohservers,  heyiiminff 
with  Audiihoii  and  Wilson,  and  exteiidiiij>-  down  to  the  present  day,  as  to 
whether  tim  Wild  l'i<ieon  lays  two  e^i'^s  or  one.  I  ipiestioiii'd  .Mr.  Stevens 
closely  on  this  point,      lie  a.ssured  me  that  he  had  fre(|iieiitly  found  two  eggs 


^ 


136 


LIFH  IIISTOIIIKS  OF  NOUTfl  AMKUICAK  llinDH. 


« 


^l-l! 


i 


'I 


•   >  ■ 


or  two  yoiiiif,'  ill  tlic  huiik*  iiost,  Imt  tliat  fully  Imll"  tlio  nests  wliicli  hi*  had 
cxuMiiiicil  coiitaiiit'il  only  oii«<. 

"Our  personal  cxiifricncc  witli  tlic  i*ij,'»'nn  in  Miclii^fan  was  as  follows: 

"Dnriii;;'  our  stay  at  Cailillac  we  saw  tlieiii  daily,  soiiietiines  sinj^ly,  usually 
in  pairs,  never  iiiont  tliaii  two  lo;,'etlier.  Nearly  every  lar;fe  tract  of  old  <rro\vtli 
mixed  wo«ids  Hceined  to  contain  at  least  one  pair.  They  appeared  to  bu  settled 
for  the  seascHi,  and  we  were  convinced  that  they  were  pre|)arin;^  to  breed.  In 
fact,  the  oviduct  of  a  female,  killed  May  10,  contained  an  i-<^g  nearly  ready  for 
the  shell. 

"At  Oden  we  had  a  similar  experience,  althoii},di  there  were  perhaps  fewer 
i'i^reiins  there  than  about  Cadillac. 

"On  May  21,  Mr.  iKvii^lit  settled  any  possible  (piestion  as  to  their  bnM'dinjr 
in  .scattered  pairs,  by  lindiuff  a  uest  on  which  he  distinctly  saw  a  Itird  sittinj.!'. 
'i'he  following;'  day  1  ac<ompanieil  him  to  this  nest,  which  was  at  least  "»0  feet 
altovc  the  <>'round,  on  the  horizontal  brancli  of  a  lar<re  hemlock,  about  20  feet 
out  from  the  trunk.  As  we  approaciieil  the  spot  an  adult  male  l'i<^'eon  started 
from  a  tree  near  that  on  which  the  nest  was  placed,  and  a  moment  later  a 
youn},'  bird,  with  .stub  tail  and  barely  able  to  Hy,  fluttered  feeidy  after  it. 
This  younj;-  Pigeon  was  probalily  the  bird  seen  the  previous  day  on  the  nest, 
for  on  climbiujr  to  the  latter,  Mr.  l)wi<fht  found  it  eini)ty,  l)Ut  tbuled  with  excre- 
ment, sonu'  of  which  was  perfectly  fresh.  A  thorough  investigation  of  the 
surrounding  woods,  which  were  a  hundred  acres  or  more  in  extent,  and  com- 
posed chiefly  of  beeches,  with  a  mixture  of  white  pines  and  hemlocks  <»f  the 
largest  .size,  «'ouvinced  us  that  no  other  I'igeons  were  nesting  in  them. 

"All  tlie  iietters  with  wiiom  we  talked  believe  linnly  that  there  are  just  as 
many  I'igeons  in  the  West  as  there  ever  weiH'.  'i'liey  say  the  l)irds  ha\e  been 
driven  from  Michigan  and  the  adjoining  States,  partly  by  persecution,  ami 
partly  by  the  destruction  of  the  forests,  and  have  retreated  to  uniniiabited 
regions,  ju'rhaps  north  of  the  (Jreat  Lakes  in  Hriti.sli  North  America.  l)oui)t- 
less  there  is  .some  truth  in  this  theory;  for,  that  the  I'igeon  is  not,  as  has 
l)ueu  asserted  so  often  recently,  on  the  verge  of  extinction,  is  shown  by  tlie 
Hight  wliicii  passed  through  Miciiigan  in  the  spring  of  ISSS.  This  flight, 
according  to  the  testimony  of  many  relialde  oi)server.s,  was  a  large  (»ne,  anil 
the  birds  must  have  formed  a  nesting  of  consideralde  extent  in  souuj  region 
so  remote  that  no  news  of  its  presence  reached  the  ears  of  the  vigilant  net- 
ters.  'I'hus  it  is  proliabh^  that  enough  I'igeons  are  left  to  restock  the  West, 
provided  that  laws  sulHciently  stringent  to  give  them  fair  protection  be  at 
once  enacted.  The  present  laws  of  Michigan  and  Wisconsin  are  simply 
worse  than  useles.s,  for,  while  they  prohibit  distiu'liing  the  birds  irithiii  tla 
nesting,  they  allow  unlimited  netting  only  a  few  miles  beyond  its  outskirt> 
(iiiriiif/  the  entire  lireediiirj  urasoH.  The  theory  is,  that  they  are  so  iniinitely 
numerous  that  their  ranks  are  not  seriously  thinned  by  catching  a  few  mil- 
lions of  breeding  birds  in  a  summer,  and  that  the  onlv  danger  to  lie  guarded 
against  is  that  of  frightening  them  away  by  the  u.se  of  guns  or  nets  in  the 


TIIK  I'ASSKSOKIt  PKHION. 


187 


WIK 


)(ls   wliero   thoir  iicstH   iiro   pluci'd.     Tlict   iilisunlity   of  wiicli    rciiHoiiinj,''   is 


rue 


«oU'-evi(K'iit,   liiit,  siiiji'iiliirly   t'Mtni;;li,    the   iifttcrs,  luniiy   of  wlmm   wtr 
MH  iiitcllij^t'iit  iiiiil    liuiicst    iiicii,   scciii   iciilly   to  Ik'Ucvc   in   it.     Ah  tlu-y  liavc 
less   liiciil   iiilliiciKT,  jiiul,   ill   lulilitioii,  the   [lowcil'iil    l)m'kiii^°  of  tli<- 


more  or 


liirfTf  >^aiiic 


(Iciilcrs   ill    tlic   titics,    it    is   luit    likely    that   any    rt'iilly   I'lVectual 
laws  fan  lie  jiasscil  until  tlic  last  of  our  l'asscii;;cr  I'i^^coiis  arc  preparing  to 


tiillow 


the  (iicat  Aiik  ami  the  Aiiieiiran  liisoii 


111  order  to  show  a  little  more  clearly  the  iimiieiise  (lestriietioii  of  the  Pim- 
seiiger  I'igeon  /'//  n  siiii/lr  i/iiir  <iiiil  nt  mir  roust  only,  1  quote  the  following  extract 
from  an  interesting  article  "On  the  hahits,  nietlKids  of  capture,  and  nesting  of 
tile  Wild  I'igeoii,"  with  ail  account  of  the  Michigan  nesting  of  1h7h,  l)y  I'nif. 
II.  It   h'oiiey,  in  the  Chicago  Field  (\'ol.  x,  pp.  .'Uo-JUT): 

"'i'he  nesting  area,  sitnateil  near  I'etosky,  covered  something  like  10(»,00() 
acres  of  land,  and  iiicliide(l  not  less  than  irid.OOl)  acres  within  its  limits,  lieing 
ill  length  aliniit  4(1  miles  liy  ;t  to  10  in  width.  'I'lie  niiinlter  of  dead  ItinU  .sent 
liv  rail  was  estiinateil  at  rj,"»lt()  daily,  or  l,r)()0,(MI(»  for  the  sunimer,  besides 
sil,,'i,')2  live  hirds;  an  eipial  niimlier  was  .sent  iiy  wati'r.  We  have,"  says  tlm 
writer,  "adding  the  thousands  of  deail  and  wminded  ones  not  secured,  and  the 
myriads  of  sipiahs  left  dead  in  the  nest,  at  the  lowest  possiitle  estimate,  a 
giiiiid  total  of  1,(M)0,U(I(»,IM)()  I'igeoiis  .sacrificed  to  .Maninion  during  the  nest- 
iiiu'  of  1S7.S." 


'I'he  last-inc'iitioned   figure  is   uiidoulitedly  far  above  the  actual   niiiniur 


illed 


luriujjr 


that 


or  aiiv  other  \ear, 


liiit  even  granting  that    l>iit  a  iiiillioii 


\\( 


re   killed   at   this  roost,   the  slaii'-hter  is  eiiorii 


loiis    eiioiioli,   am 


d    it 


IS   not 


■itraiig*'    that    the    number    of   tliche    I'igeous    are   now    few    compared    with 


former  vears. 


('apt.  It.  V.  (lO.ss,  of  I'l'ewaukee,   Wisconsin,   writes  me 


en  vears  ajro 


the  Wild  Pigeon  bred  in  great  roo.sts  in  the  northern  jiarts  of  Wisconsin, 
and  it  also  bred  singh'  in  this  \icinity;  up  to  six  or  eight  jears  ago  they 
wire  plenty.  The  nest  was  a  small  rough  platform  of  twigs,  from  lO  to  15 
Icct  from  the  ground.  I  have  often  found  two  eggs  in  a  nest,  but  one  is  by 
far  tiie  most  coiiiiiioii.     'riiese  siiij;le   nests  have  been   tlioii;j;lit   by  some   acci- 

ileliti- 
T] 


as  It 


leso 


dental,  but  for  years  they  bred  in  this  manner  all  over  the  county, 
'ullv  as  any  of  our  birds.     1  also  found  them  breediu";  siniflv  in  lowi 
single  nests  have  not  attracted  attention  like  the  great  roosts,  but  I  think  it  is  a 
■iiiiiioii  manner  of  building  with  this  species." 

.Mr.  Frank  .1. 'riionipsoii,  in  charge  of  the  Zocilogical  (lardens  at  Cincinnati, 
•'hid,  gives  the  following  account  of  the  breeding  of  the  Wild  I'igeon  in  con- 
;iiHiiniit:  "During  the  spring  of  1S77,  the  society  ])urchased  three  pairs  of 
Hipped  birds,  which  were  placed  in  one  of  the  outer  aviaries.  Karly  in 
March,  IHTH,  I  noticed  that  they  were  mating,  and  procuring  soirio  twigs,  I 
wove  three  rough  platforms,  and  fastened  them  uj)  in  convenient  places,  at 
iIk-  same  time  throwing  a  further  suppl\'  of  building  material  on  the  floor. 
Within  tv      ty.four  hours  two  of  the  platforms  were   selected;   the  malt!  car- 

'Ault,  Vol.  VI,  IHS'J,  pp.  •>.-.,  -Ml. 


;f! 


tt 


'.! 


r 


4  ' 


138 


LIFE  HISTOKIKS  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  HIRDS. 


ryiiiff  the  iniitcrial,   wliilst  tlic  t'ciuiilr   luisit'd  hursclt'  in  placinff  it.     A  siiiffle 


j'lrjr    was    SUOll 


laid 


ill  t'acli  iicst   ami   iiu-iiltatioii   coninu-uct'il.     On   Marrii    l(i 


tliere  was  (juito  a  heavy  tall  of  siuiw,  and  on  tlio  next  niorninj;  I  was  unahio 


to    S('( 


tlic  birds  on  their  nests 


on 


aeeonnt  ot'  the   aecninnlation   of  \]w  snow 


piled  on  the  ]ilatforiiis  anmnd  them.  Within  a  couple  of  days  it  had  all 
ilisappeared,  and  for  the  next  foin*  or  five  nights  a  self-re"fisterin<^  thernioni- 
eter,  lian^(in<>;  in  the  aviary,  marked  from  14"  to  lit".  In  sjHte  of  these 
dra\vl>a«"ks  Itoth  of  the  ejfjis  were  liatt'hed  an<l  the  yonn^'  ones  reared.  Tln'y 
have  sini  i-  continued  to  hn-ed  re^iiilarly,  and  now  I  have  twenty  liirds,  liavin«f 
lost  several  efiX'*  li'on'  failinj'-  throu<j;'h  their  ill \- -contrived  nests  and  one  old 
male."' 

The   l'assenj,'er    IM^ieon    has  hceii   found    nesting-  in   Wi.sconsin   and    Iowa 
durinif  the  (irst  week  in  April,  and  as  late  as  .Itnie  '»  and    12    in  ( 'onnecticut 


ant 


I  M 


innt'sofa.  'riieir  food  consists  of  lieechnuts,  acorns,  wihl  cherries,  and 
Iterries  of  various  kinds,  as  well  as  ditferent  kinds  of  i;rain.  They  are  said 
to  l»e  very  fond  of,  ami  feed  extensively  on,  an;;le  worms,  vast  nnndiers  of 
which  freouentlv  come  to  the  surfa< c  after  liea\  >•  rains,  also  on  hairless  cater- 


ill 


lUlars. 


Their    movement!' 


It    all 


seasons,    seem 


to    I 


le    verv    nTetfular 


and 


an* 


{jreatly  art'ecteil  l»y  the  food  supply.     They  may   i»e  excee(liu;ily  common  at 


one  point  our  v<'ar,  ami 


imost  entu'elv   wantni"'   the  next. 


nev    "eliei- 


dl) 


w 


inter  south  of  latitude  .'ttl 


Their  notes  during  tlie  matiu"-  season  are  saiil  to  h 


short   "("oo-coo,' 


ami 
an< 


th 


e  orilmar\'  cal!  not<-  is 


'kee-kee-kee,"  the  first  s\Ilal>lc    lieini;'  louder 


I  the  last  fainter  than  the  middle  one. 

Opinions  ditfer  as  to  the  numlier  of  liroods  in  a  season;  while  the  majority 
of  oi(ser\crs  assert  tliat  liiit  one,  ;i  few  others  say  that  two,  are  iisualK  raised. 
Til,,  cjij^s  \ary  in  numlicr  tVom  one  to  two  in  a  set,  and  iiicnliatioii  lasts 
from  ci^ilitccii  io  twenty  days,  liotli  sexes  assistiii<r.  These  ej><;s  are  |iun? 
white  in  color,  slijiiitly  f^lossy,  and  usually  elliptical  oval  in  shape;  some  may 
lie  called   iu'oad  elliptical  oval. 

Tlie   averajic   measurements  of  twenty  specimens   in    the    l'.  S.   National 


.M 

;{it.r.  1 


iisemn  IO 


'S., 


tv    L' 


llect 
til 


ion   IS 


i(..»    i»v 


e  sllialles 


t  :t;{..-.  1 


'J't.'t    millimetres. 
)V  ■_'(!   millimetres. 


Til 


arji'est    ei^';>'    measiu'es 


The  type  specimen  fi;iuied  (No.   ls.'»tl,  ri.   I,  V\<<;.  <!),  was  taken  from  the 
•viduct  of  a  Itird,  in   .May,    ISSJ,   liy    .Messrs.    II.  T.   IMiillips   i^    Co.,    Detroit, 


M 


iciiman. 


'  HullDtiii  Niittiill  OiiiiiliiiliiKi'Ml  Cliili,  Vol.  VI,  tssi,  |i.  l\ti. 


li .  a. 


fi 

ill  I 

! 


1 


THE  MOUUNINC;  DOVK. 


I3y 


47.    Zenaidura  macroura  (Li.nnvKis). 


MOl'RNIXC    llOVK. 


Ciiliiniliti  )iiarrniint  LiNN/F.rs.  Svstfiiia  Natun 


10.  I7:.S,  KM  (part). 


/.I  lilt iditrit  iiiiiriiiiirit,  KllxiWAY.  I'l'oci'i'ilitiLjs  II.  S.    National   Miisi-iim,  VIII.  lSSr>.  'MiH, 

(M  151.  t;:iri,  li  m\.  c  vu.  v  Mr,). 

GKodRAFHK'Al-  KA.NOK:    Wliolc  of   lciii|ii'ralc  North  AiuiTica:   iiortli  to  Canada, 
Miiillit'i'n  .Maine  and  Britisli  (!o!uinliia  ;  .south  to  Panama  ami  West  Indies. 

'I'lic  linH'tliiij!;  riiii<;t;  of  tlic  Mminiiuf;'  hove,  also  called  the  "Caroliiiii"  iiiid 
"Tiirtlt'"  Httvc,  cxfciids  over  the  eiitiic  United  States,  from  Florida  and  tlie 
(iiilt'ot'  Me\ico  to  tile  ( 'anailiaii  i)oiiUr,  and  Ironi  tlie  Atlantie  sealtoard  to 
llie  l'a<'ilie  Ocean. 

It  i.s  oidy  a  siniinier  visitor  in  the  northern  portions  of  its  ninyc,  and 
occin's  s|tarinj;ly  diu'inj;'  this  season  in  southern  ( 'ana<la,  and  more  fre(|in'iitly 
in  .Maiiitolta.  ( >n  the  i'acific  coast  it  is  not  nnconinion  on  N'anconver  Island, 
and  it  extends  well  into  the  interior  of  Mritish  t'olinnliia.  I  have  personally 
met  with  it  in  consideralde  nunilters,  itoth  in  northern  Wasliin;>toii  and  nortli- 


erii 


ld:i 
It 


winters,  and  is  a  constant  resident  tliroiiylioiit   the   xcar,  in  nearlv   all 


the   Southern  States.     .Mr.   \V.   \V.  Cooke  state 


'  I'Voni    latitude  .'5(1'    south- 


ard,   this    Dove   can    lie    found    re;;'iilarly    and    aliinidantly    tliroii^hoiit    tl 


le 


year.     Uetween   latitnde  'Mi'  and  liH'  it  is   11    n'j;iilar    lint    not    an    alnnidant 
winter  resident,    occiniiii"-   in  Hocks.      North   (»f  latitude   .'{S  ,  althoimh  man 


are 


y 

toiiiid  eaci:   winter,   they  aic  merely   sin^ih'  Itirds  that  have  tonnd  excep- 
tionally  fasorahle  (piarters.' 

The  Monrninj'-  Dove  i 
imileste(|,  freipiently  lireedin;;  in  the  liardens  and  shrnlilieiy  near  dwellinj;' 
houses,  and  often  lee(linj>-  in  the  liarnyard  amoiiest  domestic  fowls.  They 
never  occnr  in  such   lar^c  Hocks   as    the    I'assen;;er   l'i;ieon,    lint    are   nsnallv 


a   well-known   bird,  tame   and   ji-eiitle   when    not 


follll 


nail  parties  ol'  I'rom  six  to  a  do/.eii  or   more 


ind    in   the  late  fall, 


pi'i  \iiMis  to  their  mi^'i'ation,  I  have  oftt-ii  llnshed  lifty  and  upward  from  a 
lavorile  I'eedin^'  j^-roimd.  TlieX'  like  to  ali;;iit  in  roads,  \>herethe\  nia\  often 
lie  seen  tiavcdiii^i'  aloii"'  in  search  ot  snilalile  food  or  era\el,  or  tor  the  pnr- 
poM'  of  taking  a  dust   liath,   of  which   they   are   very   tond. 

In  the  more  arid  portions  of  the  West,  esjiecially  in  southern  Arizona, 
I  have  oiteii  noticed  this  Dove  a  loiiji  ^vay  fioin  water,  lint  as  thev  are 
exceedinj^ly  stroiijr  and  -aiiid  livers,  distance  is  lint  a  triflinji'  matter  to  them. 
M'iiey  usually  visit  their  re^^idar  watering;'  places  in  the  moinin;^-,  and  in  the 
■veninfi    just    lielore  sundown,  and,   where  water  holes  or  sprinji's  are  scarce 


ll 


lev  can  lie  seen  coinini''  from  all  directions  in  search  of  such  localities, 
■iiially  in  pairs  or  litth'  parties  of  tVom  fonr  to  six,  .\t  this  lime,  if  closely 
atclied,   they   are  a   sure  ;;iiide   to   water;    old    1 inta 


meets    a|-e    Wt 


II 


aware 


'  lliillotiii  II,  llK|iiirhiii>tit  of  AKrii'iiltiiri',  I{c>|miiI  nn  llinl  Mi^riilinii  in  l\\r  .Mitiiisiiipi  Valliy.  |i    lii'i. 


!'i 


■h 


r 


W 


Bi  ' 


^:  i ' 


140 


LIFE  IIISTOIUES  OP  NORTH  AMEUICAN  BIRDS. 


«)f  this  fact,  juid,  if  not  faiiiiliar  with  the  coimtiy,  th«'y  sliajMs  tht-ir  coursf 
after  th»'  hiio  of  travel  of  tlu'su  Doves,  whiih  is  always  a  direct  and  straij^iit 
rtuite  to  the  objective  point. 

The  luatiiif^  season    he;:^ins  early  in    March    in  the*   southern    portions  of 
tlieir  ranj^e,  and  later  uorthwanl.     Kresli  e;;;i:s  have  l»eeu  found  l)y  Mr.  (Jeorj^o 


tak 


en  oer- 


K.  lieyer,  near  New  ( h'leans,  Louisiana,  on  March  .'{(I;  and  I  have 

fectly  fresli   specimens   as   late  as   Septenil)er   14,   and    nii;;ht   prohaMy   have 

fouutl  them  still  later  had   I   looked  for  them  at  my  camp  tm  Uillitto  Creek, 


near 


'1 
Tl 


u«'.>ion,  Arizona. 


leir  peculiar  love  notes  are  well  kiiown  to  most  observers,  and  can  Ite 
fre(piently  heard  in  the  early  sprin;,'  wherever  these  Itirds  are  found,  heiiiff 
a  sound  of  three  syllal)les  in  the  l)i';;iimin;f,  like  ''coo,  ciio,  roo,"  and  endiu<f 


lith  foiu' and  (i\i',  with  sliyht  variations  like  ".Mrio,  «"ia,  6oo,  (V»6, 


'11. 


notes  are  ^iiittural  and  dillicult  to  descrilie  exactly.  It  is  a  low,  moiu'ufnl, 
liut  nexcrtiieless  far-peneti'atinjf  note,  thoujili  the  actions  of  the  male  while 
utterinjr  them  seem  cheerful  and  lively  enou<jh.  lie  pays  devoted  court  to  his 
mate  at  all  times,  and  I  am  inidined  to  the  lielief  that  many  remain  paired 
tin'ou<ihout  the  year,  as  sinjile  pairs  may  be  seen  in  wintei-  as  well  as  sununer. 
The  nestiufjf  season  i)ef>ins  aliout  the  mitldle  of  .March  in  Fltaida  and  other 
Southern  States,  and  from  three  to  four  weeks  later  in  the  mort!  northern  por- 
tions of  its  rantre. 


Th 


.f  tl 


u>  nestMi<>-  sites  ot  tins  species  are  exceei 


lin;ily 


\ariai»lt 


hi. 


I'suallv  the 


slender  and  frail  platform  of  t\vi;;s,  whicii  iiuswers  tlie  purpose  of  a  nest, 
is  placed  on  some  Hat  spreadin^f  liiid>  of  a  tree,  at  a  heijiiit  of  from  10  to  'JO 
feet  from  the  ;;round,  no  especial  ])refen'nct^  l>ein;i'  shown  for  any  ]tartic- 
ular  kiiul,  unless  peiiia])s,  the  everjireeiis,  such  as  small  cedars,  junipers,  and 
pines.  N'arious  sorts  of  Imslies  are  also  used;  in  fact,  nests  may  l)e  found  at  a 
heijiht  of  only  a  few  inches  from  the  ;;roinid  and  ajxain  r»t>  and  more  feet 
up.  In  the  Carolinas,  I>r.  Klliott  ( 'ones  states,  in  his  "Hirds  of  the  Northwest," 
that  they  nest  chietly  on  the  <>round.  Personally  I  have  more  than  once  found 
the  I'jfffs  of  this  s|M'cies  lyiu";-  on  the  hare  {i'rouiid  under  the  shelter  of  some 
little  hush,  and  usually  close  to  a  creek,  both  in  \Vashinj>ton  and  Idaho,  liiit  the 
majority  of  these  itirds  nested  there  in  willow  thickets.     At  Fort  Custer,  Mon- 


tana,   1    foiinil   thi-ir  nests  on   flat  sticks  of 
Arizona  they  often  lav  on  a  cott 


conlwooil     111     Wool 


Ipih 


IlKl      III 


OlnVtMM 


I  stump.  I  found  a  n<-st  of  tli<-  .Mourn- 
ing- Dove  on  top  of  an  altaiidoiicd  and  l>rokeii  flown  .Magpie's  nest,  near  Camp 
Ilaniey,  Oregon;  in  fact,  they  use  all  .sorts  of  stran^i'e  sites.  Hat  tops  of  bowl- 
ders,   ledj:<'s  of  clitl's,    old   nests  of  other   species  on   top  of  which   a   sli;;ht 


•latf 


orm 


if  stii'ks    is    built,    etc.      In   th 


nore    one 


»rairie    regions    o 


f  th 


Western  Stati's  they  ]irol)ably  breeil  as  fri'(|Ueiitly  on  the  <rrouiiil  as  above  it, 
but  in  .\rizona,  although  I  noticed  many  of  tiieir  nests,  none  were  found  on  the 
{.•■round,  no  doubt  <hie  to  the  many  reptiles  inlial)itin;f  that  country.  Here  tlie\- 
nsiialh  selectcfl  the  thick  shrnitlierv  found  aloim-  water  courses,  and  atraiii,  in 


some    loc; 


htle 


th 


lev  were  ouite   partial  to 


bush 


thorny  ine.S(pute  and  catscia 


w 


es,  and  even  to  the  ever-pre<ent  choila  cactus. 


1 


i 


TUli;  MOUUNlN(J  DOVE. 


141 


Stniii};*'  ami  iiniiHual  ucstinjj  sites  are  rather  ('(unmou  with  this  speeies,  aiul 
I  will  ineiition  a  tew  of  them: 

Mr.  Lyiids.Fdiies  t"(>iiii(l  a  Moiiniiii;;-  Dove's  nest  on  top  ot  ii  straw  shed,  ami 
another  beneath  a  slied  roof.  .Mr.  It.  li.  .McLau^^hiin  reports  one  found  in  an 
old  nest  of  a  Green  Heron,  and  another  in  a  <-a\ity  of  a  tree,  lie  writt-s  ino  as 
I'ollows:  "The  excavation  had  heeii  made  l»y  Woodpeckers,  and  did  not  extend 
downward  for  more  than  an  inch  or  so,  l»nt  had  l)een  diijj-  almo.st  straij^ht  in. 
This  made  a  nice  fonnchition  upon  which  tlu;  nest  was  Iiuilt.  The  site  was  all 
that  was  peculiar  about  it." 

This  |)ove  will  occasionally  lay  its  eji'^is  in  nests  occupi«'d  by  other  species, 
luid  on(;  of  the  stran^fcst  combinations  of  this  kind  is  thus  described  in  Forest 
and  Stream,  ISeptendter,  IHSK,  by  Mr.  .1.  I..  Daxidson,  in  his  "  Mirds  of  Nia<;ara 
Coiintv,  New  York;"  he  savs:  "dune  17,  Iss-J,  1  foun..  a  Mlack-ltilled  Cuckoo 


;\u 


1  a  Mourning  Dove  sittinjj  tojicther  on  a  Koiiin's  nest.     The  Cuckoo  was  tli 


lirs*  to  leave  the  nest.     On  securiii"-  the  nest  1  found  it  contained  \\ 


I'WS  of 


tlie  Cuckoo,  two  of  the  MomMiin;^-  Dove,  iind  one  l{oi)in's  r>si^.  The  Kobin  had 
not  (piite  finished  the  nest  when  the  Ciickoo  took  possession  of  it  and  tilled  it 
nearly  full  of  rootlets,  but  the  K'obin  ;>ot  in  and  laid  one  e;;;.''.     Im-ubation  had 


col 


iimenced  in  the  U'obin's  and  ( 


UClvOO  s 


eirus,  but  not  in  tho.se  of  the  Mournii 


I  a" 


Do\c.     1  have  tla^  nest  and  e;'';js  in  my  collection.     This  was  first  pnl)lished 
imder  the    head   of  'A  stran;;(;   stor\  '  (I'orest   and    Stream,   Au;fust  24,    1SH2, 

p.  .;.-.)." 

.Mr.  Whitmer  Stone  writes  me:  "In  Laniaster  County,  IVniisylvauia, 
where  this  species  i)reeds  extensivelv  ill  orchards,  I  have  found  them  laiihl- 
iii;>'  a  thin  platform  of  sticks  on  top  of  old  nests  of  the  American  b'obin, 
Ml iiihi  mioitifiiriii,  and  the  Kin;;-   Hird,  'I'lfnoiinis  li/niiiiiiis,  iiiid  once  in  Aiijiust 


I  were  deposited  in  a 


liol 


Mils   nest 


•f  th 


I  fiiiiiid  a  Dove  sitting'  on  two  e^'i^s,  which 

riiijii  which  the  youn;:'  birds  had  departed  a  nionlh  lietore.  I' ra^rmcms  of  tlie 
>liills  of  the  K'obiii's  ei:>:s  were  still  to  be  sei'ii  ill  the  bottom  of  the  nest,  and 
the  Doves  did  not  seem  to  have  done  anyfhinj;' at  all  in  the  way  of  iaiildin;--." 

That  they  are  lianly  birds  is  well  attested  by  Mr.  .(.  \V.  i'le.ston,  of  iJaxter, 
Iowa,  who  writes  me  as  follows:  ".\  few  i-emain  here  diirin;^'  winter,  and  are 
seen  alioiit  stockyards,  where  they  come  from  the  woods  to  feed.  KInc  are 
with  me  this  winter,  ISIKI.  mid  are  doin;.'-  well,  tlionj;li  they  were  ii  pitiful 
>i;;ht  when  the  snow  was  1(1  inches  deep,  and  the  mercury  fell  2n  below- 
zero.  ( )nr  Dovi's  have  a  habit  of  repairinj;'  to  some  dry  ilitch  to  roost. 
Hundreds  will  Hock  to  some  chosen  rendezvous,  and  they  are  very  regular 
ill  their  movements.  This  seems  to  occur  in  the  more  sparsely  timliered 
re^ilons,  in  the  nutumn." 

Their  food  consists  of  small  seeds,  the  \arioiis  kinds  of  oraiii,  berries, 
liieclmiits,  small  acorns,  wild  pease,  and  the  ti'iider  tops  of  plants,  worms 
iiiid  insects  of  ditl'erent  kinds.  .Mr.  C.  S.  Urimley,  of  l»aleij;li.  North  Carolina, 
accuses  this  species  of  pulliii;;'  uji  the  sproiitiii;;'  corn;  and  he  says  that  it  also 
duos  great  damajfe  t(»  the  early   jiease  in  the  trucking  districts.     In   Kloriihi, 


4 


■.I 


M 


x% 


m 


,^, ' 


m 


(  , 

!  ; .. 

142 


LIFE  UISTOUIKS  OK  ISOUTH  AMIiUICAN  U1KI)S. 


iicconliii;;   to    l>r.    Willijiiii    L.    liiilpli,   tlicy    iiiv    vtrv    piiitiiil    tu    f('»Mliiij>    < 


•n 


g' 


(•mills  ifccii 


tlvl 


umit  ovtT. 


Iiifubiitidii,  ill  which  Ixith  st-xt's  assist,  is  siiid  to  last  altoiit  two  wci'ks. 
Two,  and  |)ossii)ly  thnu",  liruods  arc  reared  in  a  seasim.  The  nests  am  frail 
atlairs,  siinply  sli;;lit  j)latt'orms  of  small  sticks  or  twijfs,  very  shallow,  some- 
times lined  with  hits  of  dry  {rrass,  a  few  leave*,  Spanisii  moss,  or  pine 
needles,  wliiclie\i'r  is  most  convenient  to  the  nestin<;  site,  and  sometimes 
they  are  without  any  liiiin;;  v  hatever,  so  that  the  efrfTf*  can  reailily  lie  seen 
tliioiijili  till)  Iiottom  of  tilt!  iiesl.     The  nest,  trail  as  it   may  often  lie,  reipiires, 

this   |)o\('     like  most  of  the 


iievt-rtlieless,   consideraiile  laltoi   to  construct, 


m< 


iiilii'i's  of  this  family,  is  a.  jioor  nest  Imildi-r;  and,  as  far  as  my  ol»servatioii 


ffo,  tl 


lis  se 


'ins  to  lie  dontt  eiitirelv  l>v  tiie  female,   llie    male   lookinj;  on  and 


cooinjf  most  of   tlie   time,   Imt   not   assistiiif;'   its  mate  in   any 


wav. 


On  th 


;;roiind  there  is  oven  less  of  an  attempt  at  makiiij;-  a  nest,  and  I  have  seen 
tlie  e^iji's  lyinji-  in  a  sli<>lit  hollow  on  the  liare  jiiound,  not  even  siiiToun<led 
l»y  a  few  sticks  or  ^rass. 

Mr.  \{.  15.  McLanjihliu  says:  "Like  oilier  species  which  never  lay  more 
than  two  e^rji's,  the  .Mo.iniiiiji'  I>o\e  skips  one  day  in  iIk-  layiiij;'  of  its  effj.'.; 
that  is,  if  it  lays  the  first  one  to-day  it  will  not  lay  to-morrow,  hut  the  day 
after  the  second  «•<;<••  will   lie  deposited." 


he  e"<rs  are  usuallv  two  in  niimlier.  sometimes  oiilv  om 


ih 


( )ccasionallv 


three,  and  even  four,  have  heeii  fomul  in  a  iie>t,  i>resuinalily  laid  liy  ditl'ereiit 
birds.     Mr.  !•'.  Stephi-ns  found  a  nest  cniitaiiiiii;;'  three  ej^frs,  on  A|)ril   i;{,  IHIU. 


Ill   two   o 


f  tl 


lese  ('"•''■s 


iiiciihation  had  cciniiiieiiced,  the  third  was  fri-sh. 


Mr.  L\iids  .loiies  t'oiind  a  set  of  four  near  ( Irimiell,  luwa,  and  thinks  tliev 


w 


ere  all  laid   1»  .'  one  hird.      lie  further  statt 


These    1  loves  are  verv  loviii 


ill  tl 


irouuli  tile  \ear,  am 


I  hoti 


I  parents  are  \ery  atteiitivi 


to  tl 


leir  voiiii"',  e\cn 


loii;r  after  they  leave  the  nest.      1   have  often  found  the  female  coveriii};'  fully 


fled"('d  voiiiii;-,  alwavs  sittini;'  crosswise  of  them 


Tl 


le    \onil'i'   lies 


tliii-.- 


t\'i\  oil  cutworms  and  other  worins,  as  well  as  l»ii;is;   later  they  feed  on  ;;raiii 


and    small    seeds.      If   the    sitti 
nest  with   pitetuis   cries  and 
alwavs    near   liv.     The   \oiiii< 


liiid    he    Hushed,  she   will    tiimlile  from    the 


111    a    \e 


•  Ii 


ited 


liti 


condition 


;row   \erv    rapidiv. 


and 


lea\(' 


I  lie    male    is 
he  nest  earlv. 


In  this  locality  nests  on  the  prairie  contain  e;;jis  fully  two  weeks  earlier  thai 


nests  III  tile  Woods. 


The  e;;;is  of  the  Moiiriiiiiii'  Dove  vary  consideralily  in  sliajie  as  well  as 
in  si/,e.  Tli(f  majoritv  iiia\-  lie  calleil  elliptical  o\al,  others  are  elliptical  o\;ite, 
and  a  few  oval.     They  are  pure  white  in  co|i 


th 


.th 


lid   model' 


atelv    <i\ 


Th 


average    ineasiii'emciit    ot 


enf. 


-nine 


jtecmielis    III 


th 


U.  S.  National   Miiseiiin  collection,  is  -JH  hv  "Jl    i..illiinetres. 


Tl 


le  iar;rest  e^';,'' 


in 


this  .series  measures  ;jii.r»  liy  2l*..'»,  the  smallest  2.'t  iiy  lli.'i  millimetres. 
Of  the  type  specimens,  No.  •_''>S1M(|'|.  1,  Kin-,  s),  from  the  Merrill  collection 


wa 


s  taken   li\    ,\sst.  Siiry.  .lames  ( '.   .Merrill,    l' 


Ariiiv,  near  I'oit    Mro 


T 


exa> 


iini 


s.  isTi; 


d  N. 


.'oT'.h;  (I'I,   I.  V'l'^.  !t),  from  tin 


lielld 


wn, 
ire  col- 


lection, wa.s  taken  May  L'li,  I.STJ,  hy  tlio  writer,  near  Tucson,  Aii/.oiia. 


THE  ZENAIDA  DOVE. 


143 


48.    Zenaida  zenaida  (I^onapartk). 

XKNAIDA  UOVK. 

C'lliiiuhn  zinniiht  Ronapartk,  Journal  Acailfiiiy  Natiinil  Scii'iiccs,  Phila.,  v,  1825,  HO. 
Xi  iKUtlti  znituihi  KiiMiWAY,  I'rnn'fdiiiKK  L'-  'S-  Nalimial  Miiscmn,  viii,  Ihh,"),  ;J55. 

(H  1  i!t.  c  ;(r-v',  R  4tii,  c  54,^.  u  :iir.) 

(iEO(iKAi'incAt.  i<aX(;k:  FlDriila  Keys.  Baluimas,  (*iil)a,  Jamaica.  Porto  Rico,  Santa 
Crn/..  ISonilircro.  ami  iviast  of  Yucatan. 

The  l)rLM'iliii}i'  raiitrc  <»t' tlu^  Zciiiiida  Dove  within  our  liordcrs  i.s  restricted 
to  tho  Houtheiii  Kloridii  Keys,  wliere  it  seerus  to  Ite  ait  irrejiular  visitor. 
Accordiii}''  to  Aniliil)oii  "tliey  made  tiieir  ap|)eariiiic(!  amoii<f  flu*  islands  at 
Indian  Key  al)ont  the  l.')th  of  .\|iril,  where  they  reinaineil  until  October, 
returnin;.f  then  to  tlio  West  Imlia  Islands  wheiu'e  they  canie  and  where  they 
are  most  numerous. 

"They  hreed  on  the  few  keys  that  are  covered  with  jjrass  and  low  shnil»s. 
Tlie\-  ahvay.-*  place  tht'ir  nest  on  the  ;;round,  otteii  with  so  little  concealment 
tliat  it  may  i)e  easily  discovered  l>y  any  one  searching;'  lor  it.  ( hcasionally  it  is 
placed  between  tufts  of  jfrass,  tlu^  tops  of  which  Iteiid  over  an<l  conceal  it.  A 
small  ln»le  is  scooped  in  the  sand,  in  which  a  sli^flit  nest,  composed  of  matted 
lilades  of  dry  ^^rasses,  is  place(l,  circular  in  form,  and  eml)edded  in  an  (tuter 
collection  of  dry  leaves  and  twi^^s.  The  whole  fabric  is  said  to  bti  more  com- 
pact than  the  nest  of  any  other  I'i^i'eon."' 

.Mr.  Charles  H.  Cory,  in  "  Uirds  of  the  Hahama  Islands"  (p.  1. '}!»),  .says: 
"This  beaiitifid  I)ov(>  is  found  thiouH^hout  the  Bahamas,  but  does  not  appear  to 
be  very  abundant.  It  .seems  to  i)e  ratiier  solitary  in  its  haitits,  and  is  lu-ver  met 
with  in  flocks.  The  nest  is  com[»osed  of  small  sticks  loosely  put  tojrcther.  On 
Ma\'  "27  I  procint'd  a  nest  which  was  placed  in  the  crotch  of  a  fallen  tree  al)out 
;$  feet  from  the  ^^roimd.      It  containe<l  two  white  enf-s." 

Dr.  Ilenrv  Mrvant.  in  the  "Proceedin^fs  of  the  Ho.stou  Society  of  Natural 
Ilistorv,  for  ISfili."  (p.  li*(t),  makes  the  following;-  stati'Uient  about  this  species: 
"The  Zenaida  Dove,  tiioiiM-h  more  seldom  seen  in  the  liahama  Islands  than  the 
White-crowned  l'i;i'eon,  ('itliiiiilid  limoii filidhi,  is  still  liy  no  means  rare.  It 
never  colh'cts  in  tlocks,  and  dix's  not  Itreed  in  couununities  like  the  former.  In 
its  habits  it  is  internu'diate  between  the  Z.  ((inilim iisin  and  the  ('.  iiii.s.sriiiin.  It 
feeds  and  passes  the  jtrincipal  piU't  of  its  time  on  the  ^iiound,  and  when  iluslied, 
tliesolV  in  a  straijjht  line,  very  mucli  as  the  connni»n  (.^uail.  The  crops  of  those 
killed  bv  me  were  illleil  with  small  seeds,  alxtiit  the  size  of  a  mustard  .seed, 
'apparently  all  of  the  saun-  kind.  All  the  nests  I  saw  were  made  in  holes  in 
the  rocks,  and  consisted,  as  is  always  the  case  in  this  family,  of  but  u  few 
slicks." 

From  these  accounts  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Zenaida  Dove  ililVers  consid- 
erablv   in    it;*   nesting;  haliits  in   certain   localities.     .Vccordiiif,'-   to   Mr.    \V.   T. 


h  fil 


m 


m 


m. 


■Uinliuf  Nurth  Aiiiurictt,  l^M,  Vul.  in,  pp.  a7U,380. 


m 


lil^lHHBUIIiHi 


144 


LIFE  UI8TOUIK8  OF  ^0UTI1  AMEKICAN  lUliDS. 


^[iin'li,  who  t'ouiid  tliis  species  Itn-edin;;  near  tlie  .Salt  I'niids,  Spanislitown, 
.Fainaica,  in  May,  lM(i;{,  it  nests  indiscriniinat^ly  on  tlio  j^roinid  or  in  tretis, 
inakin'f  u  sli<,dit  platt'onii  ot"  sticks  and  twi^js  loosely  put  to};etlier.  It  brceils 
troni  April  to  tlie  end  ol"  ,Iuly,  and  proliaiily  raises  two  l»roods  a  season. 

None  of  tlie  more  recent  exjjlorers  seem  to  have  met  with  this  species  on 
tho  Florida  Keys,  and  it"  found  there  at  all  now,  it.  nmst.  he  considered  as 
ratlur  rare. 

I  can  add  nothing"'  new  to  the.se  accoinits.  Tlie  e;r;^s  are  two  in  numher, 
pure  white  in  color,  oval  in  sliaite,  and  more  rounded  thaa  I'i^con  ••i,''^s  gen- 
erally are. 

The  average  measurement  of  eleven  eggs  of  this  species  in  the  U.  S. 
National  Museum  collection,  is  .'51  i»y  '2'M*  millimetres.  Tim  largest  measures 
."{ 1  l»y  '2H,  the  smalh-st  "JD  l»y  '2'2.'t  millimetres.  None  of  these  eggs  were  col- 
lected within  the  limits  of  the  ITnited  States. 

The  tvpe  specimen  (No.  (II  K),  I'l.  '_',  Fig.  •_*!)  was  coUected  lU'ar  SpaniHli- 
lown,  .lamaica,  l»y  Mr.  W.  T.  March,  in  May,  I8(i;{. 

49.     Engyptila  albifrons  (Mon.m-autk). 

WUITK-I  KO.NTKI)    IMIVK. 

IjI Itliijililii  iiUiifriiiis  MoN.\i'.\HTK.  ('iiiis|)cctns  .\viiim.  II.  Dccciiilii'r,  \sti\.  74. 
Hininiililii  nihil'niii.s  ColKs,  liullctiii  Xiittall  <  )riiilli.pln;fic;il  Chili,  V.  April,  18S(),  100. 

(B— .  C   -.  K  ti;.i.  CM-.'.  U:iis.) 

(rEooH.vi'ilK  Ai,  KAS(iK:   ViiUi'V  "f  till'  Li)W<'i'  Uiu  ( Jriiiulc  ill  Texas,  and  soiitiiwaiil 
111  Mcxicii  Mini  (iiiiitcliiala. 

The  liieediiig  range  of  the  White-fronted  Dove  within  the  limits  of  the 
I'nited  States,  as  at  present  known,  is  conliiied  to  the  Lower  Uio  (Jrande 
\'alle\ ,  Texas,  wlieic  Mr.  (Jeorgt?  ( ".  Seiiiitit  olitaiiied  the  first  specimen  found 
within  our  iiordei,  on  .\pril  is,  ls77,  in  :i  tract  of  tiiiilier  near  the  liank  of  the 
K'io  (iiaiide,  a  mile  lielow  Hidalgo,  Texas.  In  his  "Further  Notes  on  the  Orni- 
thologv  of  the  Lower  Wio  (Iraude  of  Texas,"  he  writes  as  follows  ahoiit  this  spe- 
cie>:  "l>r.  Fiiiley  reports  the  arrival  of  this  I'igeoii  jit  the  vicinity  of  Hidalgo 
and  Lomita  alioiit  the  midille  of  Feliruaiy,  its  de|iaitiiri-  liasing  taken  place 
in  Novemlter.  .Mthoiigli  it  is  less  numerous  than  the  l{eil-i)illed  i'igeon,  yet 
liv  its  peculiar  note  is  is  easily  distinguished  from  all  other  species,  and  can 
thus  lie  nsidily  olitaineil.  We  heard  it  daily.  It  is  so  much  more  retiring 
in  its  haliits  than  other  i'igeoiis,  that,  were  it  not  for  the  peciiliarit\-  we  men- 
tion, it  would  lie  met  with  very  seldom.  It  fiiMpieiits  the  dense  and  lieavv 
growth  of  timlier,  and  long  and  frecpieiit  were  our  endeavors  to  find  its  nest."' 

.\  nest  was  tiiially  found  hy  a  Mexican  assistant  of  .Mr,  Seiiiiett's,  in  some 
dense  shriililiery  in  the  river  liuttom,  containing  two  eggs.  The  parent  was  also 
shot  at  the  same  time,      i'lie   two   c/i!:'*  oiitaiiied  eiialiled  hini  to  identify  tw«» 


'  U.  8.  Uuulugiuiil  unit  UviiKruiiliicul  .S'lrvry,  IIii,v<loii,  Vol.  v,  No.  ;i,  p.  124. 


TIJK  WUITE-FKONTED  DOVE. 


145 


oflicrs  tliat  were  Itntiinlit  in  with  a  Ii»t  nf  Wliit<'-\viiifftMl  Dove's  i'<f;;s.  Tim 
iifst  wfis  situated  in  the  forks  ot'  ii  hush  siltout  a  feet  from  the  "■rouml,  was 
flat  and  quite  lar^e  for  a  l*i<;eoii's  nest,  and  composed  of  tlio  (h-ad  l»ranehes, 
twijrs,  and  i»ark  of  pithy  weeds. 

Dr  ,!('  Merrill,  assistant  sur^^eon  l'.  S.  Army,  while  stationeil  at  Fort 
Mniwn,  'I'exas.  met  with  this  I'i^i'eon  there,  lie  says:  "It  is  not  rare  in  the 
\i.  initv  of  Fort  Urown,  l»ut  is  shy  and  not  often  seen.  The  oidy  nest  I  have 
Inimd  was  taken  .Fnne  S,  1H7H,  on  the  (Sovernmeiit  reservation.  It  was  about 
7  feel  iVom  tli(?  ;rround,  supported  l)y  the  dense  interlaeiiifjf  tendrils  of  a  han;;- 
iny  vine  ^frowinjr  on  the  ed;;e  of  a  thicket."' 

Mr.  William  Lloyd  writes  me  that  this  I'ijicon  lireeds  ahundantly  in  the 
Sierra  Madre,  from  southern  Chihuahua  to  lieltran,  .lalisco,  .Me.\ico,  at  an  alti- 
tude of  from  1,HHI  to '.^JOO  feet.  The  nests,  usually  jjlaced  in  thorny  .shruhs. 
Iliiisiiilii,  Aiiuiti  fiiniisiniKi  10  to  12  tet-t  from  the  ;rround,  are  sultstantially 
made  of  straw.  He  found  e<>-Hs  as  early  as  May  Ii),  and  up  to  ,Iune  l.'{,  when 
thev  were  much  incul>ated.  It  frequents  deep  arroyas  mostly  duriufjf  the 
lireediny;  season.  They  are  only  sunnner  residents  in  northern  Mexico,  mi^frate 
in  pairs,  and  feed  jirincipally  on  fruits.  The  e;;<fs  of  this  species  are  elliptical 
o\al  in  shape;  their  color  is  cream-liutV,  and  the  shell  is  smooth  and  jjlos.sy. 

The  only  specimens  in  the  V.  S.  National  .Mu.seum  c(dlection,  are  the 
two  taken  hy  I>r.  .James  ( '.  .Merrill,  l'.  S.  Army,  near  Fort  Mrown,  Te.xas, 
on  .Inne  S,  ISTK,  referred  to  previously.  The.se  measure  \\\  liy  23,  an<l  30 
hy  -l-l.h  millimetres.     One  of  these,   No.  20s;}(l,  is  iij,'ured  tin   Tl.  2,   \\.  -ll. 

50.     Melopelia  leucoptera  (LiNN.fKi;s). 
wnni'.-wiNoKi)  novK. 

('i„iiiiihit  hinttiilirit  LlNNKl's,  Syslciiiii  Natiua'.  eel.  lo,  1.  1*.")S,  |(14, 
Miliipiliii  lincitpli  rii  Ho.SAPAKTK.  ("ouspectus  Avium.  II.  DccenilMT.  |s.'(4,  s|. 

(h  i.-id.  c:!7;i,  u  it;i.  (•  .'iii;.  u  .•ii'.i.) 

( iKiMiUAI'IIIC.VI.   KANOK:    Mf.xicn,  .siiiitli    to  ('i)sla   Klca;   nmiil  In  snlltllcCIl  linldi'l- of 

riiilf.l  Slali's  (Klorida  and  Texas  \n  .Vrizciiia);  Lowcc  Caliroriiia.  Ciilia.  .lamaicii. 

Within  the  horders  of  the  I'liiled  Stales  tiie  hreedin^-  ran^ie  of  tlie 
Wliite-win^ii'd  Hove  is  coiilined  to  the  .southwestern  jiarts  of  our  domain, 
iii(ludin;f  Arizona  and  New  Mexico,  as  well  as  western  and  southwestern 
Tivas,  as  far  as  knov.ii  at  present.  Sti-ajifihrs  have  also  lieen  oliscrved  in 
southern  Colorado  and  at  Key  West,  I*"lorida,  and  it  prolialily  occurs  at 
cither  points  of  the  (Jidf  coast,  and  may  possibly  breed  there  also.  It  is 
'>ne  of  the  most  common  birds  in  Soutlu'rii  Arizona,  and  found  tlu-re  at  alti- 
iiidcs  up  to  aliout    t,00(t  feet.  s(ddoni  higher. 

.\ccordin}''  to  m\'  observations,  it  is  e(pially  as  al)nndant  in  the  foothills 
of  the  mountains  as  in  the  lower  and  hot  valleys  of  the  San  I'edro,  the  Santa 
Cruz,    the   (Jila,   N'erde,    and    Salt    Kivers       It    is   partial    to   certain    localities, 

'  rrii<'i-nliii|>i<  V .  S.  Natiiiiiitl  MiiiM'iiiii,  Viil.  I,  ls7S,  |i.  UJi. 

2(W,'i7— Hull.  1 1»! 


I 


.'■ -v 


%i 


• 


146 

and  ill  siK 


LIFK  IIISTOIMKS  «)!•'  NOKTU  AMiiUlCAN  ItlKDS. 


Ii   th 


.liil 


y  limy  '•»'  (|iiitt'  (•niinnoii,  wliili'  in  others,  iippiirciitly  »h  wo 


til 


>tl> 


-11 


Huitt'd,  llicy  iiic,  tor  Home  rt'iisoii  ciiniiiariitivuly  rart',  or  ciitiiciy  wiiiitiii;^.  I 
foiiml  the  \Vliitc-\viii;i'cil  Dovi-  I'iiiily  roiniiioii  in  1.S72  in  t\\v  foothills  of  tlif 
Siiiita  Cataliiia  .Moimtaiiis  ami  anioii^'  the  nii<lcr;;rowth  l)ordi-i'in<,r  tlu;  Uillitto 
CiTi'k,  flic  iiit'sciit  site  of  Kort   Lowell,   Arizona. 

Uotli  Mr.  (Jeoifre  ii.  Seniiett,  and  .\sst.  Sniff,  dames  ('.  Merrill,  V.  S. 
Army,  report  tlii.s  species  a.s  exceedingly  aluindaiil  in  the  iiower  iiio  (Jraiide 
Vallev   in  'i'exas. 


In  tl 


u-    viciiiitx'    o 


f  T 


iicson, 


U'l/.oiia,    It    IS   liar 


tiall 


V   resident   thron«"liont 


the  year.      1    have  observed  specimens  diiriii;;  every  moiitli  of  the  \vint«'r  of 


1s7l'  and    isT.'i,  iait  tliev  are  not  as  aliiindant  then  as  in  the 


summer. 


Th 


coiis|iiciions  white  winji-patch  easily  distiii;iiiislies  this  liird  from  any  of  the 
other   Doves  fiinid  in  that  re^iion. 

'I'lu^  matiii);  season  lte;iiiis  early,  usually  alioiit  tlie  middle  of  March, 
and  the  cooing  and  love-makiii<;'  of  the  male  can  be  heard  and  seen  almost 
any  day  dnriiifi'  a  stroll  amoii}''  the  shrnlibery  found  aloiij."'  the  borders  of  the 
water  courses,  which  seem  to  be  favorite  resorts  for  many  of  these  birds. 

Their  call  notes  aro  varied,  much  more  so  than  fhosir  of  any  other  species 


of  this  familv  found  with  us;  thev  are 


On  this  account  tin?   natives  keep   many  of  tl 


sonorous,  pleasin<;-,  and  rather  iiiusira 


lem 


(•aire  birds,  callinjr  tiiem 


J'dhiiiKt  niiifdilftr,  tSiniiinii'  Dove.     Thex 


soon  liecome  ver\'  fi'eiitle  and  recoiici 


iled 


to  captivity,  feedinj>-  ri-adily  out  of  one's  hand  and  allowing  tluan.selves  to  be 
handled  without  fear. 

One  of  their  most  characteristic  call  notes  bears  a  close  resemblance  to 
the  lirst  elforts  of  a  yoiin;;'  Cockerel  when  attemptin^f  to  crow,  and  this  call  is 
freipieiitly  iittereil  and  in  various  keys.  While  thus  en^^afjed  the  perfornu'r 
usually  throws  his  win^fs  upward  and  forwar(l  above  the  head  and  also  spreads 
his  tail  sli<;litly.     Sonu^  other  notes  may  be  translated  into  "cook  for  you,"  or 


cook  lor  two. 


coo 


k-ki 


ira-coo 


besid 


es  a    variet\'    o 


f  calls 


one  oi 


f  tl 


leso  a 


(piernloiis  harsh   one,  resemldes  .somewhat  the  svllables  "chaa-hiiii." 


Mr.  llerliert  Brown,  of 'I'licsoii,  Aii/.oii 


I,  writes  me 


these  Doves  found  in  the  immediate  \iciiiit\'  of  'I' 


iicson, 


"Tl 

but  til 


ere  are 


but  f( 


ew  ot 


ev  are  numerous 


all  over  the  country  f;enerally.  They  are  not  particularly  |»artial  to  open  mesas 
or  liottom  lands  as  a  rule,  but  confine  themselves  larjjely  to  the  idu;.;h  and 
ror-ky  foothills,  covered  with  the  sahuara  cactus  iind  palo  verde  bushes.  I  (irst 
met  with  this  species  at  New  liiver,  on  the  HIack  Canon  road,  al»out  13r>  miles 
north  of  this  place,  ami    I    consider  this  point  their  iiorthernmo.st  limit  in  this 


T 


erritorv, 


There  1  met  with  them  for  the  lirst  time,  foiirti 


en  \ cars  aj^r 


What 


particularly  drew  my  attention  to  tliein  at  the  time  was  their  call,  which  so 
much  r«'sunibled  ilie  crow  of  a  yoim^i'  rooster,  that  1  remarked  to  my  compan- 
ion, '  W(*  iiiu.st  be  in  the  iieiH-hborhooil  of  a  ranch;'  and  it  was  only  when  i  saw 
the  bird  in  the  act  of  doinji-  the  barnyard  honors  that  1  learned  my  mistake. 


I 


Have  .seen  inan\    i 


if  tl 


leir 


nests  and  e^r; 


but 


neve 


disturlxd  them.     A  few 


years  ayo   I  found  about  a  dozen  of  their  nests  in  almost  as  many  minutes. 


THE  WIllTE-WlNULl)  DOVE. 


147 


Tlicy  wen;  nil  jiIiu'imI  in  a  little  iiit'S(|uiti'  p'uve  ItctwiH'ii  ii  couplu  of  volcanic 
liills  west  of  town." 

N'idification  n.snally  lu-jfins  in  tlio  latter  pfirt  of  April  in  sontliern  Arizona, 
iinil  Hoinetinies  lnt«'r.  Tlu!  nest.><  of  tlie  Wliite-wiiif^ed  Dove,  like  tlioHO  of  niowt 
of  tlie  nienihers  of  tlii.s  family,  are  i\h  a  rule  nitlier  frail  structures,  consisting  of 
;i  sli;;lit  platforMi  of  small  sticks  an<l  twi^s  interlace)!  with  each  other,  and  lined 
iiinre  or  less  with  Itits  of  old  weeils,  stems  of  mescjuite  leaves,  and  dry  {grasses. 
Mr.  (J.  H.  Semu'tt  found  a  nest  of  tliiH  species  made  of  Spani.sh  mo.ss.  No  par- 
liculiir  preference  seems  to  Ik'  shown  for  certain  trees.  I  have  found  many  of 
iiiv  Mcsts  in  me.s(piite  trees,  the  ?nost  abundant  in  that  locality;  others  were 
|ihi  (il  ill  walnut  trees,  willow.s,  and  cliolla  cactu.H,  at  various  hei<rhts  from  the 
uicuiiil,  from  2\  up  to  ;50  feet. 

1  found  my  tirst  nest  on  May  IT),  1H72.  This  was  placed  on  a  live 
iiie.sipiite  stiim|i  from  the  top  of  which  a  inunlter  of  ;rreen  sprouts  had  ^rrown 
out,  the  nest  lu'iiif,''  only  "J.i  feet  from  the  {jrround,  tlu^  lowest  situation  in 
which  I  foiiiiil  any.  It  contained  two  fresh  ejf}.fs.  A  .secoiul  nest,  found  May 
21,  was  |ilaceil  on  a  horizontal  limit  of  a  niescjuite  tree,  (>  feet  from  the 
<:Touiid.  A  third  1  found  on  a  walnut  tree  close  to  the  trunk,  amon^r  some 
voiiii^r  sjiroiits.  It  was  fully  20  feet  from  the  ground.  An  occasiiaial  nest 
is  |iliiced   in  cacti,   hut  the  majority  in  trees. 

.\s  stilted  aliove  I  foiiiiil,  my  lir.st  nest  of  this  sjiecies  on  May  If), 
,iiid  my  last,  the  fourteenth,  on  .lime  24.  Althoiiifh  I  .searched  carefully  for 
uthers  (liiriiij;  the  next  three  months,  when  both  Xciiiiiilion  initrroKra  and 
I'lihiiiihii/dlliiiii  ji(i.s.s(rliiii  jHillfsiiii.s  were  still  laying,  1  failed  to  lind  a  single 
iicst  of  the  Whit«'-winged   Dove  with  eggs  after  that  <late. 

Dr.  J.  ('.  Merrill,  T.  S.  Army,  took  eggs  of  this  species  near  Fort  IJrown, 
Texas,  up  to  .July  ;j. 

1  believe  but  one  brood  is  usually  rai.sed  in  a  season.  As  near  as  I  can 
jiid;;(',  iiiciiliation  lasts  altout  eighteen  days.  The  male  relieves  the  fi'inale 
^oiiiewhiit  in  these  duties,  but  does  not  assist  to  any  great  extent;  he,  how- 
ever, assiduously  lieljis  to  care  for  the  young. 

Their  food  consists  of  in.sects,  small  seeds,  grain,  if  procurable,  berries, 
inesipiite  beans,  and  the  fruit  of  the  .saliiiiira  cactus,  Cciiks  i/iiiniilciis,  which 
MMiiis  to  be  a  liivorite  article  of  fitod  with  many  birds  in  Arizona. 

In  the  late  suiiimer  tlie.se  birds  collect  in  small  parties,  and  1  found 
iliciii  not  at  all  shy.  1  have  l"re(|iieiitly  seen  as  many  as  a  dozen  feeding 
Miiioiig  the  caviilrv  horses  along  the  picket  line  in  my  camp,  allowing  the 
men  to  wiilk  within   !<•  feet  of  them   without  Mying  off. 

The  eggs  are  generally  two  in  numlier,  seldom  one.  They  are  mostly 
I  lliptical  oval  in  shiipe,  that  is,  eipially  roiuideil  at  each  end;  a  few  may  be 
r:ill(i'  o\,il.  Their  color  is  a  rich  cri-amy  tint  when  fresh,  and  readily  per- 
<  rptil)lc  then,  but  in  many  specimens,  especially  in  such  as  were  considerably 
Milviiiiced  in  incubation  when  taken,  this  delicate  tint  fades,  in  time  leaving 
tile  ejrjr  a  dull  dead  white. 


■f:' 


^•1 


I,     1 


Ul 


148 


lilKK  UKSTUltlKS  OK  NOUTil  AMKKiCAN  HIKIM. 


'riic  iivcrn};)'  iiu-asiircmcnt  of  scvi'iity-tonv  Hitcciiin-iis  in  tlic  l'.  S.  Niitiniiiil 
^llls(■llln  (•(•llcrlioii,  is  ;{(l."»  liy  "J.'i  inillimctrt's.  'I'lu-  larjjcst  «';j';>'  mciihiiivs  .'Jl 
l»y  24,  tilt'  Kiiiiillfst  2H  liy  I'.t.i't  iiiilliiiu^trfs.  'I'lio  tyju-  H|Kriiiii>ii  (No,  20Hi»'_', 
of  tlm  Merrill  culltTtioii,  frum  ii  set  of  two,  IM.  2,  Kiy;.  "J.J)  wiis  cnllcftcil,  lu'iir 
K<liiil»uiy:li,  'I'c'Xiis,  l»y  Asst.  Siir^-.  .1.  U.  Moirill,  V.  »S.  Army,  May   Hi,  1H76. 


i 


SI.    Columbigallina  passerina  (LiNN\t:rs). 

(ililllMl    IIOVK. 
f 

('(ihiiiihii  ixiSKirinn  LiSN.Kl's,  Syslcinii  Xiiliuu'.  nl.  |n,  i.  17,')S,  \iiri. 

('iiliimhiijnlUmi  jmssi  riiin  Zki.KIikN,  l'iii(i'filiii;,'s  U.  S.  Niitinual  aMuscuiii,  VIII,  I  KM,  \\l. 

(\^  isa,  iJ  :tri.  It  wt^  c  r.ir.  v  .vhk) 

nKixiKArillcAI.  KANiiK:  Wi'sl  liidiii  IsIjiikIn  ;  iinrlli  l<i  .soullii'rii  Allaiitic  and  (iiiir 
Stall's  rxcriiliiiK 'I'i'xas  (casually  til  l)islfifl  nf  ('iiluiiil>ia). 

'Mic  little  (iidiiml  Hove  iiiveils  al»iiinlaiilly  tliioiiyliutit  tlu-  suiillieiii  Atlaii- 
tie  aiitl  (iiiir  States,  tViiiii  Siiiitii  ( lai'oliiia,  suiitli,  tlir<)ii;;li  (ieoi'^i'ia,  Alaiiaiiia, 
Kliiiiila,  ami  suiitlieni  Louisiana,  l)eiii<;'  iiiiicli  inure  aliiinilant  in  tliu  innneiliate 
vicinity  nl'  tiie  roast  than  in  tlie  inteiiof. 

Ih'.  William  I..  [tal|ili,  wlio  is  familial' witli  this  species,  writes  me  as  I'ol- 
lows  aiioiit  it:  "  i-'ew  ;•('  the  Idnls  I  am  ac(|iiainteil  with  have  so  much  inter- 
esteil  me  as  these  little  I  Stves.  'I'hey  ale  \cry  tame,  ami  seem  to  ileli;ilit  ill 
l'rei|iieiitiii;;'  the  vicinity  ot'  houses,  often  Itiiildiii};  their  nests  within  a  lew  feet 
of  the  }^roiiml,  near  places  where  |)eo|ile  are  coiistantlv  iiassinir.  In  Kloriila 
they  are  particularly  fomi  of  resortiii};  to  oraii;ie  j;ro\es,  iiotli  for  lu'stin^i;  ami 
fee(liii;r  In  other  localities  they  prefer  litdds  in  the  vicinity  of  woods,  with 
very  little   nmleijiiowth. 

"Their  nesti«,  whii-h  are  usually  lar^i'er  in  proportion  ami  more  <-ompactly 
Ituilt  than  is  common  with  liirds  of  this  liimily,  are  composed  of  twi;;s,  weeds, 
ileail  leaves,  pine  needles.  Spanish  moss,  etc,  ami  lined  with  line  ;irass  or  some 
similar  material.  They  are  ;<('iierall\  placed  on  a  liori/ontal  liranch  of  a  tree, 
preferahly  an  oran;;e  tree,  from  .'»  to  2.")  feet  above  tin-  firoiiml,  most  of  them 
hein;;'  iiiider  In  feet.  I  ha\e  not  infrei|iieiitly  toiiiid  them  in  hushes  or  vines, 
and  occasionally  on  the  ^roinid,  lait  I  lielieve  the  latter  situation  is  not  at  all 
common. 

"1  have  found  these  liirds  nesting;-  at  all  times  lietweeii  the  1st  of  March 
an<l  the  1st  of  .lime,  lnit  tliey  do  not  lie;;iii  lireediii;;-  in  any  niimliers  liefor*^ 
the  middle  ot  April.  The  earliest  and  latest  dates  of  .sets  ot°  inv  own  collect- 
in;;,  now  at  hand,  are  .March  L'l  and  May  7.  In  all  prolialiility  these  liirds 
nest  several  times  duriiiji'  the  .season,  lint  I  have  no  personal  knowledge  of 
their  lireediii;^-  more  than  twice,  as  I  never  remaiiie(|  in  Kloriila  after  the  1st 
of  .liiiie. 

"Moth  |)arents  assist  in  iiKiiltation,  ami  show  a  p-eat  deal  of  concern  in  the 
cari)  of  their  homes.      U'heii  one  is  driven  from  a  nest  conlainin^f  '"nri'S  ''  *^'" 


TIIK  (JUOITNI)  DOVK, 


149 


i|i'ii|i  to  tlic  <ri'(>iiiiil  IIS  if  hliiit,  jiml  will  tlifii  tliittfi-  jiroiiii)!  as  if  \viiiiiiil«-il,  to 
ii\  In  <lni\v  the  iHTSdii  (listiirl»i!i;f  it  iiwiiy   Irtnu  tlic  iH'st,  Itut,  wliftlicr  it  siif- 

I Is  ur  iiut,  it  will  siMiii  tly  oH'.     Wlii-ii  n  iicsl  ruiitiiiiis  yoiiii;,'',  Imwcvcf,  tin- 

liiiil  will  Im'chmii'  iilnii)<it  tViiiitii-  witli  iiii\i<>ty,  iiinl  will  tiiiiililf  aroiiiiil  until  it 
ii|i|Mars  tti  lie  nearly  cxliaustcil.  I  lia\<'  ul'icn  ri'lVaiiicil  renin  takiii;;'  nests  tiial 
I  have  wanteij,  un  aeeniint  nt'  the  evident  distress  of  tlie  parent   Itinls. 

"These  Doves  seem  to  dislike  lieitin^  aloiie,  and   ^i>  alioiit  in  small  tloeks 

even  dmin;i'  the  lir lin;;  season.     They  are  eonstant  residents  of  l'"lori<la,  and 

(I'll  or  fifteen  years  a;:'o  I  foiiml  them  abundant  throiiMhniit  the  northern  and 
leiilral  |»aits  of  the  State.  In  the  loeality  where  these  notes  were  taken  they 
iire  still  (iimmoii,  lhoii;:'h  fast  den-easing  in  nmnliers,  ouiii;.>'  |)rinei|ially  to  the 
>  aiises  that  are  fast  exterininatin^  most  l''lorida  liirds,  \i/,  pliiine  linnters  and 
tourists. 

"Their  notes  are  very  iniuli  like  those  of  the  Mourning-  l>ove,  and  diiriiifi 
tile  matinji'  and  lireedin^'  seasons,  they  will  fre(|iiently  sit  lor  an  hour  or  more 
at  a  time  on  the  roof  of  some  liiiildin;;-,  or  in  a  tree,  iitterin;,^  tlieir  mournful 
calls,  j-'or  liirds  so  small  they  make  ii  jfreat  deal  of  noise  when  tliey  Hy,  hut 
llieir  wiii^s  do  not  prodme  a  whistlin^i'  sound  like  those  of  the  .Moiirniii;^  hove. 
I'lieir  lood  eonsists  of  seeds,  i;rain,  ete.,  and  where  tlii-y  eaii  jfet  them,  they 
will  eat  jireeii  peiLse." 

Mr.  T.  I>.  I'erry,  of  Savannah,  (Jeor^ia,  states:  "The  lireediinjf  season  of 
the  (iroimd  l>o\c  covers  a  Ion;;-  period,  commencinji,  as  it  does,  ciiily  in  A|iril 
iiiid  continuing'  ilirou;|h  .Imie  and  sometimes  July.  I  have  found  their  nests  as 
early  as  April  H,  with  eji-;;s  slij;litly  incultated,  and  as  late  as  .luly  I),  with  fresh 
,.unH.  The  nest  is  a  very  sli;;ht  all'air,  consisting'  of  a  tew  twi^^s  and  pine 
needles,  and  very  often  ji'rass  and  pine  needles.  The  liirds  seem  to  have  no 
lei^'iilar  place  for  tlieir  location.  In  one  instance  I  found  a  iii-st  on  the  •>'ronnd, 
.iml  in  another  ease  one  on  a  stump,     (ienerally,  howevt-r,  it  is  located  in  vines, 


th-  Imsh.     Th 


th 


III-  in  a   pine  saplin<r  or  a    l.. ...  .^ ^ .■ 

from  2  to  (i  feet  in  most  instances,  tliou;;li  I  once  found  a  nest  that  was  Id  feet 
ii|i,  and  another  that  was  _'(»  feet  from  the  <>roiind.  They  seem  to  prefer  the 
pine  lands,  where  the  iinder;irowtli  of  yonn;;'  saplinjis  make  the  woods  dense, 
Mild  here  their  nests  are  j;-eiierally  found."' 

Since  Mr.  I'erry  wrote  the  aliove  lie  informs  me  that  sets  of  e^i'^^s  ot'  this 
ircies  have  lieen  found  near  Savannah,  ({eor;;ia,  as  early  as  .March  l.'J  and  17, 
d  .Mr.  Arthur  T.  Wayne  records  takinj;'  a  set  of  e^i-^is  of  the  (iroiind  Dove 
near  Charleston,  South  < 'arolina,  coiitainin<>;  small  emliryos,  on  October  ID, 
IsMii,  secuiinff  the  male  while  inculiatiii^.* 

Inciiliiitioii  is  said  to  last  two  weeks,  liotli  parents  iissi>itin;r-     Two  broods, 

•  Mcisionally  three,  ami,  in  exceptional  cases,  even  four  are  raised  in  a  si-a.son. 

The  ejiji's  of  the  (Iround   Dove  are  usually  two  in  iiiimber,  pure  white  in 

•  oiiir,  and  most  commonly  elliptical  oval  in  shape;  a  few  are  oval,  and  some 
elliptical  ovate  (sli^ihtly  pointed  at  one  end). 


^|ircl( 


''li 


'UriiitlinloKiHt  ami  <)iilii);iiit,  Vol.  xii,  l^"',  p.  III'.'. 


Il.id.,  p.  7. 


m 


\ 


150 


LIFK  lil.STOUIKH  OK  NOKTII  AMKUIOAN  IIIKIKS. 


The  uvcriij;*'  mcuMdrciiu'iit  of  t'orty-tlin'*'  *'>in>*  of  thin  spcc-icH  in  the  V.  S 
National  Mnxcinn  rolli-ction,  is  •_'!.")  Ii\  Ki.r)  niiilinictn's.  'I'Ih-  laijrt'Nt  t'H<x  in 
till-  series  measures  24  Ity  IT.'i,  the  sinaHest  lil  hy  WJt  iniMiinetres.  No  speri- 
iiien  is  li^rtiicil,  as  they  are  inilistin<>uislialih-  from  thi*  vif^  of  the  snIispecicM 
foMowinjf,  of.whieh  one  is  represented. 


\'i' 


» 


5a.    Columbigallina  passerina  pallescens  (lt\ii<i>). 


Mi:\l('AN    tiKolMi    iiovi: 


Ciiliiinliiijitllitin  pnssrrimi  pnllisn  ns   UihiavAY.  .Miiiiii.il  North  Ann-riciiii  Minis,  iss7 


I.   .iSI'i, 


A I 


i|ii'iiiii\. 


(B  4/i:t.  part  ;  ('  :t:4.  pari  ;  It  4(1.'!.  |iarl  ;  ('  r,\-.  |.,irl  ;  V  Wui.) 

(Ikoohai'IIU'ai.  KANdK  :  Sciiitliwi'sterM  I'liitrd  Slates;  Texas  Iti  ArlKoiiii  ami  Lower 
Califiiiaia;  siuitli  liiriiai;li  Mexii'n  (Imtii  cnasts)  In  Cciiti'al  Aiin'i'iea. 

The  hreeilin};  ran^e  of  tlie    Mexiean   (ironnd    Dove   witiiin  om* 
is  eontined    to  sontiiwesteru  Texas  and   southern   Ari/.ona,   and    prolialily   ti 


l.ordi 


ers 


iiltl 


soiitliern 


u'W  Mexieo,  ahliou<r|i  tliere  an-  as  y»'t  no  records  of  its  l»reediii<i' 
in  tlie  hitter  Territory,  as  far  as  I  am  aware.  A  few  stra^-j^lers  breed  proli- 
ahlv  also  in  .southern  California,  where  it  has  lieen  taken  on  several  oi-t-a- 
It   is   (piite   connnon    in    Lower  California,  where    .Mr.  .1.   Xantus   took 


sions. 


its  ejfjfs  near  Cap 


St.   I 


(leas, 


and   Mr.   L.   heldiii';  at   San  .lost'  del  ( 'ari)o. 


Dr.  .lames  C.  Merrill,  l'.  S.  Army,  foinul  this  sulispeeies  aliinidant  in  the 
vicinity  of  Fort  Urown,  Texas,  particularly  during,''  tlie  simimer.  Several  sets 
of  e^fjrs  collected  Ity  him  while  stationed  at  this  post  are  in  the  II.  S.  N.ilional 


M 


useinn    CO 


llect 


ion. 


il 


e    .Ha\s: 


TI 


le    smal 


nid    rather    compacr    nests    art- 


placed  on  the  httri/.oiitid   Itraiich  ttf  a  stout   hush  or  tree,  and  are  liiieil   with 

a    few  straws.     ( )n  om casimi    I    ftninil    the   e^^s   in   a    rttn^^hU'  math'   nest 

on  the  jfronnti  tm  the  eilire  of  a   |>rairie."' 

It   was  alsti  noticetl   l»y    Mr.  (J.    |{.  Seiinett  at    lliilal;,''i>,  Texas,  and  they 
hreetl  all  aloii};  the   l^ower   l{io  (Srande. 


Mr.  William   Llovd  writes  me  that  he  foinul  the  Mexican  (}rt>mnl   Dovt 


lies 


tiiijr  lietweeii   April  X  an<l  .Inne  1,  stimetimes  under  a  hush 


tir  i>n  an  open 


Isiiie 


a!>'aiii   on 


liml 


»  or  in  a   fork  of  ii  tree  from  .'t  to  S  feet   from 


the  ground.  These  hirds  are  often  fonnd  in  the  streets  ol'  towns,  and  espe- 
ciiiUy  in  corrals  where  horses  anti  cattle  are  kept.  raii;,''iii;r  from  sea  level  to 
an  altituile  of  !t,0(MI  feet,  in  Mexicti.  They  are  usually  seen  in  Hocks  from 
ten  tti  twelve,   ami  feeil  tin   small   m-aiii  ami   seetls.      lie  "-ives  their  call   utite 


pas-cnal,  pas-ciia 


A 


oas-tual 


Accori 


linir  to  Mr.   lltriieit   Hrtiwii,  the  .Mexican  firoiiiul    Dove  is  eommt 


Ml 


ahttiit  Tucstiii.      Ii 


e  sav.-< 


ill   the   fil 


When  the   weeils  and  fi'rass  seetls  art- 


ripe,    I    havt-    set-ii    as   many   .is   fifty   i>f  tlii-st-    hirds    in    a    Hock;    tliiriii<r   th 
winter  mtinths  hut   few  art-  seen,  ami  then  tuilv   in   pairs. 


rort'i'iliiinH 


I'.  S.  Nalii 


niiial  .MiiHfMiii, 


Vi.l.  I,  1-T- 


|..  l.-iS. 


TIIK  MKXICAN  (»R(>l'Nl>  IM)VK. 


151 


"'riicy  lay  two  t';r}?t,  ami  lu-st  in  tr<'(*rt  (ir  ImisIich.  A  newt  toun«l  Jiiiic 
II,  1HH7,  was  tuiistnirtctl  nl"  a  t't'W  tlcml  t\vi;fM  and  frrasn  iiluccil  on  a  limit 
(il  ii  willow  nrar  tli<-  ^roiinil;  tin-  trnialc  was  on  tlic  nest,  (hie  touml  Jiinf 
l!i  wa>  also  in  a  willow  trrr  '_'(>  I'cct  tVoni  tlir  ;{i'oiin<l  ami  ont  on  a  limit  ITt 
lilt  tVoMi  tlu'  lioily  of  lilt'  Iric,  ami  made  of  a  lew  ilriril  stalks  of  iill'all'a.  It 
ronlaint-tl  two  {■•^ixi*  ami  tin-  li-inalc  was  on  tin-  nest.  A  third  m-st,  I'onnd 
■  luiir  '-'Ii,  rontainin;;'  two  <•;;';''*.  was  nnidr  of  loii;,''  stems  of  dry  ;;:rass  and 
lilanil  aliont  i<>  ft-ct  from  llic  ;;ronnd.  Wlictln  r  tliis  was  a  lirst  layin;;,  I 
riiiinot  sav.  Tlif  nests  arc  almost  Hat.  I  do  not  lliink  1  ever  saw  a  eavity 
iiiiin'  llian  lialf  an   imli  df<'|)." 

I  lomid  tliis  snlis|M'i'ics  a  resident,  dnrin^  tin-  entire  year,  at  my  ('am|) 
oil  Uillitto  ( 'reek,  near  'rmsoii,  in  |s7-_>  and  isT.'i.  In  llie  winter  tliey  lie- 
iiiiiie  exeeediiijily  tame,  and  I  have  seen  them  fre(|neiiily  atij^hl  within  a 
lew  feet  of  mv  tent.  |»iekiny  nj)  Itread  crnmlis  wliieh  I  threw  to  them.  They 
are  loveK  and  atVeelioiiiile  little  liirds,  their  tail  notes  and  i'ooiii;r,  jiowever, 
liave  rather  a  doleful  sound.  My  picket  lim*  was  always  a  favorite  resort  for 
thciii,  as  well  as  for  other  species,  iiarlicnlarly  diniii;;  the  winter,  when  from 
six  to  tell  Doves  mi;ilit  lie  seen  almost  any  time  ol  the  day  feediii;;  on  ilie 
scattered  ;rrain  let't  liy  the  horses.  I  am  inclined  to  Itelieve  that  they  n'lnain 
paired   for  lite. 

Love-makin;^'  lie}:'ins  alioiit  tlie  first  week  in  April,  hut  although  j  searched 
raivliilK  for  their  nests  I  tailed  to  liiid  any  till  .May  .'til.  From  this  date 
until  the  middle  of  Se|itemlier  I  e\amiiied  a  nmnlier.  .Ml  of  the  nests  seen 
liV  ine  were  placed  on  lillslies  or  oil  trees,  tVolii  ,'l  to  l' 1  feet  oil  tile  ^ronild. 
Mot  a  siii}:le  one  was  foinid  on  the  ;>roimd. 

Tile  tirst  one  foinid,  on  May  .'til,  was  placed  in  a  syrin^ra  hush,  altont  .'t 
Icct  from  the  j^roiind.  The  little  plattorm  ot'  small  twi;i's  and  <|'rass  stems 
^\as  \er\  slight,  aliout  1.^  inches  in  diaiiiett-r,  and  almost  perfectly  tiat.  The 
,.j_pMs  wi'i'e  fresh. 

(•tiler  nests,  snliseipieiitly  noticed,  were  placed  ill  various  trees  and  Itnshes, 
iniistly  in  mescpiite  thickets,  a  few  in  willows,  and  two  in  w;ilnnt  ti'ees.  \ 
nest  foiiml  .luly  "JS  was  placed  in  a  tree  ot'  this  kind,  aliout  l'(I  feet  from  the 
i;roiiiid.  The  tree  w.is  leanin;;-.  and  some  yoiiii;;'  sprouts  had  ^rown  out  from 
ilie  main  trunk,  aiiion^  which  the  nest  was  placed.  The  e^-^is  were  fre«li, 
pi'iilialtK  a  second  lavin;:'.  All  the  iie^ts  examined  li\'  me  were  fouial  in  the 
creik   liottoms  or  else  dose  liy.  liCMeridly  in  chimps  of  mestpiite  iiiishes. 

I  fitinid  a  set  ot  e;.'';'s,  sli;;htly  iiiciiltated,  on  Seplemlter  11.  and  niijihl 
li;i\e  t'oiind    them    lneediiiji'  still    later,    I    presume,   if  I    had    looked    for  their 

■llesls. 

.\ltliou}fli  the  .Mexican  (Jroiind  T)o\c  hej.'-ins  lireedin^>'  rather  lat<',  I  Iielleve 
iliev  nsuallv  rear  two,  it'  not   three,  liroods  a  season.     The  voiiii"-  are  t'etl  on 


-mall  seeds   and    Iterries  of   dith'ieiit   kimh 


IS  well  as  "rain,    wlieiie\er  it  is 


|. 


piiicinalile.     (ira\cl.   in   coiisideialile  (|uantities.   is  ii.sed    liy  them    to  help 
;;riiidiii;''  up  the  \arious  seeds  they  feed  on. 


Ill 


m 

ti  [I 


Mi 


•".^ 


152 


LIKE   HISTDItllJS  OP  NOItTlI  AMKItU'AN  ItlUDS. 


The  (><;^M  iir<-  iisiiully  two  in  iiiiiiilM>i-,  solilniii  hut  oni'.  Iiinilintioii  liiHtH 
iiltoiit  t'oiirtct'ii  (lays,  tlif  iiiah;  assistiiijr  in  tlu'sc  (liitics.  'I'lic  «'jf<;s  .in'  pun' 
wliit*'  ill  coior,  <-lli|)ti«'iil  oval  in  slia|M'.  villi  now  ami  then  one  wliirli  may 
l)f  sli,"''it!y  |ioiiiti-(l,  ami  a  tt-w  tliat  may  Im>  <  allfd  oval. 

"!">»'  av«'ra;ft'  m«-asiii'*'iiu-iit  o!'  lii'ty-loiir  siiccimcns  in  tlu«  IT.  S.  National 
.Must'Uiii  rollcctioii,  is  'Jl."i  l>y  !(!."»  millimctns.  'I'lif  larfri'st  cjf}^  in  the  scricH 
measures 'J.'(  l)y    1 7.;"),  the  smalh'st  20  liy    HI  millimetres. 

The  type  speeimeii  (No.  I'tHOl,  |M.  "J,  Fi;:.  24),  tVom  a  set  of  two,  tVom  the 
Meiiilire  folleftiodj  was  taken   l>v  invscli',  near  Tuesoii,  Arizona,  June  -'H,  isfj. 


53.     Scardafella  inca  (IiKSHii\). 


INl'A    noVK. 


mi 


Chiimiv}uHit  iiirn  I.ksson.  Descrip'ivt' (jujidrnpt'ils. ctf..  nafToii.  is.10. '^Ml. 
S  iinliil'illii  liirii  Ko.N'Ai'AKTK.  ()<iiis|M'i'tus  Avimn,  II.  Dcrcinlifr,  Is."i4.  M.'i. 

(H  i.v.', c.i::..  H mil.  V .vi'.t,  i;  .i-.m). 

(IKOOHAIMIICAI,  i{AN(iK:  S.ui(lii'rii  Ixinlcr  of  Uiiitefl  Hl.ilis  liotii  Rio  (Jniiiilt' Valley 

of  Ti'xns  to  siiiitiii'i'ii  Ai'i/.oiia  iiiiil  Lu\vt>r  (^iilil'oi'iii,i;s(iuili  to  Mi'xini  lonl  ( iiiiilciiiulii. 

The  l»ref'.iin;»'  nin;;e  ol'  the  luea  Move  witliiis  mir  lionlci'  iiirlinles  the  Uio 
(Sraoile  'alley  of  Texi'.s,  from  tin*  viciiity  of  Lareclo  to  so'ithmi  Arizona,  ami 
its  ilistrihiition  .-ieeniH  to  he  soniewli.<t  ir/e^iilar.  it  is  also  an  oci-asioiial  visitor 
in  the  interior  of  Texas  (Austin). 

Ninif  of  the  oriiitholo^^iststs  who  haxr  exploreil  tlu'  Lower  Kio  ( iraiide  \'al- 
ley  wii''iii  the  past  f"W  years,  as  well  as  oihcr  portions  of  Texa-*,  appear  to 
have  met  with  this  spi'eies.  \U:  11.  IV  Ihitrlur.  howi'\er,  seems  to  have  fouiiii 
it  ahimilant  near  i,ar<M|o,  Texas,  in  IS'!'!,  ami  took  it.-  nest  am!  e;,'';is  there  on 
•  hily  1  of  that  year.      It  was  placed  in  the  forks  of  a  small   mes<|n<te  tree.' 

In  southern  Ari/.ona  it  has  lieeii  met  with  hy  <liti'erent  parties.  I  toiind  it 
rather  a  rare  resident  near  'i'neson  in  \xl'I. 


.\fr,  W.  K.  I>.  Seott  writes  as  toll 


o>\s: 


Th 


only  jioints  wliere  I  have  seen 


this  speries  are  TiicsoM  and  Kloreme,  where  it   is,  especially  in  the  latter  plan 


1-  tl 


oJ   common  occurrence  uiiriMi;-  tlie  warmer  oortioii  ot   tlie  vear 


f  th 


l>ir.l 


s  are 


ver\  tame,  and  seem  to   alfec*   paiticiilaily  the  streets,  corrals,  ami   ;far<leiis    in 
the  liearl  of  the  t'  ,vn."-' 

Mr.  Ilei'liert  Ih'ovvn  informs  me:  "I  have  c  xamined  a  mimlier  of  the  nests 
of  th.  Inc. I  l^ove  at  dill'erent  times,  Thev  are  as  a  rule  mm  h  lietter  .  ou- 
st rmteil  than  those  of  the  .Mi^xicaii  ( I  round  l>o\e.  The  1  i\  it\  is  alioiit  hall  an 
iiicl,  deeii,  anil  the  mato'iids  usimI,  line  ilead  twi;i's,  are  mndi  more  compacih 
pii«  toMctlier  tli;!!!  in  the  mst^  i>\'  the  latter  <  >ii  Septemlier  ■_'(>,  Issl.  I  fiiimd  a 
nest  III'  this  spe<'ii's  in  an  apricot  tree  alioMi  !(»  feet  i\'.<\\  t!ie  j^romnl.  The  nest 
coi;tained  tw;i  ejii's.  which  I  did  not  di>1nrl»" 

.Mr.  Xanthiis  fomid  this  I  *o\  e  lireediii;:'  alum  l;>n:i\   at  (  ape  St.  Lucas.    ( !iie 


'  llulury  i:l'  N'lirlli  Aiiiuriian  llinln,  ISM.  \  iii.  ill,  |i.  ;I8'*. 


•Auk,  Vol   III,  IH.-^i,  |i.  4:.'l. 


TIIR  INCA  DOVK. 


153 


Mil 

on 


iM'st  was  f'uimii  ill  ii  Iciillcss  iiou'iii  iilioiit  (!  f'ccf  rioin  tlic  ^Toiiiul;  jinotlitT,  fniiiitl 
Miiv  -*>,  wiis  mImmiI  .'>  Icct  lii<;')i,  ill  a  siiinll  tli<ii-ii  laisli;  a  tliinl  was  at  the  iu-i^lit 
i)t'  S  t'tft  anil  also  |)lari-i|  in  a  liiisli;  ittlii'i'M  \v<>r<>  |ilar«>i|  in  small  oaks,  cat-ti, 
ii|iiiiitias,  ami  in  ntliiT  sitiiatiuiis,  all  almvc  tin*  ^rnainil,  at  liiM;>'litrt  varyinj;  tVoiii 
."i  ti)  S  I'i'i-I.' 

I  first  iiirt  with  tliis  sprrii-s  in  Ki'liniar\ ,  IST'J,  ami  saw  hIIiims  i'mni 
liiiii'  t<i  tinii',  liiit  iii-viT  aliiinilaiitly.  1  am  siiii-  a  I'l'W  pairs  I>ri-<1  witliin  ii 
.••liurl  ilistaiiri-  ••!  iiiv  ramp  nrar  'riiixiii,  iait  1  iliil  imt  iiiul  tlirir  ni'sts.  'riii* 
i>iil\  OKI-  i  olitaiiii'il  wiis  takrii  ill  tin*  \alliy  ol  tin-  Santa  ( 'rii/.  Uivcr,  iirar 
Tiiliar,  Arixiiiia,  mi  .liiiii'  i>,  \x~,-2.  It  was  plari'il  in  a  tliirk  mi'si|iiiti-  laisli, 
aliiiiit  '  J'tM't  I'roiii  tli«'  /roiniil,  ami  rontaini'il  twi>  Irrsli  I'y'jis.  Tin-  lu-st  was 
:i  sli;^lil  piatliirm  nf  twi^is  am!  ^-rassi-s  alimit  ">  imliis  in  diamrtiT.  'riic 
liiiiiili'  wax  (Ml  till'  iii'st.  'i'lir  i';i;;s  sliiiw  a  sli;;lit  iTi-amy  tint,  iliir  pnliaps 
til  lliit  lii'illj.'  tlliirnll^llly  rliMlliil  at  tllr  timr.  A  si't  rnilcifi'il  l>\  ('iiIdImI 
I  iri'\  son,   iirar  Ma/,atiaii,   .Mr\irii,  an-  piiri'  wliiti'  in  i-ulnr. 

Tliis  liinl  is  rasily  ilisliiiiiiiislii'il  linm  tin-  Mrxiraii  (Irininil  Dovi-  liy  its 
iiiiii'li  Imi^rr  tail:  its  liaiiits  air  \i-ry  similar,  ami  it  prnltalily  raises  two 
liroiiils  ill  a  srason. 

'I'll,.  ( i:^s,  two  in  niimlM'r,  an*  srarrrly  ilistiiiifuii>lialili'  i'mm  tlmsi'  of  tlii' 
(iroimil    hiiM-;  tlii-\    arr  wliiti'  in  rolor,  ami  rlliptiral  o\al   in  >!iapr. 

Tlir  ■vrraj,''!'  mrasMi'i-mi'iit  ol'  tin-  t'oiir  sjirrimrns  in  tin-  [' .  .S.  National 
MiiMMiiii  li'i'tioii  is  •_'!  Iiy  1(1. .">  miliimi'trrs,  Tlii'  lar;:i'st  i-jii;-  mi'asiiri-s  2"-' 
li\    17.."i,  till'  smalli'st   2(1  liy    !•!   milliiiii'tirs 

Till'  typi'  spnimrii  (No.  .'(isml'  I'I.  l'  V'\'/  •_'.■»),  from  tlir  JJi'iiilirc  tol- 
lidinii,   was  faki'ii   liy   tin-  writir  mar  'riiliar.    Ari/mia,  .liiiu'  (I,    IH72. 

54.     Geotrygon  martinica  ((iMi;i.iN). 


*/.•-  ^>i 


''^]-l 


'y^ 


■i-n 

I'I". 

air 

in 

■-ts 

iiii- 

:in 

■;l> 

a  a 

irsi 


:l 


Ki.v  wr.si  vi  Aii.-novK. 

rtihniiliii  tun  it  i  nil 'I  (Jmim.IN.  Sy.-li'iiiii  Natur;i',  I,  ii,  KSS.  7S|. 

liiuhilijiin  iiiiiiliiiirii  r.o\  Ai'Miiio.  ( ^lll^|H■(•tlls  .Xviuiii.  II.  I>i imImt,  Is.M.  7J. 

(H  i.M.  ('  :i;i;.  iMii;.  c.vin.  r  :;•.■•.'.) 

fiKoimxl'IIICM,   II.WiiK:    il.llli.  Cllli.l.  r..iliil?ii.is,  , 11111  Kl"rii|;i   K'rys. 

Witliin  till'  limit.'*  ot'  llir  I'liili'il  Statrs  tin-  liiii'iliii;^  ran;ii'  of  llir  Krv 
W'rst  (^nail-hoM'  i.".  foiitiiinl  to  llir  islaml  ol'  Kiy  W'l -1  ami  tlii'  rvtrrini' 
•^iiiiilii'rn  l''loriilii  Krys;  it  apprars  i'\ci'rilin^l\'  rarr  now  in  plarrs  wIhti' 
.\iii|iil)on   lonml   tlirm   t'air'y   aliiimlaiit 

l>r.  .1.  (iiimllarli,  in  liis  "  Mritriiyi' /iir  (  hnillmlo^ii'  ( 'iilia's"  sfatr-:  "It  is 
iml   rari'.      Its  i^i'Mciiil   |i;iliils  n'>iiniili'  those  of    llir    hliii'-luaili'il   (^nail-l  »o\i', 

|ii   I'rrriii^i'  rork\  ,iml  w Iril  rrj^ioiis.      1  scan-rlv   isrr  im-t  tlirm  mitsiilr  of  the 

loi'i'sl.  In  ihc  ili'i'.si-l\  tim'oi'rril  portions  it  lu.iv  Iti'  .•irrii  srraliliiii;:'  amoiij^ 
till'  li'avi's  for  tiMiil.  It  liki's  to  pmli  on  hori/.ontal  limits.  I'spci-iallx  on 
I'liilis  III   the   /.ai'sas. 


ll.slcirj  ..I   Niirlli  .\imii.:iM  l!ir.l«,  I^TI,  \  nl    ill.  )>   .IS^. 


'•)  '. 


164 


LII<M<:  IIISTOIUKH  OV  NOUTII  A.MKUICAN  ItlKDS. 


,    ^t\ 


■i  - 


"ItH  mtlicr  iliih-rnl  fiill  note  r«'srnil)l('s  die  sylliihlcs  'liii-ii|>.'  T\w  lU'st, 
foii8iHtiii<j[  lit'  ii  sli<>'lit  pliittorni  of  stirks,  in  iisiiiilly  ]iliii'cil  <  ii  tlic  tn|i  (■rowii 
oi'  rcrtain  |)iiriisitic  ci-cfpcrs,  I'oiiiiil  in  tlit>  more  open  hut  sliiuly  |)i'iinitiv«' 
l(»r»'sts.  Tin-  c^fji's  Mi'f  two  in  iiiniilHT,  ut'  :i  p.ilc  uclirc  ycllnw  rnlnr,  iiiul 
MH'iisnrt'  iU.'i  i»v  "_' J   niilliiiu'tics.      I   touiid  iu'st«  lu'twi'di  tlic  nioiillis  tit"  I'Vb- 


niJM'v  iin< 


1  .liih 


Dr.. hum  Nilarn,  dl"  tlic  rnivcrsity  4>t'  lliilianii,  writes  uw.  "The  Key  West 
Qiliiil-DoM*  is  quite  eniiniuiu  ainl  a  euustaut  resiileut  oti  tlie  Islantl  iit'  ( 'ulia. 
hs  t'lHiil  niusists  ut"  fruits,  seeds,  small  snails,  ete.  It  walks  with  neck  t'oii- 
traeted  and  the  tail  sli;:litly  raised.  It  perehes  uii  trees.  It  is  eiiuiUHiidy 
ealled  Itiiiiitii  (Ox  l>ri\er),  on  aecoiuit  <it"  the  resenihlanee  of  iis  call  to  the 
si;iiial  to  stop,  'hinip,'  ;;i\en  hy  drivers  to  their  oxen.  //////"(/(((/»  (a  kind  of 
hridle)  is  another  of  its  names,  on  aeeoiuit  of  the  white  stripe  extendin<; 
from  the  antero-int'erior  re<{'ioii  of  the  eye  almost  to  the  oeeiput,  and  resem- 
hliii;:  the  ornamental  part  ot'  a  liridle.  hi  the  central  and  eastern  parts  of 
the  islai.d  it  is  called  'Torito'  (Little  Hull),  its  call  notes  somefinns  reseudilin;; 
a  roarin^f.     The  nest   is  placed   in  liij>h  trees  as  a  rule,  usually  ('iinijiiiis.      It 


eoi 


nnieiices  lireedinu'    in    l''el)rnar\    and    la\s    until  .hdv.     Tl 


le  ('Fiji's  are  twii 
in  luunlier,  ochraceous  white  in  color,  ami  measure  .'SI    liy'JI   millimetres." 

Mr.  .1.  W.  .\tkins,  of  Key  West,  informs  me,  under  date  of  Dccemlier  "Jit, 
1SS!>:  •'!  have  taken  liut  a  sinj^le  Key  West  (^>uail-l>ove;  I  have  seen  sev- 
eral others,  lint  have  lieeu  unalile  to  tiiid  llu'ir  nests  and  *-^'^^:  and  you  may 
infer  the  raritv  of  this  species  here,  when  I  tell  \  ou  that  many  local  sports- 
men to  whom   I   lia\c  showed  th<-  liird   1    killed    i  id   never 


seen   one    or  kti-w 


that   it  occurred  here." 

There  are  no  eji'^is  of  ihi-  species  in  the  l'.  S.  National  .Museum  collection, 
and  1  have  heen  unalile  to  secure  a  specimen  to  ti>4iire. 


55.     Geotrygon  montana  (Lixn.v.i  s). 
til  imv  1^1  Aii.-itovi:. 

('iihniihii  iiiniiliuiii  I,IN\  Kis,  Syslciiia  N;iliii;i',  imI.   Id,  i.  IT.'iS,  1(!:{. 
(Iiiitilfiliiii  nKiiiltiiiii  l!oN  M'.MiTK.  < 'i'ns|M'c1us  .\\  iiim,  1,  IS.Mi.  7','. 

(H— . (■    ,  H— . ('  -,  r  .i-.'-.M.) 

(iKo(ili.\l'lll('Al.  HANiiK:  Tnijiic-.il  .\ iiiciica  ill  Lremial  (iinlinlini;  llic  West  Imlies); 

lliilih  til  (  'lllia,  .linl  ciislelli   .Mexico  !  Mir.liliil  );  Ml  I  II  lent. •!  I  .il    Key    West.  I'Mnriila. 

The  Wiiddx  (j>uail-l>o\e  is  entitled  to  a  place  in  our  avilliiiiia,  a  siii;;le 
Hpeeimell  having  lieell  taken  at  Kt  \  West,  hecemlier  !<•.  ISSS  (.\uk,  \l, 
April,  lss;i,  IflO,  liil,  and  diih,  iSSil,  -Jlti).  Il  is  \eiv  doiililtiil  if  it  lireeils 
within  our  limits 

\h:  .lean  ttiiiidlach,  in  his  "Neue  Heitrii|i;e  /.iir  <  hiiitholoyie  Cuha's,"  says: 
"The  haliits  of  this  Npecies  iire  -imilar  to  those  of  (1.  iiiinliiiii<i.  It  is  not  found 
on  the  eaxos  or  sniidl  islands  ot  the  coast  of  |-'loiida,  lnit  pi'ulialiK'  extends  to 
the  South  .\merican  mainland.  Nidilicatioii  and  the  1  ulor  ol  the  e^i-Ms  sire  the 
same  as  with  those  of  the   preeediiiji   spei-ie-.  (i.  iiiiiitiiiii a,  only  the   latter  are  a 


» 


TIIK  IJIDDY  QrAIK-OOVi;. 


155 


•lidt'  siiiiilliT,  nu'iisiiriii;;'  '2X.h  Ity  21.')  iiiilliiiiftrt's.  1  fouiul  a  iit'st  in  Aiijjiist, 
t'niitiiiiiiii;^'  two  liull'-cdlorcd  cj^'^-  wliicli  wcD'  ln'okcii  lid'tirc  1  iiifiisiircil  tlirm. 
Its  t-ill  notes  arc  rntluT  niislciiiliii;'-.  sicniin-i-  near  wlicn  ilistaiit,  ami  a;^aiii  tin- 
ifvt  ISC.  'I'licy  rcsc?iii>U'  tlic  syllalilc  'liii|i'  rc|M'»tc(lly  ami  4|iii(-kly  {•ivcii.  It 
is  not  rare;  lirccils  ami  inlialiits  tiic  forests,  and  remains  a  ;>'ood  deal  ot°  tlie 
iiine  on  tlie  i;idinid  seaiTliin>>-  lor  food  anionn'  tlu-  dry  leaves." 

Mr.  I'liilii)  Henry  (iosse,  in  liis  "Mirds  of  daniaica,"  says:  "Tlie  Monntain 
l'artrid;;'c  atlects  a  well-wooded  <'onntry,  and  is  t'onnd  in  sucli  woods  as  are  more 
1  liokcd  with  iiMslies.  *  »  *  it  is  essentially  a  jiionnd  l'i;;eoii,  walkinji'  in 
roiijilcs  or  sinfi'ly,  seekinjf  for  seeds  and  fiia\t'I  on  the  earth.  *  *  *  It 
is  often  seen  heneatli  a  |)imentn  pickin'.'-  tip  the  fallen  herries;  the  |ihvsie  imt, 
.ilso,   ami    other   oilv   .seeds  alVord    it   sustenance.      I   once    oliser\'ed  a  pair  of 

lluse  Uovcs  eating'  the   lar;ie  seeds  of  a  nianii'o  that  had  I n  crushed.      With 

>ccd.s,  I  have  occasionally  foinid  small  slni^s,  a  species  of  Vofiittiihis,  conmion 
in  damp  |(laces,  in  its  jii/./.ard.     »     •     » 

"In  the  Shoit  Cnt  of  I'aradise,  where  the  sweet  wood  ahonnds,  the  I'ar- 
iiid^c  is  also  mmicidns;  in  .Maicli  and  April,  when  tliese  lierries  are  ripe,  their 
■-lomachs  ai'e  tilled  «ith  them.  Here, , -it  tlie  same  season,  their  cooiiio- i-(>sonnds, 
wliicli  is  simply  a  very  sad  moan  nsnally  ntterel  on  tlii'  ground,  lint  on  one 
occasion  we  heanl  it  from  the  limit  of  a  cotton  tree  at  ('avc,  on  which  the 
liird  was  sittinj:  with   its   head  di'a«n   in;   it  was  shot  in  the  very  ait.      »     «      » 

"One  la\  ill  .lime  I  went  down  wiili  a  voiinn  friend  into  a  wooded  \alle\ 
:il  Content  to  look  at  a  I'artridp'  nest.  As  we  crept  cantionsly  towanl  the  .<pot. 
llic  male  liird  Hew  from  it.  I  was  airprised  at  its  rudeness;  it  was  nothin;;'  luit 
:i  halt  do/ell  decaveil  leaves  laid  on  one  another,  and  on  twn  or  three  drv  tv\i<^'s, 
lint  from  the  sitting  of  the  liirds  it  had  acipiired  a  slight  hollowiicss.  ulioiit  as 
iiiiich  as  a  skimmer.  It  was  placed  on  tlie  to|i  (>li<^'iitlv  sunk  anioiij^'  the  leaves) 
111  ;i  small  linsh  not  more  than  ,'i  feet  liijili,  whose  ;^|ossv  tolia^e  and  small  white 
Idossoms  reminded  me  of  a  mvitle.  Tiiere  were  two  voimj;  recently  hatched, 
r.iljow  aiid  peddiarlv  helpless,  their  eves  clo.sed,  their  hills  larye  and  misshapen: 
lliev  liore  little  re^cmlllallce  to  liirds.  (  >n  another  oci  asioii  I  saw  the  male  shot 
while  sitting';  the  nest  wa>  llicii  phiced  on  a  slender  liiish,  ulioiit  ."i  feet  from  the 
:i'ronnd.  There  were  Imt  two  et;|;s,  ol'  n  vciv  pale  liiilf  color;  sometinies,  how- 
ever, thev  lire  coiisiileraldv   darker." 

Seven  e^-ys  ol'  this  species  are  in  the  l',  S.  Natioliiil  Mnsemil  collection, 
all  taken  in  the  West  India  Ishiiids.  They  :ire  o'.  al  in  shape,  and  rather 
iiioii'  rounded  than  is  nsniillv  the  case  with  l'i;;-eon  eons.  In  color  tliev  varv 
coiisideralilv ,  from  a  p;ile  cream  to  a  sidmon  linlV.  The  averii;;e  measurement 
Is  I'T  liv  1\  niillimelies.  The  liir^est  e;^';;'  measin-es  '1\).U  l»y  11,  the  smallest 
•J  I   liy    l!t..'i  millimetres. 

The  tvpe  specimen  (No.   I  TSStl,   IM.  "_',   Ki};.  '-'(I),   from  a   set   of  two,   was 
■iillecteda-    •^ai.lte  Marie,  West  Indies.   April,  1S77,  liy  .Mr   V.  A Olier      ( tiie  of 
iliese    eiiiis   is    still    darker    colored,  and    three    are    sonn'whal    li"hter    tinted 
riieir  shells  !ire   verv    smooth  and   "lossy. 


M.  ■ 


).i.. 


\'\' 


i:r 


f 


t: 


156  Lll'H  IIISTOKIKS  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  KIKDS. 

56.    Starncenas  cyanocephala  (Linn.kus). 

HliUK-IIKADKI)   gUAIL-IKIVK. 

Colintilxi  (iiiniori  i)hiilii  Linnkis.  Systcma  Niitiiiif.  fil.  li>,  i,  17,18,  l(!:i. 

atiiniitiiiis  ri/itiioi-tjihiilit  HiinaI'aktk,  ( it'o^n'Kpliiciil  ami  Coiiipi't'lu'iisivo  List,  18;i8,  41. 

(H  iM,  c  ;);r.  R  ic.s,  c  r,r>\,  ii  ■.'.•r.\.) 

Of.(K1KAI>III('AI.  KANdK:  Klurulji  Keys  anil  CuImi. 


^  ' 


Tim  Hliit'-lit'iiiU'il  Qiiiiil-hovc   is  aiutthcr  rfirc  visitor  within  our  borders, 


and   it  is  iloultttul    if  it    hncils  with  us 


'inu'iis   hiivf  Im'»mi    taken  of 


h\te  years  on  any  ot  tli*'   I'Moriihi   ishnuls  and  snialier  keys. 

Dr.  Jean  (Jundlaili,  in  iiis  "  Heitriijfe  /.ur  ( )rnithoIo}rie  Cuba's,"  writes 
nbout  the  Hhu'-headed  (.^nail-Dove  as  toMows:  "'I'liis  speeies  is  a  constant 
resident  of  tiie  Ishnid  of  Cuba,  a. id  is  likewise  found  in  the  extreme  southerly 
portions  of  the  I'nited  States,  as  well  as  on  the  Island  of  Jamaica,  but  does 
Dot  seeins  to  occur  on  the  reinainin<>'  West   India  Islands. 

"It  is  not  luiiMiunnou  in  the  extensive  forest,  especially  in  such  in  which 
the  •rround  is  rocky,  but  is  scarcely  ever  found  in   cultivated   lields  or  open 


irauie  countr\' 


It 


moves  sliiwlv,  with  tiu-  neck  contracted  iuid 


tail 


erected 


w 


hile  Hoarchiii;:'  for   food    anion;;   the  deail    leaves  on   the  ^;round.     This  con- 


sists of  seeds  of  various  kinds,   berries,  and 


occasioiialh'    small    snails. 


After 


feeilin^'',   it  usually  tlies   into  a   tree  and  |ierclies  on  a  leatless  liori/.ontal  limb, 
or  on  one  of  the  iiunieroiis   parasitic  vines,  to  rest.      In   tl 


le  eari\'   morniiii's, 


should  its  plumaiic,  perchance,  liave  become  wet  while  traveling:  through  the 
dewdaden  slirubbeiy,  it  selects  a  sunny  spot  to  dry  itself  Kioiii  time  to 
time  this  l>M\e  litters  her  call  note,  consistin":'  of  two  hojlow-soundin;;'  notes, 
'hu-up,'the  (irst   syllable  loii^f  drawn  out.  the  serond   .short   and   uttered   very 


(pill 


kh 


besides    this    note    a    li 


•  w    iiiutteriii;r    IS    o( 


ca:<ioiiall\     heard.     Tl 


leir 


call  notes  are  de<'eptive,  apjieariii;;-  near  when  <listant,  and  distant  when  close 
by.  Its  tli^iht  is  noisy  when  startin^i',  similar  to  that  of  the  Kuropean  Par- 
tridge, from  wliicii  it  recei\cs  its  misleading'  name  '  "'eidiy..'" 

It  nests  in  .\pi'il  and  .May;  the  nest  is  ,1  simple  alfair,  consistiii^df  a  few 
twi^i's.      It  is  usually  placed  in  the  tops  of  parasitic   vines.  Tillinnlsiii.     It  lays 


two  wiiiti'  e""s,  ineasiinii"' 


;{.-.  I 


»v 


:k'>  millimetres. 


Dr.  .i.iaii  Vilaro.  professor  of  the  Tiiiversity  of  ilabana,  Cuba,  writes  ine; 
This  Dove  is  constantly  il"cieasin^-  in  iiuiiibers,  bein;>'  continually  persecuted, 


notwillistaiidm^  it  is  protected  at  certain  times 


bv  tile  hiiiitiii"-  law.s.' 


.\ccoidin;i-  to  Dr.  Ita.'hmaii,  of  ( 'liailestoii,  .Sniitji  Carolina,  the  ^'iX)X  of  this 
H))ecies  is  of  a  uniform,  creaiiiv -white  color,  .iiid  measures  1.1,'!  iinlies  in  length 
b  •  l.Ut  in  bre;!dtli  (alioiii  lUi.'A  by  •_'?.!'  inillimetit  s).  The  e;;-;,'  referred  to  was 
laii!  in  conliiiement  in  his  aviary.' 

1  consider  the  latter  description  as  iimre  probably  the  correct  one.  There 
are  no  specimens  of  the  ej^^is  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museiini  collectinii. 


'  llirclrfiir  Niirtli  A rici,  ImT|,  Vol.  ill,  ».  :KN:. 


BIRDS  OF  PREY. 

Family  (^VTlIAH'riD.E.     Amkkican  Viri.TrRES. 
57.    Pseudogryphus  californianus  (Smaw). 

CAUKOH.MA    Vn.TIKK. 

Viiltiir  riilifi>nn<iiiii.sH\iA\v.  Natunvlists' MisciHiiiiy.  iv.  I7lt7.  I'l.  ccci. 
I'.si  iiiliiijriiiihii.'i  iiilil'i)niiiiiiii.s  liiixiWAV.  llistoiy  Xortli  AiiH'iiciiii  Birds,  (II,  1S74.  .'J3S. 

(H  •>',  ('  MW,  li  4.'»:i,  C  .V!"i.  U  .l-.M.) 

CiKodHAriiicAi.   I{an<;k:    Pfvcitii'  coast   region '>!'  (lie  IJiiilcil  Slates,  from  Oropni 
siiuthwaiil,  Ic)  iiiiilliciii  1^1  iwtT California;  (southern  Utah!')  ' 

'I'lic  l)r('('<liiiij  range  i>f  tlie  ( 'alifiiriiia  N'liltiire,  as  far  as  known,  is  rcstrictt'd 
to  tlic  State  of  Calitornia  ami  tn  a  <-(>iii|iaratively  small  jHirtion  tliereof.  '!\) 
ileliiie  it  more  <lelinitely  it  may  l»e  located  in  that  |»art  of  the  State  situated 
lielweeii  tile  Sierra  Nevada  and  tlie  I'acitic  Ocean,  Itetween  latitude  .'{2^  ^50' 
and  .'IH'\  It  is  possible  that  a  tew  of  these  hinls  breed  in  tlu!  mountains  of 
Lower  California  also. 

Mr.  Walter  I'l  Kryaiit  in  liis  "( "afalo^r,,,.  of  tlie  Birds  of  Lower  Pali- 
toriiia,"  makes  the  folluwiii;;'  statement  in  rel'ereiice  to  tliis  s|HU'i(tH:  "Mr. 
.ViitlioMV  is  the  only  om-  who  has  repoited  lliis  species  from  the  peninsula; 
lie  has  olis(  rved  llieni  at  several  places  from  the  se«  h-vel  to  an  altitude  of 
ll.OiHt  feet.  From  the  fact  of  their  primary  and  secondary  (piills  Iteiu',''  prized 
li\  .Mexican  and  Indian  ;;oli|  miners  for  use  in  carrviii};  pild  ilust,  an  oppnr- 
tunitv  to  kill  a  vidture  is  never  allowed  to  pass  unim]iroved."' 

Col.  N.  S.  (Joss,  of  'I'opeka,  Kansas,  tells  me  that  this  N'ulture  is  occa- 
sionalK'  found  on  the  Mexican  side  of  our  liorder,  in  {..ower  C'alifornia,  and 
is  said   to  lireed   tliere  in   small   nnmixTs. 

No  otiier  of  oiu"  larger  liaptorcs  has  such  a  restricfeil  ranye.  It  has 
lieen  rejtorted  as  liein;;'  seen  as  tar  north  as  the  Coliniiiiia  Kiver,  and  even 
oil  N'aiicouver  Island,  liy  >ome  of  our  earlier  ornitho|o;;ists,  lnit  I  helieve 
has  not  lieeii  ini-t  with  there  within  recent'  years.  Stra;.''jilers  have  Iteeii 
nported  from  southern  I'tah  and  the  vicinity  of  Kort  Yuma  on  the  Colorado 


Ikiver. 


Ins 


Viiltun 


■e  IS  readily  reco^ni/ed  by  its  superior  size  and  the  con- 
spicuous white  area  visiiile  on  the  lower  parts  of  its  loii;;-  and  powertiil 
\viii;,>'s  when  soarin;^'  through  space.  Its  liight  is  graceful  beyond  compari.soii 
as  it  sails  majestieaiiy  o\crliead  in  gradually  contracting  or  expanding  circles, 
now  gently   falling  with   the  wind  and  again  rising  easilv  against   it,  without 


>  I'rucecdiiiKH  Culil'oriiiu  Acudeiiiy  8ci<'Uci>H,  'ill  wrieit,  Vul.  11,  li^',),  |>.  27s. 


f  I  ' 


M^ 


157 


p 


If  '.I 
131  r  ■■ 


ii 


V  4 


.4      '. 


m 


158 


LIFK  UlSTOKIKH  OF  NOUTH  AMKKICAN  HlUlfS. 


ii  |)('rt-«>|)til)l*-  iiiutiiiii  of  its  piniiiiis.     Wliilc  <iii  tlic  wiii;r  jt  Imiks  ninrc  tluiii 
tile  \H'i'V  of  any  of  our  Itiiils,  tin-  (ioldcii    lvi;;I('  not   cxct'iilcil. 

Kvi'ii  wlifii  coiiiiHirativi'Iy  coininon  (luriujr  tlic  ycnis  of  iHdfi-lHriS,  T  il<» 
not  n-iiu'inlicr  cvt-r  iioticiujf  a  siiiyli-  liirtl  of  tliis  siiccics  on  tlm  eastern  slopes 
of  tile  Sit'iTa  Nevada.  At  that  time  1  was  stationeil  at  ('aiii|)  Inile|ien<len(e, 
in  Inyo  ('ouiity,  Califoniia,   wiiile  directly  west  of  the  nioinitains,  not  more 


than    a    lunidre(l    miles    in    a    lu-e    line,    these    hirds    were    then    ino( 


lerati 


altundant  on  the  jjreat  plains  of  the  'I'ulan'  Valley;  and  I  have  seen  asseni- 
lilii's  of  them  nundierin;f  from  six  to  fifteen  on  several  oecasions.  However, 
they  were  never  so  plentifid  at  any  time  as  its  smaller  relative,  the  Tin-key 
N'ulture.  Why  the  raii;;-e  of  this  Vulture  should  l)e  so  restrirted  is  liaid  to 
explain,  i>ut  to  this  its  rapid  decrease  is  undoubtedly  due,  and  poison  has  so 
far  hei'ii  the  principal  aficnt. 

f  the   (California    Vulture    is   amony   the  almost   inacessihle 


Th 


liome    o 


cliffs  of  the   minor  mountain    rany^es    riinnin;;-   parallel   to  the   Sierra    Xevadi 


Stock 


raisin;;  lias  nicreaseil  eiiormoiisi 


III 


SOlltl 


lern 


Calit 


ornia  during 


I' 


twenty  years,  and  these  fastnesses  have  heeii  completely  oxcrrim  l»y  stock- 
men to  find  pasture  for  their  Hocks  during'-  the  hot  summers  when  evervthiii;i' 
is  dried  up  in  the  valleys.      Necessity  compelli-d  this  invasion  (»f  the  retreats 


nth 


iiantlier, 


(•nx, 


of  numerous  predatory  carnivora,  like  the  ^-ri/./.ly  hear,  th 
and  the  prairie  wolf  These,  as  a  matter  of  cour.se,  preyed  on  the  calves 
and  Hocks  of  sheep  that  were  to  lie  found  almost  everywhere  in  the  moun- 
tains   at    that    time,    to   lie    had    for   the    takinj,^    and    they    naturally    enough 


coinm 


itted 


a  ^i'reat  deal  of  daiiia^i-e 


The  simplest  and  certainly  the  safest  way  for  the  stockmen  to  ^jet  rid 
of  such  iiiidesiralde  neii;'liliors  was  to  liait  them  with  poisoned  carcasses. 
This  means  was  resorted  to  almost  everwheie,  and  y;eiierallv  with  consider- 
able  success. 

The  Niiltiiri's,  too,  with  their  keen  si^ilit  and  scent,  found  maii\-  of  these, 
to  them,  temptin;<'  liaits,  and  liein;;'  soeiahle  in  dispn>ition  many  of  these  birds 
were  ilestroyeil  l»y  this  means,  so  that  liy  this  time  compar.itively  few  are  said 
to  lie  left. 

Kioiii  recent  information  it  appears,  ii(i\v<'\('r,  that  witliiii  tiie  past  few 
years  these  liirds  ha\e  a;;ain  commenced  to  imld  their  own,  and  in  a  few  of  the 


iiore  iiarreii  ami  inacces 


H'\    do    not    seel 


ill). 


mumitain  rais^i's  in  the  vicinitv   of  Santa  Marbart 


n    to    be    cleci'easi 


11' 


nd    may    in    time    re;iain    their   former 


numliei 


Mr.  .\.  L.  I'arkhurst    \\  rites    me   t<»  the  .same  etl'ect   from    Moiiterev ,  Cali 


foriiia.      lie  sa\: 


riiev  are  still  aliiindant  in  the  wild  and  rn;:'<>'ed  di>tricts  of 


tins  coiintv,  are  extreiiielv 


rfectl 


an< 


1  li 


ireed  niostiv  in  inaccessible  t 


y  ca| 


alile  of  tak 


iiiij'  care  o 


f  tl 


lelllseiN  e; 


•lilfs.      One 


llelv  s 


hot. 


They   are  retirin<i'  from   the   presence  of  civilisation,  as  it   demands  th 


conversion   n 


t  till 


aryi    cattle  ran"e: 


int< 


<uy.\\ 


farms.      I   doiibt    if  the\    are 


(ti'creasiii''-  in  numiier.s. 


I  h 


lave  seen  over  a  do/.eii  a  ila\'  maiiv   times. 


THK  CALIKOKNIA  VULTIJUK. 


159 


If,  as  Mr.  Pnrkliiiist  states,  tlu's<f  liirds  an*  still  cuiiiiiiuii  in  Mniitoroy  Coimty, 
it  is  iinilotilitfilly  ditt'  to  tlit-  Ixfakiii^  ii|)  n(  the  lar;;)'  tattl*'  raiiclicK  and  tluMr 
cDiivi  rsidii  into  small  taniis.  I'oisnii,  wliicli  lias  hccii  resorted  to  on  most  of  tlio 
lai'<;ei-  stiu-k  rani-lies  to  kill  the  caniivora,  lias  rertainly  almost  exlermiiuited  the 
Calit'oiiiia  Vulture  as  well,  and  in  more  than  one  loeality,  where  they  wen* 
toiiiierlv  aliundant,  their  very  iiercejitilile  decrease  is,  in  my  o|iiulon,  mainly 
line  to  this  cause. 

Mr.  William  l»  I'Tml  writes  me  as  follows  alioiit  this  species:  "I  am  sorry 
tiiat  I  cannot  <x'\\i'  you  any  relial>le  information  as  to  the  iiestin;;  haliits  of  these 
liii'd>.  I  led  coiitident,  lioweM'r,  that  they  nested  not  far  troin  my  home  in  San 
I'.cuitn  ( 'ount\'.  I  have  seen  many  of  these  hirds  there,  and  my  lirolher  claims 
to  have  .seen  some  youn;^  ones  amoii;r  a  ;f|on|(  of  six  or  si'vcn  old  ones.  The 
Inst  time  1  was  at  home,  in  the  s|)nnj;df  Isslt,  1  searched  for  their  ne.sts,  hut 
lailcil  to  tind  any.  I  saw  sevei'al  ol  these  liirds  alioiit,  and  as  a  rule  they 
associate  with  the  Turkey  Hii/,/,ards,  and  p-iierally  fly  nnich  hijfher,  so  that  to 
an  ordinary  oliserver  lln-y  apiiear  ni-arly  of  the  same  size.  The  lar},'est  niim- 
lier  I  liave  ever  seen  at  one  time  dnrin;f  lati-  years  was  in  the  s.mimer  of 
issl,  when  I  saw  fourteen  to;rether,  and  these  allowed  me  to  approach  within 
,"iO   \ards  of  them. 

"I  rememlier  one  N'ulture  which  had  its  roostin;r  Jilace  in  an  old,  half-dead 
while  oak,  thickly   siirromidcd   l>y    lirush  and  smaller  trees.      Here  liu  roosted 

II  ;;ularly  e\i'ry  eveiiiii;;,  always  appeariii;^  liy  sundown,  ami  usually  just  liefore. 
He  was  a  late  riser,  as  I  have  seen  him  there  iiuu'e  than  mice  when  the  sun  was 
two  liiiiirs  liijili.  In  this  respect  they  are  very  iiuicli  like  the  Tiirke\  N'ulture. 
I  never  saw  any  others  roostinjr  in  or  near  this  tree.  Tlie\  will  often  .mi  pir^fe 
thriiiselves  with  food  as  to  lie  uiiahle  to  ri.se  fiMiii  the  ;;'rounil  and  tl\,  and  I 
lia\e   passed   within  a   few    yards  of  them   in   a    liU}r;,'v   and   llie\    wmild   make 

III  I  eli'iirl    III  ^i'et   away. 

"\  vaipiei'o  on  the  ranch  lassoed  one  a  lew  year^  a;:o  with  his  riala  when 
it  was  oveijiorjiid  with  food,  and  iirou^iiit  it  to  San  diian,  where  it  was  kept 
chained  to  one  ot'  the  adolie  pillars  in  the  old  niis.sion  church.  It  would 
-liiiw  li^'lil  on  slij;-lit  pruNiication,  and  utter  a  hoarse.  hi.s.>in;r  sound  when  dis- 
liii'lied,  tiappiii;;'  its   winys   violeiitU'  at    the   same   time. 

"I  have  liilked  with  two  parties  who  claim  to  li.ive  seen  ImnIs  of  these 
liirds.  In  one  instiiine  the  nest  wa>  placed  mi  a  liijili  rii;;-;jed  rock  on  a  clilf, 
:il"ii^  one  of  the  folks  ol'  the  Sail  .loaipiiii  Uiver,  the  oilier  was  discovered 
ill  a  timlter  tract  of  the  Santa  ( 'rii/.  .Mountains,  hy  an  old  wood-cliop|ier 
This  nest  was  said  to  have  lieeii  a  iiu^'e  all'air,  and  was  placed  on  the  liisl 
l;<i';.'e  liinh  of  a  redwood  tree,  aliout  7."i  feet  from  the  <rrouinl  and  clo>e  to 
liie  trunk.  His  camp  liein<^'  near  this  tree,  he  had  a  eood  chance  to 
iiliserve  the  liii'ds,  and  s.ivs  the  \tiini;j',  of  which  there  wen  two,  were  nearlv 
iliiee  weeks  leariiiii;f  to  lly,  after  lieiii;;'  \:w<^t-  enou;;h  to  leave  the  nest  and 
I  raw  I  out  on  the  liiiilis.  When  they  linally  left  the  nest  tlnv  Hew  over  the 
caiimi  to  a   rocky  elill  mi  the  opposite  side,  aliDUt  a  (piarter  of  a   mile  di.«.t.jint. 


:  I 


i 


¥ 


lu 


160  I'll'IJ  IIIMl'OUIl!:8  UK  NOUTIl  AMKUIUAN  UlUDS. 

"I  tliiiik  tlifif  is  lit)  t'litiiiiliitinii  tor  tlic  lidicr  tli:it  this  V^iltiirc  kills  I:iiiiIih 
Hiul  sickly  nilvfs.  I  liiivc  iirvcr  kimwii  siicli  a  tliiii;;  to  liii|i|icii,  iiiul  liiivt-  seen 
iiiaiiy  Viilliirt's  iliiiiii;;  liiiiiliiii;,''  tiiiif,  wlicii  tlu-n-  were  tliniisjiiiils  uf  yoiiiijj 
Ijiiiilis  tit  t-at,  it'  tliiy  liitil  I'clt  ilis|i<)si'il  to  kill  iiiiy;  lu-itlicr  iiavr  I  iiotiftMl 
tlu'iii  fatiii<;  il<-a<l  tirsli  iiiil«-ss  in  an  ailvaiiccil  stat«-  of  il('foiii|)ositioii." 

Mr.  Walter  K.  liryaiit  writes  iiu-  as  follows:  "My  cxiH'rit'iicc  lias  Im-i-ii  tliat 
tlu'  < 'aliloriiia  \  iiltiirc  is  cxtrt'iiicly  rare  now.  I  doiilii  if  I  have  ever  seen  it  in 
its  wild  state.  .Many  rc|iorts  of  its  hciny  (oininon,  its  lirccdin;;,  etc.,  wliicli  I 
have  investi;;atei|  at  eonsideralile  tioiiiile,  time,  ami  e.\|»eiise,  have  heeii  either 
the  'riiikey   l<ii/,/,ar<i  or  the  (Sohleii  Ka^ile  .>.eeii  on  the  winy." 

AI)ont  their  nestin;j:  haliits,  iiothin;^  Imt  what  has  alnsnlx  lieeii  |Hililisliei1  is 
known,  ami  the  e;;;;'  remains  one  of  the  rarest  in  rollectioiis,  and  is  likely  so  to 
eontinne.  I  have  not  been  alile  to  learn  whether  any  have  lieeii  taken  duriii;:; 
the  |»ast  twcKe  years. 

I>r.  Ileerniann  stales  that  a  nest  of  this  liird,  with  yoiiii;.'',  was  di.scovereil  in 
,1  thieket  on  the  'rmijinime  Uiver.  It  was  alioiit  M  feet  Itaek  from  the  entrance 
of  a  crevice  in  the  rocks,  coin|tietely  siirioiimled  and  maske(|  liy  thick  iinder- 
liriish  and  trees,  and  composed  of  a  few  loose  sticks  thrown  ne^ilii^ciitly  together 
lie  found  two  other  iiesis  nf  like  construction  and  similarly  situat*'d,  at  the  head 
oi  Merced  Itiver,  ami  in  tlu-  mountains.  From  the  latter  the  Indians  were  in 
the  lialiit  of  yearly  I'lliliin;;  the  youn;,^  to  kill  at  one  of  their  festivals. 

.Mr.  Alexander  S.  Taylor,  of  .Monterey,  pnlilislMil  a  series  of  |ia|iers  in  a 
California  journal  relative  to  this  N'uJtnre.  In  one  of  these  he  mentions 
t!.,.t  a  .Mexican  raudicro.  in  Inmlin;;-  anion;;'  the  hii;hest  peaks  of  the  Santa 
liiicia  l»an;ie,  disturiied  two  pairs  fio!ii  their  iiestin;;-  places,  and  l)roii;;lit  away 
from  one  a  \ouii;;  liird  a  few  days  oM.  and  Irom  llie  other  an  e;,'-^;.  'There 
was  no  ne^l,  tiie  e;;;r.s  haxiu;;'  iiceii  laid  in  tlie  hollow  ot'  ,1  tall  old  I'oltles 
oak,  in  a  sleep  inrraiica,  near  the  suininil  of'  oac  of  the  hi;;hes|  peaks.  These 
liirds  are  s  lid  liy  some  hunters  to  mike  no  iiest.  l)Ut  simply  to  lay  their 
j.Mos  on  the  <;'i'ound  at  the  loot  uf  nld  trees,  or  on  the  liare  rocks  of  solitar\ 
peaks,  (dhers  aili-'m  that  they  sometimes  lay  llieir  ey;;s  in  old  iie.sts  of 
Ka;;les  and  Itii/./.ards.  .Mr.  Taylor  states  that  the  e;^';;-  was  of  a  dead,  dull 
white  color,  and   that    the   surtacc  of  the  shell    was  sli;;litly  rou;iheiied.      It  was 


lie 


irly   a    perfect    ellipse    in    shape,   an  I    m -isured    i.'tU    inches    in    leii^flh    liv 


2..'tH    inches    in  diameter  ( I  I  l.,">   liv   lio.l.'i  millimeti 


Tl 


le    e;;|rshell    lielil 


Hiiid  oiinci's  o|'  water.  The  xuini;:-  \  nlture  weiiihed  10  ounces;  its  skin  was 
of  an   ochn-oiis   \ cllow.  co\ered    uitha   line   down  <>!'  dull    white' 

I  ha\e  a  sketch  ot'  this  e^-;;'  iiej'ore  me,  drawn  liv  .Mr.  W.  .M.  ( trd,  at 
Monterey,  ( 'alifornia,  in  .\pril,  jx.'i'.i.  The  exact  measurements  of  this  draw- 
ing are  11(1  iiv  7"_'  millimetres.  'i'he\' do  not  correspond  with  those  ;.'-i\en  in 
till'  "History  of  North  .\iiieiicaii  llirds,"  previously  meiilioned.  (hi  thediaw- 
in;^' it  is  stated  "coha'dcad  white." 

I    lieliexe  that    the   mode  of  nidilicatiiai   of   the   I 'alifornia    X'ultiire  is  siiii- 

■  llinliir)  III'  Niiilli  Aiiiriii  uii  Itinln,  Kl,  Vol.  m,  p.  M'i. 


W^ 


TIIK  CALll'OUNIA  VIU/mtB. 


161 


iliir  Id  tliiit  of  til*'  <-oiniiioii  'I'lirkcy  Viilturt-,  ami  tliiit  i\a  a  rule  llicy  niakit 
liiit  littl)'  i>l'  a  iirst,  iisinilly  layiii^r  their  f^;;-*  <>ii  nii)l)isli  <iii  tin-  ;fi'oiiiiil  t'utiiul 
ill  till-  iiniiiciliatc  viriiiily  nt'  tlu*  ii(vstiii;r  site,  ali>ii;i;siil('  or  in  a  hollow  lo^r,  or 
ill  cn'vicfs  ot  rocky  clitl's.  It  in  posHihltt  tliul  iit  tiiium  tlioy  makf  iihc  of  tli«< 
iiiiamloiicil  iicHts  of  the  (lolilcii  Katies,  which  arc  coininoii  in  that  part  of 
Oalil'ornia,  and  the  nest  ile.Hcrilie<|  to  Mr.  Flint  as  luAw^  placed  in  a  lar;re  r«-d- 
wootl  tree  in  the  Santa  Cruz  Mountains  was  prolialily  such  an  one,  and  was 
made  use  ot'  liy  the  N'ultnres  utter  Itein;;  abandoned   l»y  the  Ka;iles. 

I  lia\e  oidy  seen  two  <'};<;s  oi"  this  species,  liotli  taken  liy  Mr.  ( '.  S.  Can- 
lield.  near  San  Knfael,  ( ,'aiit'ornia.  One  of  these.  No.  iHIH.'l,  is  now  in  the 
r.  S.  National  Miiseiiin  colle<'tion;  the  other  I  saw  in  lh«t  collection  of  the 
A<-adeiiiy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  I'hilailelpliia,  Pennsylvania,  in  I  MHO,  Init  it 
has  since  disappeared.  Uoth  of  these  e;,';fs  were  of  a  uniform  li;,dit  j^rayish- 
;^'i'eeii  color  and  unspotted.  IMie  shell  of  the  spcciini-n  now  l>rt'oi-e  nie  is 
close  grained  ami  deeply  jiitled,  dilVeriny:  in  this  respect  from  the  f>i>rs  of 
other  N'ultnres,  and  is,  like  those,  s|i;r|itly  uflossy.  It  is  elon;(ate  ovale  in 
>liape,  and  i>  li^i'itred  on  I'l.  I,  V\'^.  .'>;  il  measures  lit  l»y  •!."»  iiiilliiiietres. 
Tlic  late  I  >i'.  'r.  M.  Hiewer  de.scril>e<l  this  specimen  as  of  a  uniform  pulo 
;:reenisli  I  due,  almost  an  ashy  greenish  white. 


58.     Cathartes  aura  (LiNNit:rN). 
riuKi'.v  vii.riuK. 


■.1 


').;.' 


I'lilhii-  iiiini   l,i\N  v;rs.  Syslcma  N'aliiiii'.  cd.  pi,  1,  17.')H,  8t'i. 
( 'nlltnrli  s  niirn  Si'l.N,    .\\iiiiii  Hiiisiliaiii,  I.  js'.'.'i.  ■.'. 

(15  I,  ('  .Hi.,  l{  I.'. I.  ('  .vir.  i';iw.) 

(  ilCnciK  ACniCAl,    U.VNiiK:     Nearly    tile   wliol.'    uf    t)<lll|Mi|'ate    iilld     I  IMpicil      .\lilfrica, 

Mi''liidiii;;  West  Indies;  siiiilii  III  l<'.ilkl Hid  Islands  liiwl  i*ala>;iiiii.'i  :  ikh'IIi,  iiiui'i'  m- 
less  I'l'ifiilai'ly,  Id  soiitlicni  New  Kii^laiid.  N'ew  Vork,  Saskali'lmwaii.  and  Miilisli 
Ciiliiiiiliia. 

Tile  Itreediii;;-  raii;;e  of  the  'riirkey  Vulture,  more  comnionly  known  as 
liii'  Tiiikev  lhi/,/.ard,  iiuludes  the  ^-reater  portion  of  the  I'liited  States,  with 
the  exception  of  tile  lii;,ilier  iiiciniiMiii  regions  of  the  interior,  and  of  New  \'ork 
and  the  New  Mn;iland  Stales,  where  it  only  occurs  as  a  strai^jrler  at  rare  iiiter- 
\als.  An  oi-casioiial  pair  may  Itreed  in  the  extreme  .southern  pait  of  l.oii^ 
Island,  specimens  having;  lieeii  idiserved  there  ci  '•epeated  occasions  within 
recent  years  during  the  summer  months.  It  is  ipiite  common  tlirou;,r||,i|it 
tlie  South,  ;;iMdiiallv  liecominjr  rarer  as  it  advances  iiortliwaid.  Il.ist  of  the 
lliM'kv  Mountains  it  is  resident  llirou^rjiout  the  year  from  alioiit  latitude  .III'' 
.Miiitliward:  while  on  the  I'acilic  coast  it  winters  as  far  north  as  lalitiulc  lli'', 
near  the  month  of  the  ( 'olumliia   Kiver. 

North  ot'  our  homidarv,  Mr.  Krnest  K.  'riiompson  repoi-ts  it  as  common 
ill  the  .Vs^iiiilioine  N'alley,  .Manitidia;  and  \h.  Uichardsoii  foiiiiil  tlain  l.ite  in 
UtiK.-.T— Hull.  1 11 


^\ 


v,lf 


'.  i 


M' 


1  ■(  ? 

im 


LII'K  IIIHTOKIK8  OK  NOUTII   .IMKItK^AN   KllilKS. 


til)'  inoiilli  lit'  JuiK-,  nil  the  Imiikrt  of  tlic  Sankiitrlicwaii,  in   liilitiidf  'i.'t   ,  \vlii«-li 
pi-iilialily  iiiiirks  tin-  tinist  iiiirtlu>rii  |*i)iiit  nl'  tln-ir  lii'iM'i|iii;r  i-iiii;f,>. 

Tlir  Tiiiki'V  Vulture  is  ii  well  kiiuwii  rrHiili-iit  tlimu^tlinul  liir  Miililln 
mill  Siiiitlicni  Stjitrs,  ii.H  vvi-ll  as  mi  tlii<  I'arilic  niast.  1  lia\r  sitii  tlicsf 
iiinU   I'verywIiiTi'    in   Arizmia,  ('alil'nniia,   N'i'vaila,  <  >i'cm;,,ii,    \Va.sirui;;:l«>n,  ainl 


Mai 


III. 


Lot 


an  allium 


kill 


III!  arnilciitallv,  or  ilii-  mi  tli<<  iiiarcli,   anil  >nu 


i-h 


will  not  liav(«  Imi^  to  wait   bi-I'm-c  Hmiic  nt'  tin-  N'ulturi's  an*  alioiit. 

'I'lii'V    look    tlii'ir    lii'st    aliilt,    as    tlicir    Hi;;lit    is    I'Mct'ilin^rly    easy    ami 
^raf«>l'iil;    wliili'  llii>   apjiari'iit    alisnin-   uf   all    I'll'm't    as    tlii'y    sail    in    stalily 


inaniuT  nvri'lii-ail,  in  ovur  (Miiiii;riii^  nrrlos,  ami 


wi 


tlliMit 


my  a|»|iarfiil   imivi- 


iiiciit    lit'    their  well    sliaped    wiiiy:s,    makes    tlieiii    really    attractive    nlijects  ti 


niteli;    lint  let  tl 


leiii  mice  ilesceiii 


attactiveiii'KH  ruaHUM;  iiii 


w  they 


ill  til  the  ^rmiml  m*  alight  mi  a  tree,  ami  their 
ythiiii;  liiit  |)i'e|M)ssessiii^'',  ami   it  rei|uii'es 


are  an 


nil  elVort  ti>  place  them  where  thoy  properly  liulmig,  auimij^  tin;   "seaveiiyers 
of  the  soil  " 

Dr.  NVilliani  L.  Ualpli  writes  me:  "In  Florida  they  are  aliuiidint  ami 
appear  to  decrease  liiit  little  in  numlM'rs.  When  not  molested  they  Income 
very  l.ime,  and  in  many  of  the  Southern  cities  and  villa^jes  they  can  lie  seen 
walkiii;j:  around  the  streets  or  roosting  on  the  house  tops  with  as  little  concern 
as  domestic  animals. 

".\lfliou;;ii  they  eat  carrion,  these  liirds  prefer  fresh  meat,  and  the  reason 
of  llieir  eatiii;;  it  when  decayed  is  that  they  cannot  kill  ;;;aiiie  tlieinsehes  and 
their  liills  are  not  stroii^r  ciiou'/h  to  tear  the  tou;r||  skin  of  many  animals  iiiilil 
it  liecoines  soft  from  decomposition.  I  have  often  had  Ducks  and  otlier  pime, 
which  I  had  liuii;>'  in  trees  to  keep  from  carnivorous  animals,  eaten  liy  them 
When  they  find  a  dead  aiiiinal  they  will  not  leave  it  until  all,  liiit  the  lioms  and 
other  hard  parts,  has  been  cmisiiineil,  and  if  it  lie  a  lar<re  one,  or  if  it  have  a 
toii;r|i  skin,  they  will  often  remain  near  it  for  days,  roostiii^r  |iy  ninht  in  the 
trees  near  liy.  /M'ter  they  have  eaten — and  sometimes  they  will  Mor;ie  iliem- 
seKes  until  the  food  will  run  out  of  their  mouths  when  they  move — they  will, 
if  they  are  not  too  full  to  tly,  roost  in  the  nearest  trees  until  llieir  meal  is  partly 
diiresli'd,  and  then  coiimieiice  eatin<>'  a<>'aiii 


M: 


iii\'  times  I  have  seen  thesi 


liirds 


Hoatiiifi' down  a  stream  mi  a  dead  alligator,  i 


impaiiy  with  the  l^lack  N'ultmi 


ow, 


•ther  I; 


nmial,  cin 


wdi 


so  closely  to;>'etlier  that  they  eiMild  hardly  keep  their  lialance,  and  followe(|  l)\ 


I  iiuiiilier  on  the  wiiiL''. 


I 


nil' 


l)ii«  ih 


ill 


e\-  will  scold  ami 


never  have  seen  iheiii  li^lit   \er\    much  when  fci 
peck  at  one  another,  and  sumi'tinie^  two  itirds  w 


p't  hold  of  the  same  piect;  of  meat  and  pull  a^rainst  each   otiier  until  it  iireaks 


or  nil 


til  th 


e  weaker  one  has  to  ;ii\e  it  up 


siiecimell   s 


hot    I 


»v   nil' 


Rillitto  ( 'reek,   near  'riicsoii,    Arizi 


on    Se|itemlier    'JJ,    \x'i'2,   at    ni\    cmiip   on   tin 


ma,   was   ,so   completely    ;;or;^(i|    with   smal 


minnows, 


I'll   alimit    1.^   inches  loiiir,   that   they    tilled    its   mouth.      II 


ow    am 


where  it  ifot  these  lish  has  alwa\s  Itceli  a  pn/./Je  to  me;    tlle\   were  not  deca\('d, 
ami  iiiu.st  have  liem  cau;,dit  alire,  or  fuuiid  very  shortly  after  death.      I  noticed 


TIIK  TIKKKY  VtM.TrUK. 


168 


lli.il  ill  Arizoiiii,  <liiriii;;  flic  Iii>t  siiniincrs,  tlnsc  liirds  yciii-nilly  kept  llu-ir  wiiijjK 
|iiirtlv  open,  Imtli  when  |MT(liiii;r  ,,11  trees  tir  iili;{litiiiy;  mi  i\  iitreiis«,  ffiviiij,'  tlu'in 
Mil  (Alreiiiely  ilrowsy  iiiipeiinilife. 

'I'lie  \-iiiiii;i  wlieii  I'lrst  liiitelieil  are  eiivei'eil  with  Mot't,  wliite  ilowii,  anil  the 
iiestiiiir  siteM  arn  nut  always  tlu*  tiltliy  plat-ex  ileserilieil  liy  ninny  nlmervers. 

<  hi  .Inly  I'J,  |HK,'(,  I  t'lHiiiil,  near  tlii>  Klaiiiatli  linlian  Ai.'-eiiiy,  a  nest  enii- 
liiiiiin;;'  two  yiiiiii;,',  perhaps  a  u«'ek  old,  in  a  eavity  ol'  nicks  that  was  tpiite 
(lean,  anil  then*  was  sean-ely  any  ilisa;,'ieeulile  (idur  perceptilile  alioiit  it.  The 
\niiii;;  wen'  sittin^j'  nii  the  lian-  p'oiind  and  made  a  sliirht  liissin;*  sound  wi.en 
lunched.  They  are  ted  in  the  siinie  nianiier  as  yiiiin<;  l*i;>eons,  the  parents 
i|l»Miii'Mii|ir  t'uod  into  the  nioiiths  of  the  \onii;;'. 

In  niiMt  of  the  Southern  States  nidilication  Itey-iiis  nsnally  alioiit  the  latter 
|iiirf  of  Manli,  occasionally  even  in  l-'elaiiary ;  in  the  Middle  Stales  j^'cnerally 
,il)oiit  the  last  week  ill  April  or  the  lie>;iiiiiiii;;  of  .May,  and  in  the  iiioie 
iiMiihcni  portions  of  its  ninjie  it  may  he  pnitnicted  till  .Fnne,  acconlin;"  to 
llii'   >eason 

('apt.  W.  \'\  (loss  writes  me:  "I  have  found  this  species  iiestin;"'  in  Kansas, 
ill  ciivenis  and  crevices  of  rock,  iiuhollow  trees,  and  tai  the  ^roiiiid  in  hollows  of 
old  lo;.rs.  Ill  Texas  I  found  a  lar;^'e  iiiimlierof  nests,  one  in  an  old  Heron's  nest, 
ciiii'  (Ml  a  cactus  alioiit  .'I  feet  from  the  <{'roimd,  the  rest  all  on  the  •jfroiind  iiiider 
ihoiny  shriiiis.  They  make  little  or  no  nest;  1  liaxc  I'onnd  i'i^x  \\\i\<x  on  the 
liMie  rock.  They  sit  pretty  close,  Init  on  near  apitniach  will  leave  the  ne.sl  if 
ill!  way  is  open,  lint  if  conliiied  in  a  ca\«-ni  or  hollow  lo;^,  will  often  refuse  to 
iiiu\c.  and  if  distiirhed  will  disyorjie  the  loiil  contents  of  their  stomachs,  when 
ilic  iiifnider  \>ill  lie  ylad  eiioiiy!  |o  licat  a  retreat.  While  reariiij^-  their  yoiiii;;' 
ilii  iiist  is  always  foul  and  sometimes  the  stench  is  iniltearalile.  In  southern 
'li\as  I  fomnl  i'>^'^A  as  early  as  {•'eliniary  !.">,  and  up  to  May  2.  In  a  sin;ile 
iii^l.iiici-  I  found  three  ey^is  in  a  nest;  this  was  placed  on  the  jiroimd  under  a 
liiiiiili  of  thick  liiislics." 

.Ml.  I'.  \\ .  Smith,  jr.,  found  a  nest  of  this  .species,  which  also  contained 
lliicc  cMi;^,  near  ( Jreeinille,  Illinois,  and  four  yoiiii;:'  are  iccurdcd  to  have 
Imtii  fiiimd  ill  the  same  iicst  liy  W .  \\  .  liilwards,  near  .\liiie\  illc,  Louisiana.' 

Mr.  Lyiids  .iones  writes  me  liom  (irinnell,  Iowa;  "I  once  started  a  Tiir- 
ki  V  |{ii/,/.anl  iVoiii  her  nest,  and  found  anions'  the  matter  tlin>\\n  up  mice 
Mild   pieces  of  a  skunk,  evidently    very  recently  killed. 

"The  nestiiij;'  site  «a>  a  hollow  stiiiii|i,  resorted  to  year  after  year,  until 
ii  Icll  to  pieces  from  old  a;i'e.  At  the  time  I  flushed  the  liird  no  others  were 
.Mivwiicre  in  si;^lit,  lint  \er\-  .soon  six  others  came  at  the  summons  of  the 
I'Miale.  When  liii\'  ali;ilited,  their  wiii;is  remained  spread.  The  onlv  sound 
ill!  \  made  was  a  |ieciiliar  chokiii);,  liissin^'  iioi>e,  as  thev  sailed  past  me 
■  iImiiii  a  rod  awa\'.  The  eji'jis  were  deposited  011  the  piiiik  at  the  liotfoiii  of 
ilie  stump,   with  no  attempt  at  a   nest." 


i"t: 


if'R     > 


^"l^^ 


i^. 


'OriiilliuliiKinl  anil  UuIukIdI,  Vol.  X,  |iW5,  Nii.  5,  |i.  NO. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


Ilia 

IM 

llitt 


|M 

2.2 
= 

1.8 


1.25 

1.4 

1.6 

i_  — 

^ 6"     - 

► 

^ 


w 


/2 


^l. 


°3. 


c  5=! 


VI 


^^ 


^ 


'4j 


1% 


0/7-" 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


"W 


&? 


i 


rrr^ 


4: ' 


lit 


nl 


164 


LIFK  IlISTOKIKS  OF  NOUTH  AMERICAN  BlUDS. 


In  tho  West,  tlioy  breed  most  fre(|iiently  in  rocky  cJifions,  in  tlie  foot- 
hills of  the  iiioiintaiiis,  up  to  Jiii  altitude  of  7,')0I)  feet,  depositing-  their  ef-ffs 
in  small  cavos  or  orevices  of  the  many  cliffs.  •  Mr.  VV.  K.  1).  Scott  found 
a  ne.st  on  May  2,  IHS,"),  on  the  Santa  (Jatalina  Mountains  at  an  altitude  of 
5,000  feet.     Tt  was  jjlaced  between  two  lar<re  Ixiwlders. 

In  the  Midillo  and  Simtlieni  Statcis  thi*  Turkey  Vulture  breeds  more 
often  in  tlie  heavily  timbered  bottom  lands,  adjacent  to  the  larji^er  streams, 
as  well  as  in  swami)y  r(\u:ions.  The  nest  may  l»e  found  on  the  {j-nmnd, 
un(h'r  an  old  loo-,  or  in  a  hollow  tree;  and  even  an  old  Hawk's  nest,  as  hioh 
as  40  feet,  is  occasionally  used. 

Mr.  J.  W.  Preston  .states:  "Tiie  Turkey  Vulture  will  sometimes  ffo  into 
an  aperture  far  up  a  tree  and  follow  the  hollow  (dear  to  the  {ground  At 
Spirit  Lake,  Iowa,  I  took  a  set  of  two  e<j-<i-s  from  an  old  elm  tree,  wliich 
leaned  in  the  form  of  an  arch;  the  l)ird  made  its  way  into  the  tree  at  the 
broken  off  top,  and  dejjosited  the  e-r^is  near  the  roots  of  the  tree,  where  I 
relieved  her  of  them,  by  the  help  of  an  axe.  1  have  seen  the  female  leave 
the  nest  to  feed,  and  the  male  has  been  seen  visitinij-  tho  nest  while  the 
former  incubateil,  but  1  do  not  know  that  lu'  carrieil  food  to  her;  he  is  very 
solicitous,  however." 

The  only  note  they  have  is  of  a  hissiu;^-  wlwezy  sound  when  disturbed, 
and  this  is  fienerally  only  uttered  on  sucii  (x-casions.  In  southwestern  and 
southern  Te.xas,  as  well  as  in  other  re;4ions  where  this  species  is  al)undant, 
they  breed  as  often  in  communities  as  sinjily;  the  nests,  if  they  can  be 
called  sucli,  bein^jf  }>-enerally  placed  on  the  <>round,  under  the  shelter  of  small 
l)ushes  on  a  side  hill,  and  auain  in  low  places  on  salt  marshes  of  the  seashore, 
or  in  thickets  in  river  bottoms.  They  are  not  at  all  particular  in  the  selection 
of  a  nestin<j  site.  'I'w.)  e,);-j;-s  are  usually  laiil,  occasionally  but  one,  and  very 
"arely  threes  These  are  aniouji'  the  handsomest  of  the  eji-<;s  of  the  IJaptores, 
Their  };rounil  color  is  fjenerally  a  liyht  creamy  tint,  occasionally  a  dull  dead 
white,  with  a  very  faint  trace  of  <;r<'(>ii  in  some  few  instances,  'l^iun'  are 
blotched,  smi-ariMJ,  and  spotted  with  various  shades  of  recldish  brown,  cjioco- 
late,  and  lavender,  the  markinji-s  usually  ])redoininatiii^-  al)out  the  larmier  end 
of  the  ejr'T,  and  ai-e  ver\-  ii-i-e"-ular  in  outline.  In  e"<!s  belonii-in"-  to  the  same 
set,  the  markings  frcfpU'Utly  ditVer  greatly  in  siz*^  and  intensity,  one  being 
heavily  marked  and  the  other  but  slightly.  Occasionally  an  egg  is  found 
which  is  entirely  unspotted.  Theses  eggs  als(»  varv  greatly  in  .shape;  the 
majority  are  elongate  ovate,  a  few  are  ovate,  others  elliptical  ovate,  and 
now  and  then  one  is  perfectly  cylindrical  ovate. 

The  average  uuvisurement  of  thirty-four  specimens  in  the  IT.  S.  National 
Museum  collection  is  7"_*  by  lit  millimetres.  The  largest  i"^'^  of  tlui  series  meas- 
ures sa.f)  l)y  ')(»,  the  smallest  <iH  by  4(1  millimetres. 

The  two  type  specimens  show  about  tin;  average  types  of  the  heavier  and 
lighter  colored  eggs  of  this  species. 

No.  17(J0H,  from  a  si-t  of  two  (PI.  4,  Fig.  1),  was  collected  by  Mr.  Robert 


wrJf 


THK  TlTIflCEV  Vrr,TI'RK. 


165 


Iiid^wfiv,  nofir  Mount  CiiriiU'l,  llliiiois,  May  (I,  1K7S.  Xit.  "21574,  from  n  sot  of 
two  (I'l.  4,  Fiii'.  i5),  was  taken  near  IlcIiOHter,  Maryland,  on  May  30,  1884,  by 
.Mr.  C.  W.  Berkhani. 

59.     Catharista  atrata  (Haktkam). 

BLACK   VILTIKK. 

I'ldlvr  (itrnhi.s  Bartkam,  Travels  in  Ciiroliaa,  I7!r^',  ^'Ko. 
Ciilhtiri.sld  (tlnilu  (JKAV.  Haiidliiiig  1,  ISOi).  3. 

(B  ;!,  C  :iii(;.  R  ir>r>.  C  fl:is.  U  :i2(i). 

Gko(11!AI"MI(AI,  kanoe:  Wliolo  of  trojiiciil  aiid  warm  temperate  America,  south 
tci  AiKi'iiliii'  lit'public  ami  C'liilt',  iKirtli  I'cijulai'ly  ti>  Nortli  Carolina  and  Lower  Mis- 
^issi|i|ii  N'alli'N.  western  Texas;  ii'i-e^nlarly  or  casuul'.y  to  Maine,  New  York,  Ohio, 
liidi.in.i.  Illinois.  Kansas,  and  Sontli  Dakota. 

'Hie  Mlack  Vidturc  or  Carrion  Crow  lias  a  niucli  more  restricted  di.stribntion 
tliau  tlic  iprcecdiiio-  sjtecies.  It  is  less  roving'  than  the  former  and  is  ecnerally 
a  ennstant  resident  wherever  found,  except  iu  the  extreme  northern  portion  of 
its  raujic     It  is  also  far  more  ahundaut  on  the  seai)oard  than  iu  the  interior. 

'I"he  hreediu;^'  rauj^v  of  this  N'idtiu'e  may  he  defined  as  follows:  On  the  Atlan- 
tic coast,  from  soutlieru  North  Carolina,  southward  throui;li  the  South  iUlantic 
and  Culf  States.  Iu  the  interior  it  has  Ikh'U  found  invediuf;-  iu  both  southern 
Imliaua  and  snulhern  Illinois,  but  seei'is  to  be  very  iri'e^iilarly  distributed.  It 
occasio  -I'v  stra;ij;les  into  southern  ( )hio,  and  sjx'ciniens  have  been  taken  in 
New  ^'  1\.  •  1  1  even  in  .Maine.  It  has  also  i)een  found  breeilini;-  iu  Kansas,  but 
on  a  siu^^le  immou  only,  as  far  as  kno\\n.  In  Texas  it  is  a  suuuuer  I'esithmt 
iu  the  central  i.ad  western  parts  of  the  State,  and  in  tl'e  .southern  portions 
it  is  found  throu<>liout  .'he  year. 

.Mr  William  Lloyd  found  it  breediui^-  near  San  Aueido,  Tom  Clreen 
( 'ounty,  iu  .Jiuie,  1.SS4,  and  he  writes  me  in  this  comu'ctioii  as  follows:  "A 
strannc  haliit  of  both  the  Mlack  and  the  Turkey  N'idture  iu  western  Texas  is 
llu-  fact  that  thoujih  al)uudaut  iu  sununer,  in  winter  we  are  left  without  a  siu};le 
one.  This  is  not  due  to  hndv  ot'  cari'ion,  for  ever\'  winter  the  ])lace  is  full  of 
dead  cattle,  nor  to  temi)ei'ature,  for  liere  iu  I'residio  County  It  rarely  freezes. 
The  altitude,  too.  is  rather  less  than  iu  ( 'ouciio  County  and  the  Staked  Plains, 
wliei'e  tin'  same  state  of  affairs  oiitaius.  TluMi  why  is  it  that  tins  bird,  and 
especially  the  Turkey  \'ulture,  which  is  well  known  to  winter  much  fai-fher 
north  in  other  re^i'ious,  is  entirely  al»seut  from  the  lieud  of  the  l\io  (iraiide  and 
llie  Concho  N'alley  duriuji'  this  season?" 

The  IJhndv  \'ultnre  is.  only  common  in  the  southern  jiarts  of  the  I'uited 
States,  usually  outmmd)eriu<i'  the  Tnrkex'  Nidtiu'e  near  the  seashore  ami  lieiu;^' 
outnmnliereil  by  the  latter  in  the  intei'ior.  It  rarely  Itreeds  north  of  lati- 
tude :w;  . 

In  its  habits  it  diU'ers  but  little  from  the  Turkey  Vultmc.  It  is  not  nearly 
so  };racefid  a  bird  on  the  win<i'  as  the  latter,  its  flijiht  beinji'  uuicli  heavier  and 
apparently  laliorious,  and  is  accompanied  by  consideralile  tiappinj;'  of  the  wines. 


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LIFi:  IIISTOKIliS  OF  NORTH  AMKIUC.VN  BIRDS. 


Mr.  Clement  S.  Hriinley,  of  Raleiofh,  North  Carolina,  foinid  u  pair  of  those 
birds  breedin;^  on  April  21,  IHilO.  The  nest  was  a  sli<i^lit  affair  and  contained 
two  sljiflitly  incnbatcd  cj^j^s.  It  was  pbu^eil  nnder  the  elevated  end  of  a  pros- 
trated loir  near  a  swamp.  Another,  fonnd  on  ^Fay  f),  contaim'njj  also  two  ('<ifis, 
was  ))lae(>d  nnder  the  shelter  of  two  hnpe  bowlders  im  a  slo])inif  hillside  near  a 
stream;  incnbation  had  bejjfnn. 

Mr.  Walter  H(»xie  describes  the  breedinj?  habits  of  this  sjiocies  as  follows: 
"Hnzzard  Island  lies  in  a  bciid  between  Ladies  I.sland  antl  Wassa  I.sland, 
and  is  abont  3  milei  in  a  direct  line  from  Heanfort,  Scmth  C<irolina.  It  is 
alxKit  \h  acres  in  e.tent,  and  surronnded  by  boirjry  marsh,  beyond  which,  at 
low  tide,  stretch  widt  flats  of  ^ray  nuid,  libenilly  dotted  with  banks  of  coon 
oysters.     *     *     * 

"Perhaps  a  dozen  or  rwenty  pains  breed  here  regularly,  the  most  of  them 
being  the  black  species  JJntliiuista  at  rata),  tlion;.;'h  a  pair  or  two  of  the  Turkey 
liuzzards  may  l)e  ol)served  every  year.  The  portion  of  the  island  most  fre- 
(piented  by  them  is  the  west  end.  Here,  under  a  dense  growth  of  yucca,  I 
have  taken  nineteen  eggs  in  one  afternoon,  and  seen  at  the  same  tinu»  five  or 
six  pairs  of  newly  hatched  ycning.  There  is  never  the  slightest  attempt  at 
forming  a  nest,  or  even  excavating  a  hollow.  The  eggs  are  laid  far  in  under 
the  intertwining  stems  of  the  yuccas,  and,  in  the  semishadows,  are  quite  hard 
to  be  seen,  "^riie  parent  birds,  however,  have  the  habit  of  always  following  the 
same  path  in  leaving  and  approaciiing  their  precious  charge,  and  after  a  little 
experience  I  learned  to  distinguish  these  traces  so  well  that  I  seldom  failed  to 
follow  them  uj)  and  secnu-e  the  coveted  specimens.  This  track  is  seldom  if  ever 
straight.  It  winds  nnder  and  around  the  armed  stems,  and  the  difference  in 
bulk  between  a  man  and  a  Huzzard  being  considerable,  the  j)ointed  leaves 
find  a  good  manj-  of  a  fellow's  weak  points  before  he  reaches  his  prize.    *    *    * 

"Quite  rarely  I  have  found  eggs  on  the  other  j)arts  of  the  island,  and  once 
or  twice  in  completely  exposed  situations,  with  not  even  an  attempt  to  get 
under  the  protection  of  an  overhanging  bush.  Possi))ly  these  belonged  to 
young  birds  which  had  still  much  to  learn  in  regard  to  the  ways  of  house- 
keeping. I  have  also  occasionally  found  isolated  nests  upon  the  outer  Hunt- 
ing Islands.  In  thesis  latter  cases  tlui  eggs  have  iilways  been  easy  to  find,  for 
being  among  clean  sylvan  surroundings  the  collector  need  only  follow  his 
nose — if  it  is  a  good   one  success  is  certain. 

"Hoth  sexes  assist  in  the  work  of  incubation.  A  week  or  ten  days  often 
elapse  between  the  dei)osition  of  the  two  eggs,  but  I  have  never  observed  over 
a  day's  diflerence  in  the  time  of  hatching.  Indeed,  I  have  never  found  a  bird 
sitting  on  a  singh^  i'<i;ii;.  The  period  of  incubation  is  "ery  nearly  thirtv  davs, 
l)ut  1  have  not  yet  decided  this  (piite  to  my  satisfaction.  I  have  never  taken 
more  than  two  eggs  in  a  set,  l)ut  my  friend,  Mr.  Alfred  Cuthbert,  of  tins  place, 
took  a  set  of  thrvv  in  1S84.  I  am  not  certain  that  two  broods  a>'e  nut  some- 
times raised.  I  have  myself  taken  eggs  only  from  April  "2  to  May  2(;,  but  I 
have  heard  of  young  ol)S(M"ved  as  late  as  August.'" 

'Auk,  Vol.  Ill,  l«8ti,  pp. 'Jl.'>-a47. 


THE  HLAC'K  VULTUItK. 


167 


Dr.  Willinin  L.  Ralph  writes  iiu*:  "In  Florida  tlio  Black  Vulture  resorts  to 
the  ('^■|)r('s.s  swamps  to  nest,  and  its  eirifs  are  laid  in  slij>ht  (le]>ressions,  on 
small  liiliocks  that  ris(^  above  the  water,  and  lined  oidy  witii  the  dead  leaves 
and  other  vegetation  tiiat  were  there  originally.  Althou<fh  I  have  never  found 
/nan\'  of  tlieir  nests,  I  believe  that  they  usually  l)reed  in  tliese  swamps,  for 
I  have  often  found  them,  sometimes  in  considerahh^  numbers,  in  suc^li  situa- 
tions dnrinjif  the  l)reeilin<f  s(>ason.  As  a  rule  thcsir  e<^gs  are  very  hard  to 
find,  for  the  l)irds  leave  tliem  l)efore  oni^  can  <>t^t  within  sight  of  their  nests, 
and  will  not  return  as  long  as  anyone  remains  in  the  vicinity.  The  earliest 
set  tiiat  I  iiave  collected  was  taken  March  2i),  and  1  have  found  fresli  eggs 
from  tliat  time  until  tlu*  middle  of  April." 

.Mr  W.  W.  Worthington  tound  a  small  colony  of  the  Ulack  Vultures 
ineeding  near  iJeaufort,  South  Carolina,  .March  Ift,  IHHIi  Tlie  nests,  of  which 
he  secured  four,  were  all  placed  mider  a  thick  growth  of  yucca,  in  a  small 
hanmiock  surrounded  by  marsh,  'i^in-ee  nests  contained  two  eggs  each,  the 
fourth  Itut  a  single  oik',  and  in  this  incubation  had  begun. 

.Mr.  A  W  Mntler,  of  Mrookville,  Iniliana,  informs  me  that  a  ])air  of  these 
birds  nested  4  miles  west  of  Urookvilhs  in  May,  1889.  Tiie  nesting  site  was 
a  liolluw  sycamoH!  al)out  "JO  feet  high;  the  two  eggs  were  placed  upon  the 
ground,  insitle. 

l?oth  .Mr.  (J.  H.  Sennett  and  Dr.  James  C.  Men-ill,  IT.  S.  Army,  report 
tiii'se  l>inls  as  abundant  on  the  Lower  Uio  (Irande  in  Te.\as,  nesting  on  the 
ground  or  under  liollow  logs  in  the  woods,  ('apt.  H.  F.  Gross  also  found 
the  Mlack  N'ultiu'e  altundant  near  Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  nesting  on  the 
ground,  under  thick  busiies  or  under  logs.  Fggs  were  taken  by  him  between 
April  4  and   May  13. 

From  the  foregoing  accounts  it  will  l)e  seen  that  the  Black  Vulture  is 
more  or  less  gregarious  in  its  habits  at  all  times,  Itreeding  fretpiently  in 
small  communities,  making  little  or  no  nest,  and  the  eggs,  usually  two  in 
uuml)er,  iwv,  perhaps  with  exceedingly  rare  exceptions,  always  placed  on  the 
ground,  in  canebrakes,  uniler  i)uslies,  old  logs,  on  rocks,  and  again  in  per- 
Icctlv  open  and  unsheltered  situations.  Occasionallj'  but  one  egg  will  be 
laid,  and  very  rarely  thr(u>.  In  the  more  .Southern  States  niditication  begins 
about  the   1st  of  March,  and  later  noi-thward. 

IVobably  but  one  brood  is  raised  in  a  season.  The  young  Avhen  first 
hatched  are  covered  with  light  bulf  colored  down,  and  they  are  fed  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  \dung  of  the  preceding  sj)ecies. 

The  eggs  of  the  Mlack  X'ulture  are  readily  distinguished  from  those  of 
llic  Turkey  N'ulture  by  their  ditfereut  ground  color,  sonunvhat  larger  size, 
and  fewer  mai'kings  as  a  rule.  By  far  the  greater  nuud)er  of  eggs  are  elon- 
gate ovate,  a.  few  ar(^  short  ovati',  otlu-rs  elliptical  ovate.  Their  ground  color 
is  a  ])alt^  gray  green;  in  none  of  the  specimens  before  me  can  it  be  called 
a  creanu'  white;  the  tint  is  perc(;ptibly  different.  In  an  occasional  specimen 
it  may  be  called  |tale  bluish  white,  likt^  well  watered  milk,  but  the  first 
mentioned  color  predominates. 


^^'■l! 


:[  •' 


jf«f'?:' 


m 


168 


LIFK  IIISTOUIKS  OP  NORTH  AMKUICAX  BIRDS. 


'14 


U 


Tlio  luarkiiifi's  vary  from  cliocolate  to  rciMisli  brown  of  dirt'croiif  tints, 
and  niixod  amoiijjf  those,  in  ahont  ono-iialf  tlic  spccinicns,  aru  found  shell 
niarkinj^s  of  lilac  and  lavender,  ni  an  oecasional  specimen  these  predominate 
over  the  first  mentioned  tints.  In  the*  series  before  me  all  the  markinjrs  are 
rather  iiTcgular  in  shape  and  ar<'  clustered  altout  the  larj^er  end  of  the  ejif>-. 
They  are  usually  hw^c,  and  seldom  confluent.  A  few  e<i};s  an*  but  slio^htly 
marked,  and  the  spots  are  small  and  fine,  but  none  are  entirely  mispotted. 

The  avera<re  measurement  of  seventeen  specimens  in  the  V .  S.  National 
Museum  collection  is  T*!.')  by  !'}'2  millimetres,  'i'he  lar<>('st  ('<•<>•  measures  S4 
by  f)"),  the  smallest  (iH.f)  by  47  millimetres. 

(►f  the  type  specimen.s,  No.  -lOliU  (I'l.  4,  V'v^.  7)  was  collected  March  I'J, 
1875,  in  Comal  County,  Te.\a..s,  and  No.  •207(»r)  (I'l.  4,  V\<x.  1(>)  was  collected 
April  12,  ISH"),  in  tlu'  same  county  and  place.  Both  tyjies  are  from  the  Men- 
dire  collection,  and  were  oi)ta.ined  orif'-inally  from  the  late  Mi'.  Iv  Hicks  cker, 
of  Nazareth,  Pennsylvania.  They  show  the  heavier  and  lighter  marked  types 
found  in  the  e<i<^s  of  this  species. 


.*)■ 


Family  FALCONIlL'E.     Vi'i/n'UKS,  Fau-ons,  Hawks,  EACii.Ks,  etc. 
6o.     Elanoides  forficatus  (Linnams). 


i 


'f? 


SWALl.OW-TAlI.Kn   Kirio, 


Fiilco  forjicafits  LiXNyKUS,  Systciua  Natune,  eil.  10,  I,  17/iS,  89. 

Klamiahs  forficatus  CoL'ES,  Proceedings   Academy    Natural    Sciences,  Philadelph 


1875,  345. 


(B  34.  C  337,  R  450.  C  493.  U  357.) 


Geooraphical   RAN(iE:  Triipical   and  warm   temperate  portions  of  c<mtinental 


America;  north  in  tiie  inteiiui-  reLfulaflv  to  Illinois.  L 


Mi 


I'Siita.  casual! V  to  M:i 


itol)a.   and  Assiniln 


I'tC. 


the  Atlantic  coast  casuallv  to  I'ennsvlvauia.   Nc 


York,  and  .'southern  New  England  ;  accidental  in  England. 

Althoujih  the  breeding-  ran<>'e  of  the  Swallow-tailed  Kite  wilhin  the  limits 
ot  the  I'nited  States  nnist  be  considercid  as  (piite  extensive,  it  is  a  very 
irreji'idar  laie,  and  the  l)irds  are  only  snnmier  residents  over  the  •■■reater  part 


.f   tl 


leu' 


rail"!'.      It    breeds    reii'idarlv 


Ml 


'loi'id; 


)    an( 


1    South    Carolina,    and 


probably  farther  north    alonji'    the  Atlantic    seaboard,   in    the  States  of  North 
and  N'irji'inia,  a'.ul  apparei\tly  even  in   New   York  State,   where  sev- 


Carol 


era  I 


ma 

Kite: 


were 


)bserved    on    diHerent    occasions    in    Hensselaer   Connt\',  in 


the    latter   ])art    of  duly    and    the    bejii 


nnm<r  < 


)f  Aui-iist,    1SS( 


!,  stronji'ly  sufi'- 


'•estiu;;  their  breediu"-  in 


that 


vicmi 


tv  .1 


in-mji'  tile  season   ni  tpiestnin 


From    Florida    westward    it    is   irre<>'nlarl\    distributed    throujih    the   (Jidf 
States,  includini^'  the  gi-eater  portion  of  Texas      It  also  i)reeds  in  the  inti'rior 


n   suitable  localities  throimhout    tlie  entire  I'Miiith  of   the   M 


ississiijia 


Vall 


e\'. 


and  in  the  States  adjacent  to  our  northern  boundary,  and  a  few  pass  this,  as 
it  has  been  observed  on  ditferent  occasimis  in  the  liritish  provinces  ot'  Assin- 
il)oia  and  Manitoba,  in  latitude  0(1°. 


M 


TIJK  SWALLOW  TAILKI)  KITK. 


169 


Strii<j<jlt'ra  have  Ikhmi  taken  iluriuj?  the  suinnuT  inontlis  in  many  of  our 
XortliiTii  States,  as  well  as  in  Kiiuljind,  hut  few  winter  within  our  horders, 
and,  exeeptinff  in  |»(trtions  of  Florida  ami  Texas,  it  must  he  cdnsidered  as 
rather  a  rare  species  throuffhoiit  its  summer  ranj^e.  It  is  also  found  throu}>hout 
the  <iTeater  part  of  the  South  American  continent  as  far  south  as  the  Argentine 
Uepuhlic  and  Chile. 

Dr.  William  1...  Halj)!!,  who  has  had  excellent  opportunities  to  observe 
the  Swallow-tailed  Kite  in  Florida  during  several  seasons,  writes  uu'  as  follows 
aliout  it:  "Fxceptiug,  jx-rhaps,  the  Turkey  Vulture,  I  think  this  l)ird  is  the 
most  graceful  of  any  while  on  tlu?  wing.  It  has  the  same  ea.sy  floating 
motion,  hut  at  times  it  tlies  very  rapidly  and  turns  very  (piickly,  which  is 
something  !  have  never  seen  the  former  oird  do.  Their  motions  are  very 
'swallow-like,'  and  that,  with  their  forked  tails,  makes  them  look  like  gigantic 
harn  Swallows;  and  like  the  Chinnu^y  Swifts  th(>y  have  a  hal)it  of  traveling 
together  in  small  companies,  usually  consisting  of  three  individuals,  especially 
when  they  first  return  from  the  south.  During  the  breeding  season  flocks 
consisting  of  from  two  or  three  to  ten  or  twelve  birils,  but  oftencr  of  three, 
may  l)e  seen  following  one  another  around,  frequently  uttering  their  calls  and 
circling  in  and  out  among  the  tree  tops  so  fast  as  to  make  one  dizzy  to 
look  at  them.  Kxce])t  diu-ing  this  season  one  seldom  sees  one  of  these  birds 
unless  it  is  flying,  and  I  have  often  wondered  if  they  did  not  at  times  sleep 
while  on  the  wing.  At  least  I  know  that  they  usually  if  not  always  eat 
while  flying,  for  I  iiave  many  times  seen  one  sailing  leisurely  along,  occasion- 
ally bending  its  head  to  tear  a  piece  from  a  small  snake  that  it  held  in  its 
talons,  and  I  have  never  seen  one  alight  to  eat  its  food,  as  other  birds  of 
prey  do. 

"When  hunting  th(>y  fly  (piite  close  to  the  grninid,  like  ^NFarsli  Hawks, 
Imt  at  other  times  they  sail  above  the  tree  to])s,  and  sometimes  so  far  above 
that  it  taki's  a  good  eye  to  see  them.  Their  food  consists  almost  entirely  of 
rcjjtiles.  Small  snakes  seem  to  be  a  favorite  article  of  food  with  them.  1 
never  have  seen  one  catch  a  bird,  and  believe  they  do  not.  This  habit  of 
eating  snakes  has  given  them  the  name  of  'Snake  Hawk'  among  the  natives 
of  Florida. 

"Swallow-tailed  Kifes  begin  to  arrive  in  this  State  from  the  south  about 
the  middh^  of  .March,  but  do  not  become  common  until  two  or  three  weeks 
later,  '['hey  aj)pear  to  i)e  as  ai)undant  n<iw  as  formerly,  ])robably  i)ecaiise  most 
of  the  tourists  have  left  Floriihi  before  they  arrive  in.  any  inunbers.  Although 
these  i)irds  are  connnon  in  the  southern  half  of  St.  dohns  County,  and  that 
part  of  I'utnam  (Jounty  east  of  the  St.  Johns  liiver,  and  though  I  have  found 
(piite  a  lunnber  of  their  nests,  1  ha\('  never  been  able  to  get  but  two  sets  of 
tiicir  eggs,  owing  to  a  habit  they  have  of  building  in  jjlaces  that  are  very  hard 
to  I'cach. 

"The  fir.st  nest  was  taken  April  2-2,  ISST,  11  miles  northeast  of  I'.alatka, 
Florida,  and  contained  two  eggs,  so  nearly  hatched  that  the  (fmbr\os  in  them 


)u:i 


170 


LIFK  IlISTORIHS  OF  NORTH  AMKIIIOAN  lUUDS, 


1  ;^     . 


•i.  r 


wurt^  f'oatliorod.  It  was  sitiiiitcil  !M)  f't'ct  iilxivo  the  {jrouiid  in,  or  rutlicr  on, 
tlie  top  <»f"  ii  very  slcndi"  |)in('  trtu*  {^rowin}^'  on  tlic  cdfic  of  ti  (V])icss  sw.nnp. 
Tlic  trunk  of  this  tree  at  a  luM^'lit  of  5  feet  aliovi'  <;Tound  was  not  more  than  If) 
inttlii's  in  dianiutor,  and  at  tho  place  wlii'iv  my  clinihcr  stood,  as  he  took  tlio 
ei,''}>'s,  it  was  loss  than  ii  inches,  while  the  lindts  h(>  stood  on  were  only  about  an 
inch  thick.  The  nest  was  composed  of  larj^e  twiys  thickly  covered  with  S|)an- 
ish  moss  (Tilhiinlsiii  iisiicaidrs)  and  lon<i'  moss  (^rsiicd  li(irhi(f(i),  lined  with  the 
same  ma  erials,  witii  the  addition  of  a  few  feathers  from  the  liirds.  It  meas- 
ured 20  inches  in  lenj^th,  15  inches  in  width,  and  \'2  inches  in  (le|tth  on  the 
outside,  and  (!  inches  in  diameter  i)y  4  inches  dcu-p  o!i  the  inside. 

"The  nests  of  this  species  are  usually  so  very  irregular,  that  I  should 
think  they  simply  hollowed  out  hunches  of  mossy  twiji's  that  they  found 
lod<>-ed  in  the  tops  of  trees,  had  I  not  often  seen  them  carryinjf  this  material 
to  nc^sts  that  they  were  huildiuff. 

"  Uotli  Itii'ds  werc^  present  when  the  ejjgs  were  taken  and  made  much  ado 
Thoy  would  dive  at  the  head  of  my  clindier,  utterin<i'  their  shrill  lint  rather 
feehle  cry,  and  at  times  were  .so  lierce  that  he  had  to  stoj)  and  strike  at  them 
with  his  hat  to  prevent  them  from  .strikinj;-  him.  This  set  of  efij^s  is  the  earliest 
i  have  reconl  of,  and  if  it  takes  these  birds  tour  weeks  to  hatch  their  ejiji's,  as 
it  usually  does  the  larj^er  Hawks  in  the  north,  they  must  have  been  laid  before 
April  1.  They  usually  commenci'  layini^'  about  the  middle  of  April,  and  I  have 
found  them  sitting;-  on  their  nests  t'rom  that  time  until  the  1st  of  Jime,  the  latter 
being  tlui  latest  date  I  have  ever  remained  in  Florida.  Most  of  them  have  their 
(iiro-s  hiid  b\' the  middle  of  Mav.  One  lU'st  which  I  saw  these  birds  buililintr 
was  deserted  for  three  or  tour  weeks  and  then  reoccupied,  but  whether  or  not 
by  the  original  pair,  I  do  not  know. 

"The  second  nest  was  taken  7  miles  northeast  of  San  ^[ateo,  Florida, 
April  14,  l.SSS,  and  contained  two  fresh  egg.s.  It  was  also  situated  in  tho 
extreme  top  of  a  slender  pine,  in  every  respect  an  exact  counterpart  of  the 
one  that  held  the  first  nest.  The  difference  in  the  height  of  the  two  was  less 
than  a  foot.  As  nearly  as  I  could  judge,  about  tlu'ee-fourths  of  the  nests  of 
this  species  found  by  me  were  about  the  same  distance  above  the  ground,  /.  c, 
they  were  III)  feet,  and  the  remainder  from  a  little  above  that  height  to  125  or 
li}()  feet.  The  birds  to  which  the  second  set  belonged  were  not  so  ])Ugnacious 
as  th(!  owners  of  the  first,  but  they  made  a  great  fuss,  and  soon  had  four  others 
of  the  same  species  with  them  to  see  what  was  going  on,  and  these  seemed  iis 
much  concerned  at  the  disturbance  of  the  nest  as  the  owners  themselves. 
They  were  less  fierce  than  the  first  on  account  of  their  eggs  l)(mig  fresher,  for, 
like  all  l)irds,  thev  exhibit  more  anxiety  just  before  and  just  after  the  eggs  are 
hatched  than  at  any  other  time.  The  nest  of  this  pair  was  composecl  of  larg(^ 
twigs,  Spanish  moss,  and  \)\tu'  needles,  lined  with  green  moss  and  small  twigs. 
'i'he  earliest  date  on  which  I  foinid  tiiis  species  l)reeding  was  Ajjril  5,  18111, 
when    1    toi>k   a   set  of   two  r.ix'j;'^i  ^   miles   southeast  of   San    .Mateo,   Florida. , 


Botl 


1    i-n-n-s    \\e 


re  rather  smaller  than  tl 


usu 


id   size   and  also  liiihtei'  co' 


ilored. 


TUE  SVVALLOW-TAlliKl)  KITE. 


171 


(  hie  liiid  l)iit'ii  iiicubatoil  tor  about  ti  wcok,  tho  otlior  was  fri^sli.  Tho  iicHt  was 
situated  in  the  extreme  top  of  ii  slemler  pine,  8(1  I'eet  tVoni  tiie  <rroini<l.  Hotli 
parents  nuido  nuich  ado,  tlyini''  down  at  my  climlier  from  ai)ove  at  an  an^^le  of 
altout  45  deijfrees.  Tlie  call  note  of  this  species  sometimes  sounds  very  nuicli 
like  tho  'puot,  peet,'  of  the  Spotted  Sandi)i|)er. 

"I  think  l)oth  parents  assist  in  incui)ation,  and  that  hut  one  brood  is  raised 
in  a  year.  In  Florida,  lik(^  the  IJald  Kai^les,  tliey  neiu'ly  idways  nest  in  pine 
trees  and  in  the  tallest  they  can  find,  l)Ut,  unlike  the  latter,  which  always 
select  trees  of  the  <4'reatest  diameter,  they  choose  the   very  slinunest. 

"They  usually  breed  in  wild  uninhabited  localities,  but,  except  in  rej^'ard  to 
their  nests,  they  appear  to  have  liut  little  fear  of  man,  and  are  often  to  l)e  seen 
liyinji'  around  anion;;'  tlu^  houses  of  tins  small  villa^^'es  in  this  vicinity.  The 
places  resorted  to  for  breeding'  ari!  the  low-lyinj^-  [line  woods,  arid  tho  nests 
are  usually  l)uilt  in  trees  that  ^^tow  in  or  near  the  cypress  swamps,  so  com- 
mon in  these  situations. 

"The  Swallow-taihwl  Kite  has  a  j)eculiin"  way  of  leaving,'  its  nest,  for  in- 
stead of  Hying-  diriM-tly  from  onc^  si(h^  as  other  binls  (h),  it  nearly  always  rises 
straight  up  for  a  short  (hstanco  first,  as  if  it  wore  pushed  up  with  a  spring,  and, 
when  about  to  alight  on  its  nest,  it  will  poise  itself  a  short  distance  above  its 
i-'^ii!*  anil  then  gradually  lower  itself  down  on  to  them.  When  tlu^y  an*  thus 
poised  above  their  nests  there  is  scarcely  a  pi'rceptil)le  movement  of  their 
wings,  and  they  often  lower  themselves  so  gradually  that  one  can  hardly  tell 
when  they  have  reached  their  eggs." 

Acconhng  to  Mr.  .1.  W.  Preston,  these  l>irds  nest  in  IJecker  County,  Miime- 
sota,  from  about  May  1")  through  dinu',  the  nests  lu-ing  usuidly  plac(*d  in  Ituss- 
wood  trees  anil  in  the  extreme  to|)s,  from  .")(>  to  80  foot  high.  An  unusual 
nesting  site  found  by  him  was  in  a  slender  canoi^  l)irch  al)out  4()  feet  from  the 
ground.  Their  call  notes  are  a  shrill  keen  "o-o-o,"  or  "wo-we-we,"  uttered  in 
a  high  key,  which  is  very  |)Iercing  and  may  l)e  heard  at  a  great  distance.  In 
.Minnesota  their  nests  are  usually  found  in  dense  woods  not  far  from  lako.s. 
They  art!  highly  greg.iriuus;  disturl)  a  nest  and  e\-erv  Kite  in  tin;  neighl)orhood 
is  soon  on  hand,  lie  has  found  them  not  iipt  to  attack  a  pi-rson,  Itut  they  do 
attiudi  other  birds  coming  in  tiie  \icinity  of  their  iionu's.  He  says:  "Of  all 
aerial  pcafonnaiu'cs  I  have  ever  witnessed,  tho  mating  of  the  .Swallow-tailed 
Kite  excels.  Ever  charming  and  elegmit,  they  outdo  themselves  at  this  season. 
In  thti  sjn'ing  of  188(!  they  chose  as  their  mating  ground  an  o])on  s])ace  over 
the  mouth  of  an  ice-cold  brook  thiit  nuide  its  way  out  from  a  dark  tangled 
larch  swanij).  From  my  bout  on  tlu^  lak(^  I  had  an  excellent  view  of  them.  All 
th(;  afternoon  seven  of  these  matchless  objects  sported,  chasing  each  other  here 
>and  there,  far  and  near,  sailing  along  in  easy  curves,  tloating,  falling,  and  rising, 
then  darting  with  meteor-like  swiftness,  connningling  and  separating  with  an 
al)andon  and  airy  (lase  that  is  dillicult  to  imagine. 

"Next  day  three  pairs  wert;  selecting  nesting  sites.  Thev  are  extremely 
particular  iu  regard  to  the  matter  of  a  nest,  and  may  not  lie  disturlied  in  the 


i 


172 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


lllMi 


$h 


M 


iiiMliiii;" 


ifiii „ 

if 


ni 


least,  or  tlioy  clidost!  iinotlior  home.     Ncstiiifj  miitcriiils  (t\vi<yH  and  moHs)  aro 
can'ied  by  tlio  fiMnalc  in  lior  talons,  the  male  t'nll(>\viii}>'  close,  ami  {^oinff  on  tho 


n( 


St  to  arranjfc  tlicin.  Days,  and  soinctinics  even  weeks,  are  re(|Mire<l  to  suit- 
ably ('oni|)let(f  tlui  stnK'ture.  During'  this  time  tliey  work  in  the  inornin};  and 
fly  over  the  lakes  and  woods  in  <he  attornooii.  The  nest  is  usually  built  (Ui 
the  foundation  of  an  old  one  of  a  previous  year.  'I'he  female  does  not  alight 
to  secure   nestiny'    materials,   but    snatches   them    while    in   full   Hif^ht.     Once, 


^-hil 


i'  standinu-  in  a  landi  swamp,  a   Kite  dashed  l>^■  me  anil  took  ui)  a  small 


twijf,  heavily  draped  with  iisiirit,  and  jaoudly  soared  out  over  the  wofxls  with 


it.      Near  their  breediii 


;■■  ii'rounM 


tl 


lev  seem 


to  1 


te  eons 


tantl 


V  on 


Me  wmi''. 


s  species,  one  contannn<>'  two  eygs, 


have  known  as  many  as  six  pairs  to  nest  within  a  small  area.  Once  incubation 
has  commi'uced  th(>  female  sits  nearly  constantly  and  seldom  leaves  the  nest, 
and  the  male  faithfully  feeds  and  protects  her.  Some  days  before  layinji'  tlu« 
e}r<rs  the  femah^  rests,  Ijein^'  Ncry  (piiet  anil  dron|(y,  and  I  noted  this  in  many 
birds.  I  have  taken  but  two  nests  of  tin 
the  other  but  a  .single  one." 

Mr.  (leor<re  (1.  ("antwell  writes  me  as  follows:  "The  Swallow-tailed  Kite 
is  not  unconunon  in  the  vicinity  of  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  and  especially 
around  Lake  Minnetonka.  I  think  about  a  dozen  pairs,  and  possil)ly  more, 
breed  every  year  al)out  this  lake.  'I'hi'V  are  ipiiti;  fearless  and  hunt  for  their 
prey  rijjht  on  the  lawns  in  front  of  the  summer  hotels  and  the  numerous 
cottages  on  the  shores  of  the  lake. 

'I  took  but  a  single  nest  of  tliis  species  there  about  ^fay  l,""*,  1SH7.     It  was 

naple,  about  (JO  feet  from  the  ground, 


pi, 


icei  I 


the  toi)  l)ranches  of 


a  tal 


am 


1    which    contained    four  v 


o-o-s     ((! 


I  the  point  of  hatching.  A  farmer  who 
showed  nie  this  nest,  told  me  that  ai)out  a  week  l)efore  he  destroyed  another 
close  to  his  house  containing  the  same  numlter  of  i"^'^t^  and  killed  the  parents 


some  ilav   carry  o 


some 


)f  h 


dt 


ot  nis   poultry,   as  a  go 


il 


fearing  that  they  might 

many  other  Hawks  had  already  done  so.' 

Mr.  George  K.  Heyer  also  foiuid  a  sc^t  of  four  eggs  on  Milton  Island,  Lak(» 
I'ontchartrain,  Louisiana.  This  nest  was  ])laced  in  the  top  and  near  the  trunk 
of  a  cypress  tree,  (!()  feet  from  the  ground.  It  was  taken  .huie  1(1,  l^^Si);  the 
eggs  contained  endiryos  al>out  a  week  old.  The  nest  was  composed  of  dr\- 
twigs  carelessly  and  loosely  laid  together,  lined  with  moss  and  a  few  pieces 
of  snakeskin,  evidently  liaumvhdii  awsirhfar. 

The  Swallow-tailed,  Kite*  is,  on  the  whole,  a  perfectly  harmless  and  benefi- 
cial bird,  feeding  to  great  extent  on  reptiles  of  various  kinds,  lieetles,  grasshop- 
pers, crickets,  cotton  wia'ins,  small  frogs,  and  tree  toads.  It  is  doubtful  if  it 
t^'er  kills  a  bird. 

In  Texas,  the  Indian  TiM-ritory,  and  Kansiis,  this  species  builds  frequently 


ni 


the  tops  of  the  tallest  cottonwood  trees,  occasi( 


nially  m  pm  ojiks  i»r  pecans, 


where  these  are  Ibiiml,  and  always  as  near  to  the  tops  of  the  trees  as  the  nest 
can  safely  be  placi^l. 

Nidilieatioa  varies  according  to  locality,  beginning  about  the  first  week  in 


THK  aWALLOW-TAlLIil)  KITE. 


173 


April  in  tlio  inon^  f^oiitlicni  portimw  of  its  l)rn(Mrm;f  raiipfo,  imd  corrpspondingly 
Inter  lUrtlicr  iiurtli,  siniintiincs  ii  )t  Itnl'oro  tlio  lirst  or  .soc.oii  1  week  in  .Iiiiut. 

Two  cf^^s  arc  f^cncnilly  laid  to  a  set,  ocrasidiially  l»iit  out',  ami  rarely  three 
or  four.  The  averajfo  ineasiiremont  of  t\v(Mity  spocinuMis  Iroin  tlifforeiit  parts 
of  the  I'liited  States  is  47  l)y  HI  iiillliiiietres.  The  larjfest  e;;<i'  in  tiiis  series 
measures  50  i)y  ^V.*,  the  smallest  41. 1(  i)y  ,'M.r»  millimetres.  1  consider  tlieso 
eji'jis  as  handsiinie  as  thos((  of  any  of  om'  IJaptorcs.  They  are  usnally  oval  in 
sliapc;  some  ajjproach  an  tdliptical  ovate.  Tlu^  shell  is  nioderntely  smooth 
and  closi'  fi'rained.  The  fyronnd  color  varies  from  a  dull  to  an  ashy  white, 
and  a<;ain  it  may  l»o  a  delicate*  cream  color. 

'Hie  eggs  an*  spotted  and  Idotc.hed  with  ditVereiit  shades  of  rich  brown 
and  ferruginous,  usually  irrt^gular  in  outline,  and  varying  considoraldy  in 
amount.  Tlies*;  markings  sometimes  foi'ui  an  irregnlai'  hand  running  from 
the  cent(!r  to  the  smaller  end,  and  fr('(|Uently  Iteconu*  confluent  Occa- 
sionally a  specimen  is  found  in  which  tiie  markings  are  very  few  and  small 
in  size,  .scarcely  any  Ix-ing  larger  than  a  Xo.  lO  shot,  and  the  majority 
smaller.  In  a  \\iw  sp(M'imens  light  lavender  colored  shell  niarkintr.s,  generally 
of  small  size,  are  also  visii)le.  TluM'e  is  a  great  deal  of  tliirerence  in  the 
st\le  and  markings  of  these  eggs  if  a  number  are  compared,  Itut  they  can 
n-adily  lie  distinguishe(l  from  th(!  eggs  of  any  of  our   Raptores. 

Of  the  typ(i  specimens.  No.  20*)71,  V.  S.  Xational  AFusenm  collection 
(PI.  ft,  Fig.  1),  selecteil  from  a  set  t>f  two,  represents  oiu*  of  the  more  lightly 
marked  types;  it  was  originally  in  my  collection,  and  taken  in  Ulack  Hawk 
County,  Iowa,  June  .'?,  1875.  Another  (1*1.  .">,  Fig.  2),  from  the  collection  of 
Dr.  William  L.  Ralph,  IJtica,  New  Vork,  also  from  a  set  of  two,  was  taken 
near  San  Mateo,  Fhu'ida,  April  14,  ISSS,  and  kindly  loaned  for  the  purpose 
of  figuring. 

6i.     Elanus  leucurus  (Vikillot). 
\vnrn:-TAii,i;i)  KrrK 

}[ilriis  Ipuriirii.i  ■VlElLLOT.  Nouvcau  Diclionaire,  x.x.  isis.  :,(;:]  (errnre  556). 
I'JIdiiHs  leucurus  Box.vi'AKTi';.  (i('()^frii|)lii<',il  aiul  CDinpai'ative  List.  is:!8,  4. 

(15  ■■',',.  V  .Tifi.  R  l-^r,  C  -HI-',  U  :i-.'s.) 

(iRixiRAPiacAr..  KAN'OK:  Ti'o[)i(al  uiiil  sulit Topical  Anieri(\i  (except.  West  Iinlies). 
north  ti)  South  Caroliua,  sonthiTu  lUiuois  (casual?).  Iho  Iruliau  Torritory  ami  niidillc 
California.     Acciiluatal  in  JIicliii,'Mii. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  White-tailed  Kite,  so  far  as  is  actually  known 
by  the  taking  of  their  nests  and  i'<!;'^.>,  seeais  to  be  couiined  to  South  Caro- 
lina (where  Mr.  Ward,  Audubon's  assistant,  found  it  nesting  on  the  Santee 
River  early  in  March),  Florida,  the  Indian  Territory,  Texas,  and  the  mi(hlle 
portions  of  California. 

It  is  said  to  occur  in  Georgia,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  and 
southern    Illinois,    and    probai)ly    breeds    .sparingly    in    all    these    localities. 


'  Ii 


» 


't'V 


lii 


iiK'.  s 


luf ' 


174 


LIFK  IIISTOIMKS  OF  NORTH  AMKKICAN  I!11M»S. 


I)iit  it  TiiiiHt  ]»((  cdiisiihTcil  nirc  cfist  ol'  tlif  Mississippi  IJivcr,  iiiiil  is  iint  ii 
common  spocics  iiiiywlii'rcf  witliiii  tlif  limits  of  tiii-  I'liitcil  Stiitfs.  It  oxtciulH 
ovor  tli<'  Soiitli  Amcriciiii  coiitiiifiit  to  the  Ai'ii'ciitiiic  Wcpiihlic.  Williin  our 
borders  it  is  pcrliiips  must  ot'tt'ii  toiiiid  in  ( 'iilit'oniiii,  wlicrc  it  is  a  coiistaiit 
resident.  It  pr(il»al)ly  also  winters  in  Louisiana  and  sontliern  Texas.  Strag- 
glers iiro  reported  to  occasionally  reaeli  Mieliifian,  where  ().  A.  Storkwell  is 
said  t(»  have  nmt   with  it. 

Tlitf  first  e{?}^s  of  this  species,  a  set  of"  tour,  ol)tained  l>y  tlie  Smitli- 
8onian  Institution,  were  tiil<eii  hy  .Mr.  J.  II.  (.'lark,  May  !»,  ISIW,  near  Koit 
Arbnckle,    Indian  Territory,  and  are  now  in  th(^  collection. 

IVof.  B.  W.  Kvermann  took  .several  sets  in  ("alilornia,  in  ISKO  and  IHSI, 
He  writes  me:  "I  found  my  lirst  .set,  containing-  three  e^ijis,  May  4,  IHHO. 
They  were  nearly  ready  to  hatch.  The  nest  was  near  the  end  of  one  of 
th(^  topmost  limbs  of  a  cottonwood  (I'ufiiihi.s)  near  Santa  I'aula.  It  was 
constructed  of  coarse  sticks,  lined  with  shreds  or  strippinj;s  of  the  inner  dead 
bark  of  the  cottonwood.  I  took  no  others  in  IHHO,  but  in  IHSl  1  met  with 
better  success.  On  A])ril  12,  I  j^ot  a  set  of  four  and  another  of  live  eggs, 
all  fresh.  These  nests  were  place<l  in  tim  extreme  tops  of  two  umisually 
tall  live  oaks  (perhaps  4.")  or  olt  feet  from  thi'  ground),  and,  like  the  other, 
were  rather  flat  structures  of  sticks,  lined  with  the  same  material  as  tho 
first,  with  the  addition  of  a  little  straw  (i)arley,  1  think).  These  two  nests 
were  also  found  near  Santa  I'aula.  In  one  of  them  a  second  set  was  laid 
early  in  .Fnne. 

"The  actions  of  this  species  when  their  nest  is  approached  are  inter- 
esting. I  think  in  every  case  the  bird  would  leave  tin*  nest  while  I  was 
(piite  a  distance  from  the  trcu-,  and  (piietly  fly  olV  to  another  near  by.  Thercf 
it  would  remain  until  I  had  nearly  reached  the  nest,  when  it  would  fly 
toward  me,  and  when  aliont  "JO  to  ;}i)  feet  altove  me  and  the  nest,  it  would 
balance  itself  in  th(!  -lir  as  Sparrow  lla\\ks  and  IJlueliii'ds  often  do,  and  with 
legs  hanging  down  would  utter  its  distress  note  a  few  times  and  then  fly 
away,  prolcdily  not  to  return  again,  but  simply  to  watch  uw  from  some  tree 
top  several  rods  awa\'.  The  note,  as  I  rememiter  it,  is  a  bi-okeii  cr\'  or  scream. 
When  tlu!  female  hovered  over  my  head,  the  male  made  his  apjx'arance  also, 
but  came  no  neai'ei"  than  a   tre(i  several   rods  away. 

"On  NoveMd)er  "JO,  IS.SO,  I  slait  a  White-tailed  Kite  from  a  telegrai»h 
pole  while  sitting  in  my  l»uggy,  ami  as  it  fell  to  the  ground  its  mate  flew 
to  it,  ami  was  also  secured.  I  do  not  regard  this  bird  as  at  all  connn«m. 
I  hav(c  seen  solitar\-  individuals  skinnniu"'  over  the  fields  near  San  Huena- 
Ventura,  the  marslies  up  towards  Saticoy,  and  at  various  other  places  iij) 
the  Santa    Clara    N'allev,   as  far  as   Newliall,   .Mt  miles   from   the  coast." 

Mr.    L.    Ueldiii'i'  "-ives  the   White-tailed    Kite  as  a   constant    and    connnon 


savs: 


I    I 


iav(!    .s(!en    as    man\- 


resident    altout    Stockton,   ( 'alifornia,    and 
twenty    at    the    same    momein    within  a    circle    of    half  a   mile.      1    have    also 
iticed  it  at   M^rysville   in    winter.     It   is   rarely  seen   away  from   the   tule 


n( 


marslies, 


'  t  ■-', 
■  I  i 


TIIK  VVIIITKTAIUOI)  KlTIi. 


175 


Mr.  A.  L.  riirkliinst  iiit'uniiH  mo  tliiit.  \ui  found  tliis  Hpccics  hrccdiii;,'  nciir 
Sim  . lost',  ( 'iilil'oriiiii,  I'liim  Miircli  Ifi  to  April  10 — tlicir  nests  hciii;;'  {rciKinilly 
well  irHltlcn  amtni^f  tlif  Iciivcs  iiciir  tlu;  tups  of'  tlic  trcrs,  iisiiiilly  fit  a  hciirlit 
III'  alHiiit  30  f't'ut.  'riicir  usual  resorts  (lurin;^'  tlie  lircciliu^i'  season  an^  the 
liiHiks  of  streams  or  tla;  fresh  water  marshes,  especially  if  a  fcnv  scattitreil 
li\e  oaks  or  willow  jiroves  are  close  l)y,  anil  their  favorite  nestinjjf  sites  are 
the  tops  of  live  oaks,  altlionjih  other  trees  are  also  niaile  use  of  whose  foliafi;() 
securely  conceals  tluf  nest  ilurin^'  inciihation.  'riiese  hirds  can  he  found  near 
the  tree  in  which  they  intend  to  breed  as  early  as  January.  Sometimes  sev- 
eral birds  are  anxious  to  secure  the  smue  site,  and  in  such  a  case  lights  are 
siu'e  to  result,  not  alone  for  Jirst  i-hoice  of  a  nestin;;  siti',  but  also  for  a  mate. 
As  soon  as  a  pair  liav((  mated,  thoy  prot-eed  to  di'ive  away  from  the  nei^di- 
borhood  all  others  of  their  kind,  and  (!ven  lari^cr  and  more  powerful  birds 
of  prey  are  tauiiht  to  respect  their  cliiims  to  the  locality  selected. 

"As  soon  as  the  male  feels  secure  in  his  possession  he  takes  his  stand  upon 
the  top  of  a  tree  near  by,  whose  t'oliaj^'e  is  not  so  thick  as  to  ot)struct  the  view, 
vet  where  he  is  practically  concealed,  and  tVom  this  station  he  is  ever  watchful 
for  the  ai)|)roach  of  an  enemy.  I  have  ni>t  been  able  to  ji'et  sutliciently  close  to 
a  nest  to  enable  me  to  observe  tin*  manner  of  nidilication  without  btdn^^  de- 
lected \)y  the  male.  I  am  satisfied,  howevei-,  that  it  is  accomplished  by  the 
iiniiided  etfort  of  the  female,  while  the  former  is  doinji'  jiicket  duty. 

"Tlio  nest  is  composed  of  small  dead  twi^^s,  placed  in  the  iipriji'ht  forks  of 
a  lindi,  and  is  neatly  lined  with  dry  stubble  and  ^^rasses.  The  cavity  is  usuall\- 
Mliout  .'i  inches  dei^*.  It  is  nnich  ol'  the  same  oi'ih-r  of  architecture  as  an 
oniinnrN'  ("row's  nest,  but  is  a  trifle  lar;;er  and  (piite  as  neat.  The  date  of  lay- 
inu'  \aries  souunvhat  with  the  sisison.  The  first  nvst  1  foimd  was  on  A[iril  (I, 
fSS.'i.  it  contained  four  e'/i;s  that  were  about  half  hatcheil.  I  took  three  sets 
of  ey;}^s  from  this  tree  in  as  many  dilVerent  years,  but  i-ach  time  a  difl'orent  nest 
was  built.  Thes(^  birds  bi-eed  in  tlie  sMme  locality  from  year  to  year,  often  in 
llie  same  tree,  but  accordinf;'  to  my  oliservations  th(^y  always  build  a  new  nest 
I'iich  season." 

Other  observers  describe  the  nest  as  a  slight  stnictui'e  and  shallow,  and  sii\- 
it  is  placoil  occasionally  in  sycamore  trees  or  maples,  itut  their  favorite  tree  for 
II  iiestin^r  site  seems  to  be  the  live  oak. 

Messr.s.  Sidater  and  Hudson  <;-i\('  a  ;^ood  account  of  the  lialiils  i»f  tills 
species  in  "Argentine  (  hnitholo^^y"  (\'ol.  ii,  |ip.  71,  7'J).  Extracts  from  this 
lire  as  follows;  "This  intcrestinji-  Hawk  is  tbund  throujihout  the  Argentine 
Ivejaililic,  but  it  is  nowhere  numerous.  It  is  a  handsome  bird,  with  large  riiby- 
ml  irides,  and  when  seen  at  a  distance  its  snow-white  pimnago  and  buoyant 
^liglit  gave  it  a  striking  resemblance  to  a  Oull.  Its  wing  ])ower  is  indeed  m;ir- 
\clous.  It  delights  to  soar,  like  the  .Martins,  during  a  high  wind,  and  will  sjauid 
liniirs  in  this  spoit,  rising  and  falling  alternatcdy,  and  at  times,  seeming  to  aban- 
don it.self  to  tlu!  fury  of  tin-  gale,  is  blown  away  like  thistle  down,  until, 
suddenly  rocoveriug  itself,  it  shoots  back  to  its  original  po.sition.      Where  there 


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176 


LIKE  niSTOUIKS  OF  NOllTII  AMKIilCAN  IJIRDS. 


aro  tall  poplar  trees  these  l)inis  iiimise  tlieinsolvcs  l»y  percliiii}^  on  the  topmost 
■slender  twijfs,  l)alanein<r  theiiis"lves  with  outspi-cad  \vin<;s,  each  bir<l  on  a  sepa- 
rate tree,  nntil  the  tree  tops  are  swept  l»y  the  wind  trom  under  them,  when 
they  often  remain  poised  almost  motionless  in  the  air  nntil  the  twigs  retm'U  to 
their  feet. 

"When  lookinjj  out  for  prey,  this  Kite  usually  niaii\tains  a  height  of  (in 
or  70  feet  ahove  the  ground,  and  in  its  actions  strikingly  resenihles  a  fishing 
Gull,  fretiuently  remaining  poised  in  the  air  ^vith  hody  motionless  and  wings 
rapidly  vibrating  for  fully  )ialf  a  minute  at  a  stretch,  after  whieli  it  flies  on 
or  dashes  down  upon  its  prey. 

"The  nest  is  placed  on  the  topmost  twigs  of  a  tall  tree,  ami  is  round  and 
neatly  built  of  sticks,  rather  deep  and  lined  w'th  dry  grass.  The  eggs  art^  eight 
in  number.  An  aj)])roach  to  the  iwst  is  always  greeted  ity  the  l)irds  with  long 
distressed  cries,  and  this  cry  is  also  uttered  in  the  love  season,  when  tin*  males 
often  fight  and  pursue  each  other  in  the  air.  Tiu'  oM  and  young  birds  .sonu'- 
times  live  together  nntil  the  following  spring." 

Till!  fooil  of  tiie  Wiiite-tailel  Kiti*  is  said  to  consist  of  small  rodents,  snakes, 
and  small  birds.  It  is  eviilently  a  harmless  itird  in  this  respect,  and  rather  bene- 
ficial than  otherwise.     Motli  jjarents  assi.st  in  the  care  of  the  young. 

But  one  brood  is  raised  in  a  season;  if  the  first  set  of  eggs  should  be  taken 
a  second  one  is  occasionally  laid  in  the  same  nest  al)i)Ut  a  month  later. 

In  the  Cnited  8tati's  the  nnmlier  of  eggs  laid  to  a  set  \aries  from  three  to 
five,  generally  four.  'Plieir  ground  color  is  creamy  white,  and  they  are  heavily 
marked  over  their  entire  surface  with  irregidar  confluent  blotches  and  smears  of 
dark  blood  red  and  claret  brown,  of  ditl'ei'ent  degrees  of  intensity,  the  smaller 
eml  Ix'ing  often  tiie  more  heavily  coloi'ed.  Mut  little  of  the  ground  color  is 
visible  in  the  majority  of  tim  specimens.  Sonuf  sets  are  miu'h  lighter  than 
others,  possibly  a  second  laying;   the  eggs  ai'e   usually  oval   in  shape. 

'{'he  average  measiu'ement  of  eight  s])ecimens  is  42  by  .'{.'$.5  milliuK'tres. 
'Pli(    largest  egg  measures  4f  by  .'54,  the  smallest  41  by  ,'52  millimetres. 

The  typi'  specimen  (No.  2'.t27,  l'.  S.  National  .Museum  collection,  !M.  o. 
Fig.  3),  sele<-ted  from  a  set  of  four,  was  collected  i>y  Mr.  .1.  II.  Clark,  May  It, 
ISin,  near  Koi-t  Ari)uckle,  Indian  Territory.  The  second  (1*1.  A,  Fig.  I), 
selecteil  from  a  set  of  five  (ggs,  now  in  tiie  collection  ot'  Mr.  .lo.siah  Iloopes, 
West  Chester,  I'eimsylvania,  was  taken  near  Santa  Barbara.  California,  on 
A])ril   14,  l.SSI),  and  kindly  loaned  for  illustration. 


?*■ 


THE  MISSISSIPPI  KITE.  177 

62.     Ictinia  mississippiensis  (Wii.hon). 

MlS.SIH.illM'I    KITK. 

Falcn  minfii.<i.iippinisi.s  Wll.soN,  Amoriciin  Ornitliology,  ill,  1811,  80,  PI.  25,  Fig.  !. 
fcliniii  inississippii'iisifi  Okay,  Gononinf  Birds,  i,  1S45,  "^G. 

(B  30,  C  3;J5,  K  4-^8,  C  4:11,  U  329.) 

Oeooraphical  RANCIE:  Mofo  soutliom  United  Status,  oii.st  of  tho  Rocky  Mouu- 
taiiis,  iKirtli  I'ogulrti-ly  to  Ooorf^ia,  southorii  Illinois,  Kansas,  etc.,  casually  or  iri'ogularly. 
(o  I'l'uiisylvania,  Wisconsin,  and  Iowa  ;  south  through  eastern  Mexico  to  Guatemala 

Tlie  breedin^y  raiiffo  of  the  Mi.ssissippi  Kite  is  ('oufined  to  tho  .southern 
portions  of  the  United  States,  from  Loiiisiaiia,  .Missi.ssippi,  and  Texas  north- 
ward to  southern  IlHnois,  the  Indian  Territory,  and  Kansas.  It  Ukewise 
occurs  in  South  Candina,  (Jeoriria,  Florida,  and  Alabama,  and  probably 
breeds  more  or  less  fre([iU'ntly  in  all  these  States.  It  is  a  casual  summer 
visitor  in  Iowa  and  Wisconsin,  and  is  nuu-h  more  abundant  west  of  the 
Mississippi  than  cast   of  this  stream.     A  few  winter  in   the   South«'rn  States. 

.Mr.  H.  ii.  Gault  writes  me:  "I  found  the  Mississippi  Kite  abundant  in 
the  lied  River  re;j,ion  of  Te.\as,  especially  in  that  portion  of  it  included 
within  Bowie  County,  where  they  can  be  seen  at  all  times  of  the  day  and 
in  all  sorts  of  places;  but  for  feedinj;  {^rounds  they  seem  to  prefer  the  cot 
ton  lieMs.  At  King's  plantation  they  wim'c  particularly  alnmdant,  and  I  have 
seen  as  many  as  eij,dit  or  ten  in  the  air  at  one  time.  Althoufjh  they  do 
not  possess  the  swallow-like  movements  in  so  hiji'h  a  degree  as  their  larger 
and  handsomer  relative,  the  Eldiioidt's  Jhijimtus,  still  they  do  indeed  i)resent 
a  pleasing  sight,  ap})earing  now  Ix^fore  us,  ])erliaps  lOO  or  "iOO  feet  al)ove 
ground;  the  next  miiuitt^  ^''^'V  are  skinnuing  just  al)Ove  the  tojjs  of  the 
I'otton  plants  or  l)etween  the  rows,  and  again  tlii'v  are  high  in  the  air, 
seeming  never  to  tire  of  these  wing  evolutions,  and  it  is  rarely  that  one  is 
seen  to  alight. 

"Occasionally,  however,  1  have*  «'ome  suddenly  upon  them,  perched 
(|uietly  on  some  dead  or  di'caying  tri'c,  and  iiave  been  greatly  surprised  at 
their  stupidity  in  allowing  me  to  approach  within  40  or  .")<)  feet  of  them 
hefori^  fhey  would  attempt  to  take  wing.  Owing  to  their  luunbers,  oiu^  would 
nailily  iniagiiu*  it  not  a  diliicult  task  to  discover  tlu(  nest  "f  this  bird,  but 
in  this,  after  repeated  searches,  I   was  badly  disappointed. 

"didy  ■_*,  iSMS,  I  came  uimiu  a  pair  of  these  birds  that  could  not  lie 
iiwiiiceil  to  leave  a  particular  locality  on  the  edge  of  an  old  plantation. 
Very  evidently  a  nest  or  young  were  close  at  hand,  Itnt  tlii^  most  careful 
search  faile(l  to   reveal   one  or  the  other." 

Pile  well  known  ornitlndogist.  Col.  N.  S.  (loss,  found  this  spcfcies  breed- 
ing abui\dantly  in    Harber  Cotintv,    Kansas.      He  writes   as   follows:    "While 
coliei'ting  in  this  State   I   found.   May  !>,  1SS7,  (piit(>  a  immber  of  the  .Missis- 
sippi   Kites    .sailing    over   and    into   the    timber  skirting   the   .Medicine    River, 
20957— Bull.  1 lli 


MM 

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178 


LIFE  tilSTOKIBS  OF  NOUTII  AMEllICAN  BIRDS. 


wm 


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near  Sun  City,  Barber  rouiity,  iind  from  tlicir  actions  knew  tliat  tliey  were 
mating  and  upon  their  Ijrecdiiifj;'  j^rounds — a  lucky  find,  worth  t'oUowin;^  up. 
On  the  11th  I  noticed  several  of  those  hirds  witli  sticks  in  their  hills  (frrec^i 
twigs  in  leaf)  flying  aimlessly  al)out  as  if  inidecided  where  to  j)lace  tliem, 
keeping  hidden  within  tlie  trees  as  much  as  possible,  dropping  the  sticks 
when  from  fright  or  other  cause  tlicy  arose  liigh  above  the  tree  tops.     «     *     » 

"I  returne<l  to  the  Kites  on  tlie  Kith,  and  remained  watching  the  birds 
until  the  morning  of  the  "i'id,  at  which  time  the  nests  tVmnd,  seven  in  num- 
ber, appeared  to  l)e  com])]eted,  and  I  saw  a  pair  of  the  birds  in  the  act  of 
copulation.  A  business  matter  calliMl  me  home,  and  I  liired  the  man,  witli 
whom  I  stopped,  to  clind)  the  tr(>es  on  the  "iSth  for  the  eggs,  but  a  hailstonn 
on  the  2.'ith  injured  the  nests  badly,  and  in  one  ca.se  beat  the  ne.st  out  of 
the  tree.  On  the  31st  he  collected  four  sets  of  two  eggs  each,  and  <me  with 
only  one  egg.  It  being  a  hanl  tree  to  climb,  lu!  decided  to  take  the  egg 
rather  than  wait  to  see  if  the  bird  would  lay  more.  Not  hearing  from  him, 
I  returned  to  the  ground  June  10,  and  put  in  the  day  examining  the  nests, 
etc.,  collecting  two  more  sets  of  two  eggs  each.  *  *  «  Xlie  old  nests  had 
a  few  leaves  for  Ihiing,  in  addition  to  the  leaves  attached  to  the  twigs  used 
in  repairing  the  same,  but  tiie  new  ones  appeared  to  be  without  additional 
leaves.  They  were  all  built  either  in  the  forks  from  the  main  l)ody,  or  in 
the  forks  of  the  larger  limbs  of  the  cottonwoixl  and  elm  trees,  and  were  at 
least  from  10  to  100  rods  ajjart;  were  not  l)ulky,  and  when  old  would  be 
taken  for  the  nests  of  the  common  Crow.  Tliey  ranged  in  height  from  2.') 
to  ;")()  feet  from  tiui  ground.'" 

Mr.  George  K.  Heyer  writes  me  that  he  "took  two  nests  of  this  species 
in  Louisiana  during  tlu'  season  of  1HS!(.'"  According  to  his  o])servations  "but 
one  brood  is  raised  in  a  .season,  niditication  beginning  late,  usually  about  the 
end  of  May.  The  nests  are  jjlaceil  in  the  tops  of  loblolly  ])iues  (I'hiHs  hrdn) 
or  white  oaks  (Qiicrrus  allxi),  at  a  heiglit  of  from  50  to  GO  feet.  Pine  woods 
are  the  favorite  localities. 

"Though  of  a  peaceful  disposition,  im<ler  ordinary  circumstances,  the  Mis- 
sissipj)i  Kite  vigorously  attacks  all  intruders  coming  too  close  to  its  nesting 
site.  A  nest  foun<l  dune  10,  ISS'.t.  was  laiilt  in  a  loblolly  pine  between  a  fork 
near  the  top.  It  was  composed  of  small  dry  twigs  of  water  or  ])in  oak  and 
line(l  witli  S])anish  moss  and  contained  but  a  single  i"^'^.  A  secpud  nest, 
found  in  an  oak  al)out  40  feet  from  tlie  ground,  on  June  24,  18Hri,  was  simi- 
larly constructed  and  lined  with  the  dry  leaves  of  the  loblolly  pine  and  moss 
mixe<l.  Tins  set  contained  three  well  incubated  eggs,  nearly  reaily  to  hatch. 
Uoth  .sexes  incubate,  and  the  male  also  assists  in  building  the  nest.  I  have 
seen  this  species  viciously  attacking  Crows  and  Jays  when  too  close  to  its 
nest,  utteri 
labl 


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es. 


According  to  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher's  experience  in   Louisiana  it  would  a])pear 


'Auk,  Vol.  IV,  18S7,  pp.  :)44,»46. 


IS 

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U' 


V. 


I 


THE  MISSISSIPPI  KITE. 


179 


that  this  Kito  does  not  always  brood  so  late  in  that  region,  as  he  shot  a  fully 
Hotlfft'il  young  binl  on  May  ;U. 

Mr.  J.  A.  rtingoly  has  taken  several  sets  of  tlie  eggs  of  this  speries  in 
Texas.  A  nest  taken  in  Leo  County  is  tiuis  (lescril)e(l:  "I'lie  foundation 
iind  sides  of  the  nest  are  built  entirely  of  small  sticks,  the  interior  portion  of 
sniiiil  green  oak  twigs  in  leaf  and  leaves  of  tiie  ines(juite  trcM';  tlie  lining  is 
of  green  moss,  on  top  of  which  are  placed  gnnni  leavcis  of  the  p(;can  tree. 
The  outer  diameter  from  the  ends  of  the  longest  twigs  is  1 7  inclies,  the  most 
conipjict  portion  11  inches;  interior  diameter  a  inclies,  outer  deptli  7  inches, 
inside  ileptli  IJ  iiuhes."' 

Occasionally  a  nest  is  lined  with  willow  twigs  in  leaf.  Mr.  H.  NcOirling 
has  also  found  this  species  breeding  in  Texas,  near  Ibaiston,  but  it  is  not 
{•oninion  there. 

The  food  of  this  Kite  seems  to  consist  principally  of  grasshoi)pers,  locusts, 
iind  otiier  insects,  probably  varied  with  a  diet  of  small  rodents,  lizards,  and 
snakes.  It  is  iniquestionably  a  jierfectly  harmless  species,  if  not  actually  a 
li(MU'ficial  one,  from  an  economic  standjjoint. 

"'I'iie  eggs  of  this  species  are  usually  two  or  three  in  number  and  are 
ordinarily  deposited  from  the  middle  of  .May  to  the  latter  part  of  Jun(!.  Hut 
(iiie  brood  is  raised  in  a  season.  The  same  nest  is  often  used  from  ycMir  to 
vear,  when  not  disturbed,  tlu;  nece.s.sary  repairs  required  being  made  each 
season.  The  first  eggs  of  this  species  de])ositeil  in  the  IJ.  S.  National  Museum 
collection,  were  obtained  througli  Mr.  ('.  S.  McCarthy,  Mio  found  several  of 
their  nests  on  the  Canadian  Uiver  in  the  Indian  Territory,  between  Jinu^  .'") 
and  -21,  \H(V2. 

Tiiey  are  rounded  ovate  in  shape,  jiale  bluish  white  in  color,  and  mi- 
spotted;  the  type  specimen,  however,  shows  a  few  minute  deeper  blue  shell 
markings,  not  u.sially  found  in  the  eggs  of  this  species.  Tiiey  are  frcfiuenth- 
liaiUy  stained  by  contact  with  tiie  decaying  green  leaves  on  which  they  are 
usually  placed. 

Tin*  average  m(>asurement  of  twenty-nine  eggs  of  the  Mississippi  Kite 
is  41  by  34  millinu'tres.  The  largest  i'^fX'^  in  tlie  l^.  S.  National  Museum 
(■(illection,  measures  44.5  by  ;{(i.,"),  the  smallest  DU  by  .'Vi  millimetres. 

The  type  specimen,  one  of  a  set  of  two  ("No.  'J.'JKiO,  i'l.  .''),  Fig.  .">),  was 
taken  by  Col.  N.  S.  Ooss,  in   Barber  C!ounty,    Kansas,   May  31,  1HS7. 

'Nests  aud  Eggx  of  North  Atuericau  UirdH  Duvio,  18bU,  p.  166. 


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180  LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NOHTH  AMliKlCAN  BIRDS. 

63.     Rostrhamus  sociabilis  (Vikillot). 

KVERr!l.AI)K    KITK. 

Herpptothe.reit  .tnrinbilis  ViEliiLOT,  Nouveau  Dict.ionain'.  xviii,  1818,  318. 
Rostrhainiis  sociabilin  D'Orbiony,  Voyago;  Oisi^imx,  ir,  1847,  73. 

(B  37.  C  334,  R4-»!»,  C  4i)().  U  330.) 

Geographical  ranoe:  Whole  of  troiiical  Aniorica,  cxcci)!  i)ai't  of  West  Indies; 
south  to  Argeutiiio  Republic  and  Ecuador;  north  to  Florida  and  Atlantic;  coast  of 
Mexico. 

The  Ever{]fla(lo  Kite,  a  common  Soutli  Aniericau  .species,  has  hut  a  v(  ly 
restricted  raufre  within  the  United  States,  hein^-  a  n-sident  of  the  swamps  and 
marshes  of  southern  Kloriihi,  and  said  to  be  fairly  al)undant  in  the  Kverii'lades. 
It  breeds  in  suitable  localities  throufjliout  these  little  known  rej^ions. 

Messrs.  Sdater  and  Hudson  say:  "This  Hawk  in  size  and  manner  of  tlif;lit 
resembles  a  Buzzard,  but  in  its  habits  and  the  form  of  its  slender  and  very 
sharjdy  hooked  beak  it  differs  widely  from  that  bird.  The  u-ii>.e  of  the  'Soci- 
able Marsh  Hawk,'  which  Azara  fjave  to  this  species,  is  very  approjjriate,  for 
they  invariably  live  in  Hocks  of  from  twenty  to  a  hundred  individuals,  and 
mifrrate  and  even  breed  in  comj)any.  In  Huenos  Ayres  they  ap])ear  in  Sep- 
tember and  resort  to  marshes  and  stn^ams  aboundinj"'  in  lare;e  water  snails 
(Aini)itllari(i),  on  which  they  feed  exclusively.  Kach  bird  has  a  favorite  ])erch 
or  spot  of  fjround  to  which  it  carries  every  snail  it  ca})tures,  and  after  skillfully 
e.xtractinf?  the  animal  with  its  curiously  modified  beak,  it  dro])s  the  shell  on  the 
mound.  When  disturbed  or  persecuted  by  other  birds  they  utter  a  jteculiar 
cry,  resemblinfj^  the  shrill  neifihinji-  of  a  horse.  In  (lisj)osition  they  are  most 
j)eaceable,  and  where  they  are  abundant  all  other  birds  soon  discover  that 
they  are  not  like  other  Hawks  and  pay  no  attention  to  them.  When  .soarinj;-, 
which  is  their  favorite  pastinu',  the  Hijiht  is  sin<;ularly  .slow,  the  bird  fre(iuently 
remainiufj  moti(mless  for  lonj;  intervals  in  one  place,  but  the  expanded  tail  is 
all  the  time  twisted  alxuit  in  the  most  singular  manner,  movetl  from  side  to 
side,  and  turned  u}»,  until  its  edge  is  nearly  at  a  right  angle  with  the  plane  of 
the  body.     »     *     * 

"("oncerning  its  breeding  habits,  Mr.  (lil).son  writes:  'In  the  year  187.3,  I 
was  so  fortunate  as  to  Hud  a  l)reeding  colony  in  one  of  our  largest  and  deepest 
swami)s.  There  were  probably  twenty  or  tliirty  nests  |)laced  a  few  yards  apart 
in  the  deepest  and  most  lonely  ])art  of  the  whole  'cafiadon.'  They  were 
.slightly  built  platforms,  supported  on  the  rushes  ami  2  or  li  feet  al)ove  the 
water,  with  the  cup-shaped  hollow  lined  with  pieces  of  grass  and  water  rush. 
The  eggs  never  exceede<l  three  in  a  ne.st ;  the  ground  eolor  generally  bhiisli 
white,  blotched  and  chmded  very  irregularly  with  dull  red  Inown,  the  rufous 
tint  sometimes  being  replaced  with  ash  gray.'"' 

Mr.  (1  .1.  Maynard  descril)es  a  nest  found  by  him  in  the  Everglades,  which 
was  placed  in  a  magnolia  bush    about  4  feet  from  tiie  water,  as  ipiite  flat  and 

■Argentiue  Ornithology,  1867,  Vol.  II,  pp.  72,  73. 


St 


TUK  EVEUGLADH  KITE. 


181 


iihout  <a  foot  ill  diainctfr.  It  was  coinposiMl  of  Hti(^ks,  oiirolcssly  iirranji^ed,  lined 
with  a  few  dry  licads  of  saw  <irass,  and  contained  ono  t'fij;.  Upon  dissiu-t- 
iiij;-  tlio  female,  which  was  shot  at  the  same  time,  another  ejj'fi'  was  tomid  just 
niidv  to  lie  laid;  this  was  unspotted,  and  of  a  blue  color  throuf;hoitt.  Several 
sets  of  tiiese  ej^jis  weni  Imiujiht  to  him  sul)se(|uently  by  Seminole  Indians.' 

.Mr.  Iv  W.  Montreiiil,  in  a  letter  puldi.shed  by  Mr.  II.  |{.  Hailey,  des«'ribes 
the  breeilinjf  l',al)its  of  this  species  as  follows:  "Tiiis  bird  (ItostrliiiiHiis  NOci(t- 
hilis)  is  found  in  numl)ers  in  the  Everglades  of  Florida,  especially  on  the 
east  side.  They  lay  their  eggs  early  in  March,  but  .some  j)airs  later  than  others, 
as  the  set  you  havcf  were  taken  Marcli  l(i,  and  wen*  fresh,  while  all  the  other 
nests  had  ytiung  in  tiiem.  When  they  breed  a  male  and  female  are  by  them- 
selves, always  near  a  smidl  island,  wiiich  they  make  their  rendezvous,  and 
while  resting  on  a  branch  they  can  have  an  eye  on  tlieir  nest  for  enemies, 
especially  Crows,  who  rob  tlieir  nests  whenever  they  can.  Around  some  of 
tile  islands  there  an*  several  pairs  of  lio.strhaiiiKs,  but  they  always  place  their 
nests  a  few  acres  apart  from  each  other.  «  «  *  They  built  tlieir  nests 
with  dry  branches  and  grasses,  attached  to  saw  grasses  about  12  inches 
below  the  tops,  just  so  as  to  be  out  of  sight.  They  measure  about  12  inches 
in  diameter  and  (!  inches  high,  and  the  cavity  is  about  3  inches  deep.  They 
lay  two  or  three  eggs.  The  old  birds  usually  bring  their  throats  full  of 
the  animals  nf  the  lOxci'glade  shidls,  but  sometimes  they  l)ring  the  animal  in 
tile  shell,  as  many  of  tlu^  nests  contained  a  lot  of  these  shells.  While  they 
have  voung  they  are  not  wild,  Hying  over  one's  head  when  near  the  nest."- 

Mr.  .1.  F.  Menge,  who  found  the  Everglade  Kite  nesting  near  Meyers, 
Florida,  writes  me  "They  generally  lay  but  two  eggs,  conmiencing  to  nest 
as  earl\-  as  March  1,  and  np  to  the  end  of  A])ril.  Their  favorite  nesting  sites 
an-  swamps,  overgrown  with  low  willow  bushes,  the  n<'sts  usually  being  |)lace(l 
about  -I  feet  from  the  groimd.  They  freipient  the  Itorders  of  open  ponds  and 
teed  their  young  entirely  on  snails.  According  to  my  observations  the  female 
does  not  assist  in  the  Imilding  of  the  nest.  I  havi'  watched  these  birds  for 
liiiius.  She  sits  in  the  imnieiliate  vicinity  of  the  nest  au<l  watches  while  the 
iiinle  builds  it.  The  male  will  bring  a  few  twigs  and  alternate  this  work  at  the 
siinie  tiuK*  by  supplying  his  mate  with  snails,  until  the  structure  is  complete<l. 
Tliev  feeil  and  care  for  their  young  longer  than  any  other  birds  I  know  of, 
until  \  <>u  can  scarcely  distinguish  them  from  adults." 

.\  nest  of  this  species  now  liefore  me,  taken  l)y  Mr.  Menge,  and  kindly 
forwarded,  measures  l(i  l)y  l.'J  inches  in  diameter,  and  is  about  H  inches  thick. 
It  is  not  an  artistic  looking  stnu-ture,  but  rather  carelessly  put  together.  The 
base  consists  of  ili'y  willow  twigs,  some  of  them  half  an  inch  in  diameter;  the 
yiviiter  portion  are,  however,  smaller.  The  inner  cavity  is  about  7  inches  wide 
li\  1  .^  inches  deep.  This  is  lined  with  small  stems  of  a  vine  and  a  few  wil- 
low  leaves.     The  latter  look  as  if  the  twig.s,  to  which  .some  of  them  are  still 


lir 


'  ilinlH  of  Florida  iiiiil  KaHlerii  Noitli  Auiericu,  1881,  iip.  'J!J4-'.i9U. 

•  Auk,  Vol.  I,  mm,  p.  ur>. 


'If ' 
i  - 
-1 


ii: 


182 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


attached,  iDijfht  have  been  l)rok('ti  off  by  the  birds  while  green;  the  first  men- 
tioned material  j»redoininates  in  the  lining.  This  nest  was  found  on  A])ril  3, 
and  had  just  been  linislied.  On  A|)ril  '21],  it  was  visited  again,  and  it  then  con- 
tained two  eggs,  in  which  incubation  was  so  tar  advanced  that  they  could 
not  be  saved. 

From  the  foregoing  accounts  it  will  be  seen  that  the  nesting  sites  selected 
by  the.se  birds  are  rather  variaide,  and  that  wiiile  in  some  .sections  in  South 
America  they  may  be  said  to  l)reed  in  small  colonies,  this  does  not  fippear  to  be 
the  case  in  Florida,  at  least  as  far  as  we  know  at  present.  The  food  of  this 
species  in  Florida,  aliout  which  all  observers  agree,  seems  to  consist  entirely  of 
a  fresh  water  snail,  PoniHs  (h-prcssa  (Say),  and  according  to  Mr.  W.  Fi.  D.  8cott, 
the  local  nanui  of  the  Everglade  Kite  in  the  vicinity  of  Panasofka  Lake,  where 
he  found  them  very  abundant  during  the  month  of  March,  1S7(),  is  "Snail 
Hawk." 

The  number  of  eggs  is  two  or  three,  and  these  seem  to  l)e  deposited  from 
the  latter  jjart  of  February  till  the  1st  of  May,  usually  in  March  or  th(^  begin- 
ning of  April. 

In  sha])e  they  vary  from  a  rounded  ovate  to  oval.  The  ground  color  is 
pale  greenish  white.  In  some  specimens  this  is  scarcely  perceptible,  the  whole 
surface  of  the  egg  being  covere<l  with  rusty  or  brownish  re<l  blotches  and 
smears  of  different  degrees  of  intensity,  and  ruiming  into  each  other,  hiding 
it  completely.  None  of  the  markings  in  the  majority  of  .specimens  before  me 
are  well  defined,  except  in  a  single  one.  In  this  case  the  ground  color  is 
di.stinctly  visible,  the  egg  being  but  slightly  marked,  princi|)ally  about  the 
center.  Tliese  markings  are  well  defined  in  the  shape  of  small  irregular 
blotches  connected  with  each  other  by  lines  and  scrawls  similar  to  those 
found  on  tiie  eggs  of  tlu;  (irackles.  They  vary  from  fawn  color  to  ligiit 
brown. 

The  average  measurement  of  six  sj)ecimens  is  44..')  by  37  millimetres.  '^Phe 
largest  egg  measun^s  47  by  37..'),  the  smallest  42  by  37  millimetres. 

The  type  specimen  (No.  l(iS27,  U.  S.  National  ^luseum  collection)  was 
taken  in  the  spring  of  1.S73,  in  Florida,  by  Mr.  ('.  .1.  Maynard.  It  is  figured 
on  I'l.  f).  Fig.  (i.  Aiiothei-,  from  a  set  of  three  eggs  taken  l)y  .Mr.  F.  W.  Mon- 
treuil,  March  1(1,  in  the  Fverglades  of  Florida,  was  kiniUy  loaned  by  tlie 
American  ^Iiiseum  ot  Natural  History,  New  York  City,  for  the  purpose  of 
figuring,  it  is  the  liglitest  colored  egg  of  this  species  I  have  seen.  This  is 
figured  on  1*1.  o,  Fig.  7. 


i 

■  i  ■ 


TUE  MAUSn  UAWK.  183 

64.     Circus  hudsonius  (LiNNiEus). 

MARSH    HAWK. 

P'liiro  liiidsniiiiis  LiNK/Ki's.  Systcma  Natiira",  od.  li,  i,  1700,  13S. 

CiiTUN  liiidnuiitus  ViKlM.oT.  Oisoaux,  Aiuurique  Seiitt'iitrioualc.  1,  1807,  PI.  9. 

(B  -M,  c  aaa,  K  4;5o,  c  4»i),  u  xn.) 

(iKDGKAPHiCAL  RANGE:  North  Ainei'icft  in  geiieml.  soutli  in  winter  to  Pananui, 
Hiiliaiiius,  and  Cuba. 

'I'lie  j\Iiirsh  Hawk,  also  ciilU'd  tho  Harrier  and  Mouse  Hawk,  is  one  of 
tlic  l)est  known  ot"  tlie  l{ai>tori's  I'ound  within  the  limits  of  the  United  Status. 

Its  breeding  range  e.xtends  ovi-r  nearly  thi^  entire  North  American  con- 
tinent. In  portions  of  the  South  Atlantic  States  it  nuist,  however,  be  con- 
.sidered  as  a  rather  rare  sunnner  resident,  and  in  certain  .sections  of  this 
region,  like  the  Piedmont  hill  country  of  South  Carolina,  according  to  Dr. 
Leverett  M.  Loomis,  it  does  not  breed  at  all,  and  1  think  the  same  remarks 
apply  to  tlu^  greater  part  of  Florida,  when;  only  a  few  remain  during  the 
summer,  principally  in  t\ut  northern  i)arts  of  the  State,  it  is  a  fairly  com- 
mon sunnner  visitor  in  the  Arctic  regions,  and  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
winters  regularly  as  far  north  as  latitude  3!)^,  while  on  tlu^  Pacific  coast  1 
liiive  found  a  few  remaining  in  latitude  40^.  it  is  likely,  however,  that  these 
birds  lired  farther  north  and  wintered  here,  and  that  the  actual  summer 
residents  migrated  south,  and  were,  to  a  certain  extent,  replaced  by  these 
\isifors  from  colder  regions. 

'file  Marsh  Hawk  is  easily  recognizeil  by  the  conspicuous  white  patch  at 
tiie  base  of  its  long  tail,  and  its  great  stretch  of  wing,  while  flying,  makes  it 
appear  a  much  larger  Itird  than  it  really  is.  In  the  South  Atlantic  States 
it  is  bv  no  means  as  common  durin"'  tlie  breedin"'  season  as  in  the  more 
northern  jiortions  of  its  range. 

On  the  extensive  j)rairies  of  the  West,  it  is  a  familiar  .sight  to  see  a  pair, 
and  often  several,  of  these  birds  skimming  close  to  the  ground,  now  along 
the  borders  of  a  meadow,  or  the  sin'uliltery  found  close  to  the  banks  of  small 
streams,  and  the  tnle  covered  borders  of  fresii  or  salt  water  marshes,  actively 
engaged  in  search  of  their  prey.  From  the  fact  that  even  in  winter  one 
fre(piently  sees  pairs  of  thesis  birds  hunting  in  company  as  often  as  singly, 
1  am  inclined  to  lielieve  that  many  remain  mated  throughout  the  year. 

Its  tliglit  is  singularly  easy  and  gracetiil.  One  moment  it  may  be  seen 
sailing  or  drit'tiiig  along  iiefore  a  strong  liree/.e  without  an  apparent  move- 
ment of  its  wings,  in  the  next  it  may  raise  or  lower  itself  or  turn  completely 
o\cr,  in  undulating  motions;  dropping  suddeidy  in  the  grass,  or  staying  siis- 
peiuled  in  the  air  over  some  point  which  miglit  Ix*  suited  to  the  location  of 
its  intended  (piarry. 

Its  food  consists  principally  of  meadow  mice,  small  ground  sipiirrels,  and 
other  rodents,  frogs,  grasshoppers,  locusts,  and,  in  portions  of  the  West,  the 


li 


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JTTT 


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184 


LIFE  niSTORIES  OF  NORTU  AMERICAN  HIRDS. 


larjjo  and  dt'structivo  crickets  {Aiidhiis  Niiii))lr.r);  wlioro  these  ant  ahundant 
tliey  feed  almost  exclusively  on  tlieni.  Now  and  then  small  l)irds  or  snakes 
are  also  eaten,  prolialtly  wiien  other  food  is  not  so  easy  to  olitain.  It  is  mi 
extremely  uset'iil   bird,  an<l  well  deserves  the  i'nllest  protection. 

Accordin<^  to  Mr.  \V.  (1.  Smitli,  ot"  ijiveland,  (!olora(h),  the  Marsh  Hawk 
will  occasionally  feed  on  decayiii}''  animal  matter,  such  as  dead  Ducks,  and 
will  kill  and  devour  such  <iami3  wiien  found   woundeil. 

Dr.  W.  L.  Ralph  tells  me:  "In  Florida  I  have  often  had  these  birds  come  at 
the  rep<n't  of  my  fjun  and  try  to  carry  ort'  the  ducks  that  1  had  shot,  and  some- 
times they  would  i)e  so  persistent  that  I  could  almost  catch  them  before  they 
wouhl  leave.  1  saw  a  couple  of  these  birds  on  Marcli  27,  and  another  pair 
on  Marcli  28,  1891,  a  few  miles  from  San  iMateo,  Flori(hi.  Htill  another  \y,i\v 
was  seen  by  on(*  of  my  men  on  the  last  day  of  that  month,  and  I  think  that  is 
rather  late  for  them  to  be  so  far  south,  uidess  they  were  ffoiu;i'  to  nest.  Some- 
times they  will  Hy  just  in  front  of  the  blaze  of  a  forest  or  prairie  fire  to  catch 
the  small  mannnals  driven  out  by  the  heat." 

In  the  West,  where  I  hav(f  principally  observed  these  birds,  they  are  not 
very  shy,  often  sailinj;'  in  search  of  food  (juite  close  to  a  person.  Sometimes 
they  .seem  to  be  so  entirely  absorbed  in  such  occupation  that  1  freciuently 
had  them  pass  within  20  feet  without  ajtparently  seeinj'-  me,  and,  after  noticinj;' 
me,  tm'nhig  only  a  litthf  out  of  the  way  and  alterin;^'  their  cours((  l)ut  very 
sliyhtly. 

The  matiii<»'  season  be<;ius  about  April  1,  sometimes  earlier.  Pairs  of  these 
birds  may  be  seen  at  this  time  playinj;-  with  each  other,  sailiuj^-  around  in  "grace- 
ful }>-yrations,  turnin<.f  over  and  over,  and  utterin<^  shrill  screams  of  delij^ht  while 
enyai^ed  in  these  aerial  evolutions.  Soon  thereafter  a  suitalde  nestin<i-  site  is 
selected,  and  this  is  always  on  the  gromid  or  dost!  to  it.  It  is  usually  not  far 
from  water,  in  a  thick  bunch  of  grass,  on  a  slight  hillock  in  a  marsh,  in  i)unches 
of  rank  weeds,  low  Itushes,  among  rushes,  Hags,  or  on  tuK;  drifts.  'V\h>  malt- 
assists  faithfully  in  the  construction  of  the  nest,  which,  in  most  cases,  is  but  a 
slight»alfair.  Now  and  then  one  is  found  suniewhat  more  elaltoi-ately  built  than 
the  average,  but,  as  a  rule,  there  is  but  little  material  used,  and  the  inner  lining 
is  also  generally  rather  scant.  A  i-easonal)ly  level  surface  in  tlm  high  grass  or 
thick  bushes  having  been  selected  for  this  ]»urpt>se,  bits  of  dry  grasses,  stubble, 
or  pieces  of  wtfed  stalks  art!  carried  to  the  site,  anil  this  is  arranged  in  a  circle, 
leaving  a  rather  shallow  cavity  in  the  ccutei-,  lined  with  similar  material,  and 
the  (!ggs  art!  depusited  on  this.  ( )cfasi()nnlly,  especially  when  jjlaced  in  wet 
places  subject  to  ovcrllow,  the  nest  proper  is  put  on  a  slight  platform  of  sticks 
tt>  rai.se  it  slitihtK'  from  tht!  oround.  I  Iiave  never  ^'ound  a  nest  lined  with 
either  hair  or  feathers,  excepting  such  as  drop  from  the  sitting  bird. 

In  the  Southern  States  niditication  begins  in  the  early  part  of  April;  in  the 
MiiliUe  States  usually  altout  the  second  week  in  May,  rarely  earlier,  ami  cor- 
res|)ondingly  later  northward,  wliert!  it  is  protracted  till  the  first  t^vo  weeks  In 
June.      When  not  disturited  the  sanu!  sites  are  resorted  to  from   year  to  \'ear. 


.  1 


f       Is 


TUE  MAltail  HAWK. 


185 


iind  in  sucli  ('msch  tlic  nosts  arc  fn'(|ii('iitly  Itiilky  iifTfiirH.     TIk;  nsuiil  nuinbor 
(if  I'fi't^s  liiiil  liy  tliis  s|i(M-i('s  is  \u>u\  fnin'  tu  six,  i-nrcly  iiKirc. 

Mr.  .Idliii  Swiiildiriic  writes  me  tliitt  in  Arizmiii  the  iisiial  iuiiiil)or  of  Ojjfjfs 
foiinil  l)V  liim  is  two  or  tlircci.  I  found  a  nest  near  the  liiij;iina,  !l  miles  frt>ni 
'riicsnn,  Ari/.iiiia,  with  two  newly  liatclieil  younfi-  and  an  e;;;r  al)out  to  hatch. 
I  also  toiik  a  ninch  incuhated  set  of  three  fjijjfs  near  Fort  Ijapwai,  Idaho, 
dime  lo,  1H71.  As  an  offset  to  such  small  .sets,  I  had  the  f^ood  fortune  tt> 
tind  on(i  of  ei;;ht,  near  Walla  Walla,  Washinj;-ton,  on  May  H,  1H,S2.  The  nest 
was  placed  in  a  pasture,  idoso  to  a  small  stream,  alonj^sido  of  and  concealetl  hy 
a  tall  l)un(^li  of  rye  f^-rass.  It  was  Driucupally  constructed  of  dry  "jrassoa  care- 
lessly urraiiffed.  'IMie  effj^s  were  in  ditferent  staj^es  of  incuhation,  liv<>  con- 
tained lar^e  end»ryos  that  re(iuired  ntttinji^  t>ut,  one  was  (piite  fresh,  and  two 
nearly  so. 

The  earliest  date  on  which  any  of  the  ejyji's  were  taken  amon<if  the  series 
of  this  species  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum  collection  is  7\pril  21>,  1H;J7, 
collected  l»y  Audubon,  near  (Jalveston,  Texas.  On  the  I'acific  coast  the  Marsh 
Hawk  lays  in  the  hejiinninj;'  of  April,  and  even  at  Camp  Harney,  Orej^'on,  1 
liave  taken  their  ejij^s  on  April  L",»,  1.S77. 

In  Connecticut  they  nest  usually  Itetween  ^fay  lo  and  2.").  j\lr.  .John  N. 
Clark,  of  Sayhrook,  writes  mo:  "I  ol)serve  that  the  female  sits  very  closely 
and  the  male  ])rocures  the  food  with  {jfreat  dilij-ence.  I  have  located  the  nestn 
often  l>y  watchinj^'  him.  T\h',  moment  he  appears  in  sij^ht  the  female  utters 
slirill  cries  from  tlu^  nest,  and  leaves  it  as  he  approaches,  risin;^-  in  the  air  to 
meet  him,  and  seizin<i  with  dexterity  the  morsel  that  he  drops  in  her  talons.  8he 
llicn  retires  to  the  nest,  to  feed  or  distrii)Ute  it  to  the  youni;'.  I  have  examined- 
the  stomachs  of  several  specimens,  and  found  meadow  mice,  their  favoi-iti^  food, 
(hie  I  examined  contained  not  less  than  elevi'U,  another  nine,  and  nothinj''  else. 
1  lia\e  rari'ly  seen  them  disturl)  domestic  fowls.  1  have*  reared  these  Itirds  from 
the  nest,  to  study  their  hahits,  and  ha\e  found  them  very  interestinj;-,  though 
never  Itecominji'  very  i^'entle  |)ets.  'Phey  showed  a  decided  fondness  for  frojjs 
and  mice  of  all  kinds,  and  they  rarely  declined  lish." 

.Mr.  J.  W.  i'reston,  of  Maxter,  Inwa,  writes  me:  "The  nests  of  the  Marsh 
Hawk  arc^  usually  huilt  ot'  weeds  and  j^rass,  Itut  1  rememlier  seeinj;'  one  placed 
on  a  tu.ssock  over  water,  which  was  l)ulky  and  well  made.  Tin;  tbundalion 
consisted  of  plum  twi^s  and  small  liranches.  It  was  thick,  the  dejnvssion 
deep,  aiid  was  well  lined  with  <;rass  and  do\\  n.  They  nest  here  sometimes  on 
tile  iiinhest  ridi^'cs.  Theii'  call  note;  is  a  pee\isli  si'ream,  not  unlike  that  of  the 
Ueil-tailed  Hawk,  thou;ih  not  ,so  strong'.  A  pecidiar  cluckiu!;- or  cacklini;-,  in  a 
sliort  jerky  way,  is  also  uttereii  at  times,  while  ascendiiiji'  in  the  air.  This  seems 
to  lie  done  for  dixcrsion.  The  male  assists  in  incuhation,  and  I  have  seen  him 
reluctant  to  abandon  tlu^  nest  to  its  mate.  'I'he  earliest  date  on  which  I  have 
tound  these  birds  nestin<4'  here  was  A]tril  20.  In  a  set  of  eioht  found  by  me 
the  cffirs  ranged  from  fresh  to  well  incubated.  This  ni'st  was  placed  in  u  low 
hazel  thicket,  on  a  high  ridye." 


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18(5 


LIFK  IIIHTOHIKH  OF  NOIITFI  AMCRICAN  HIKDS. 


Mr.  TvVinls  Jones,  of  (iriimcll,  Iowa,  Hiiys  "Once  duriuff  tlio  broodiii}; 
sonHon  I  Hiiw  fi  niiilo  catch  a  larjfc  fjfartt'r  Kiiak"'  ami  tly  up  with  it  several 
humh'eil  feet,  th(!ii  (h'op  it  to  tile  feiniile,  who  JM-t  tiieii  came  Hyiiij,''  aloiifr  near 
the  }froiiii(l;  she  cau^fht  ami  curried  it  to  tiie  nesi,  followed  l)y  the  male." 

Mr.  (icor^fe  (i.  (Jantwell  found  a  nest  of  this  s|)e('ies  |»la('ed  on  a  haycock. 

The  nudu  assists  to  a  certain  extent  in  iinuhiition,  which  lasts  soniowhat 
over  thre(>  weeks,  and  seems  to  he^rin,  occasionally  fit  least,  ix-fore  the  complete 
set  of  ej^'f^s  is  laid.  Moth  jvirents  assist  in  ciniufi'  for  the  younj>',  and  the  family 
remains  tof^other  tor  sometime  after  tliey  leave  the  nest.  The  }'oun«>'  wlu'ii  first 
hatched  are  covered  with  a  {grayish  huffy  down.  Ihit  one  hrood  is  raised  in 
a  season. 

The  ^"^<i)^,  conunonly  from  four  to  six  in  nuinher,  and  usually  lnid  at  inter- 
vals of  two  and  three  days,  are  pale  f>'reenisli  or  hliiish  white  in  color,  and  the 
majority  are  unspotted.  Quite  a  iimnlier,  however,  are  more  or  less  blotched 
and  spotteil  with  i)ale  Inilf  and  brownish  markings.  About  two-fifths  of  the 
series  are  more  or  less  plainly  markeil.  The  shell  is  smooth  and  slij^htly  {flossy. 
In  .shape  these  e^iji's  vary  •••reatly,  nin;i'in;"'  throuiih  the  difl'erent  forms  of  ovate. 

The  averaj^'c  measurement  of  seventy-three  specimens  in  tlu^  I'.  S.  Xationid 
Museum  collection  is  4(i  liy  'M>  millimetres.  The  lar^'est  {"^<>;  in  the  .series  meiis- 
ures  ,02  by  3S  millimetres;  tiiis  was  taken  on  the  Lower  Ander.son  River,  Arctic 
America,  by  Mr.  \l.  MiicFarlane,  of  the  Iliulson  Mny  ('ompany.  The  smallest 
of  th(^  series  measures  l.'J  by  .'54  millimetres,  and  was  taken  by  the  writer  near 
Fort  Walla  Walla,  \Vas]iin<>toii. 

Of  the  type  specimens  fif^ured.  No.  l.'i'_*41t  (I'l.  f),  Fij;\  H),  ;\  sinp-le  ejf}'',  AVfis 
taken  in  Maine  l)y  Dr.  H.  Dixon;  Xo.  'JOdSd  (IM.  '),  Fij;:  !»),  from  a  set  of  live 
eous,  four  of  which  are  distinctly  spotted,  was  tiikeii  ne.ir  Fort  Lapwai,  Idaho, 
May  14,  1870;  and  No.  -JOdild  (1*1.  ;"),  I'V  lO),  from  a  set  of  eij.-lit  e<.-<rs,  was  nd- 
lected  near  Fort  Walla  Walla,  Washiu-'ton,  on  May  S,  IHS-J.  The  last  two 
tj'pes  are  from  the  Hendire  collection. 

65.     Accipiter  velox  (Wii.sox). 

SIlAKM'-sniXNED    KAWK. 

F(t1ro  )v7o.r  Wilson.  Anierirun  Oi'iiitlioliifify.  V,  \ni-2,  in;.  PI.  l"",  Fif^.  1. 
Accijiili  r  rclux  ViooKs.  Zi)i"il(ifj;ical  .lomiiiil.  I.  ls-.'|.  .'i.!s. 

(H  i:.  (J  :i:!s.  K  4:i-,',  (J  i:i4.  i:  :i;i-^.) 

Geoouaimiicvl  KAN(iK:  Nortli  AmcricM  in  ici'iicriil.  soutli  in  winter  fo  Guateuuda. 

The  Sliar|»-shinned  Hawk  In-eeds  throughout  the  entire  Tnited  States,  but 
ill  the  more  southern  portions,  exceptiiii;'  the  momitiiin  regions,  it  must  be  con- 
sidered as  a  rather  rare  summer  resident.  The  onl\-  v^'^s  of  this  s|)ecies  from 
the  Simth  in  the  T.  S.  Xationid  Museum  collection  iire  two,  .said  to  have  been 
taken  near  Edinbiir^-,  Texas.  Mr.  Wiirdemann  has  found  it  nestiny^  In  Flor- 
ida, and  Ml'.  (J.  Iv  I5e\'er  informs  me  thiit  it  is  a  summer  resident  in  southern 


TIIK  SIIAUI'-HIIINNKI)  HAWK. 


187 


Louirtinnii,  lins-lnff  sliot  if  tliorc  in  July.  In  tlic  MiiMlc  and  Nortlicni  States  it 
i.t  fairly  coMniion  in  snitahic  localities,  an<l  the  Hanic  IioIiIh  ^iinil  in  the  Unck}' 
.Monntain  rcj^ion  and  tlio  inoinitains  (if  the  I'acilic.  coast,  wlicic  it  is  known  to 
hrcc(i  from  ("alifornia  to  Alaska.  It  is  not  nncomnion  in  the  Iiiiilicr  monntain 
rc^i'ions  of  Arizona,  and  has  Itccn  met  with  in  similar  localities  in  Lower  Cali- 
fornia. 

It  HceniH  to  Im(  a  re<>nlar  smnmer  visitor  thronjiliont  tlu*  sontliern  portions 
of  the  Dominion  of  (!anaila,  while  in  tho  interior  of  IJritish  North  America  it 
hree(ls  at  least  as  far  north  as  latitnde  (I'i^;    Mr.   \{.   Kennicott  takiny  its  nest 


an 


(1  ejftfs  near  l''ort  Uesolntion,  on  the  shores  of  the  (Jreat  tSlave  Lak 


Ivc,  on  .Mnx 


l(i,  1H(U),  and  Mr.  J.  Lockhart,  of  the  llnd.son  Hav  ('omi)anv,  found  it  lireed 


ies(f  tt'entlemen 


th 


pan 
in<(  in  the  same  locality  in  dime,  ISi;;}.     The  e<i';4s  taken  l)y  tl 
ar(i  in  the  II.  S.  National  Museum  collection.     Mr.  li.  H.  l{oss  noticed  it  nlso  at 
t'ort,  Simpson  on  tluf  Mackenzie  Hiver,  in  about  latitndtf  (!.'$^. 

In  tlu«  northern  portion.s  of  their  rnn<?e  they  are  only  smmner  residents,  u 
few  winterin;>'  as  far  north  as  latitude  40°,  the  majority  jiassin^i'  farther  south. 
Tilt'  southward  migration  takes  place  in  tin?  latter  part  of  Septeud)er  and  the 
heifinninfT  of  Octolier.      Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher  tells  me  of  havinf>'  seen  .several  liun 
(lre(|  of  these  birds  at  this  time  in  on(^  day's  tramp,  the  majority  of  them  Hjinjf 

r  homes  alii>ut  the  latter  part  of  March  or 


111;.-! 


I  lev  return 


to  tl 


leir  summ( 


the  iir.st  days  in  April. 


couray 

ease. 


TIk!    Sharp-shimu'd    Hawk,   thoufih  small    in    size,    is    fidl    of   dash    and 
(',  freiiuently  attackini>'   liirds  as   large  as   itself  and  killing  them  with 


Like   its  larj-er  relatives,  the-  vicious  (!ooiier's   Hawk  and  (ioshawk,   it 


lias  very  destructive  instincts. 


It  1 


ives  mos 


tlv  on  small  birds,  but  <iccasionallv 


on  sonu^  fully  as  large  as  itself — jinaaig  these,  Pigeons,  Mob  Whites,  Moiini- 
iiig  Doves,  Purple  (irackles.  and  b'oliins  may  be  mentioned.  Small  rodents 
appear  to  furnish  but  a  very  limitetl  jtortion  of  its  food,  and  insects  are  like- 
wise rarely  eaten. 


Although   the  wii 


)f  the    Sharp-shinned    Hawk    are  rather   short,   its 


flight  when  in  ])iirsuit  of  its  jirey  is  unerring  and  exceedingly  swift.  No 
matter  which  way  the  sehjcted  victim  may  turn  and  doui)le,  his  untiring 
ptn'suer  is  ecpially  prompt,  and  only  rarely  will  it  miss  capturing  its  (piarry. 
Once  struck,  death  tbrtunately  follows  tpiickly,  as  it  fairly  translixes  its 
victim's  vitals  with  its  long  and  sharp  talons. 

It  is  said  to  be  rather  fond  of  young  pullets,  and  does  not  hesitate  to 
hel|)  its(df  to  tliest^  as  long  as  one  is  left.  It  is  fnie  of  the  few  sjjecies 
that  must  be  considered  as  more  harmful  than  benehcial,  loukecl  at  from 
an  economic  ])oint  of  view. 

Mr.  William  L.  Ualph  writes  me  that  "Sharp-shinned  Hawks  are  (piite 
coinmoi'  in  the  northern  i)art  of  Oneida  ('ounty.  New  York,  and  do  not  si-em 
to  (lecreast*  in  numbers  so  fast  as  other  Hawks;  which  is  partly  due  to  their 
retiring  habits,  and  again  to  their  (piick  movements,  which  make  it  diliiciilt 
to  shoot  thein.     TlicN'  do   not,   like  most  other   Hawks,  circle   through   the  air 


't1 


'i-  I,' 


■if"" 


II 


■^  i: 


I8H 


lilKIO  IIISTOUIICS  OK  NORTH  AMEltlCAN  mUDS. 


i: 
Hi 


ill  soai'cli  of  tuiiil,  Ititt  skulk  arniiiil  in  tliiik  trrcs  jiinl  ImihIics  ninl  |)oiiii*-(* 
on  tlu'ir  prey  wlicii  Iciint  cxpcctcil.  When  tliry  sci/.c  ii  liini  or  iiniiniiiiil,  no 
iMiittcr  liow  sniiill  it  may  Im',  tlicy  always  H>  af  once  to  tlu'  j,'Toini(l  with  it. 
WIh'U  tlifv  wish  to  cairy  their  prey  to  any  ilistaiice,  tliey  do  it  liy  short 
tli;ilits  just  aliove  the  nroiind.  They  liave  a  peeiiliar  lialiit  of  stretchinj;'  out 
tiieii'  le^s  as  fai'  as  tlu-y  ean,  as  soon  as  tliey  seize  tla-ii"  quarry,  as  if  tliey 
were  afraid  of  what  they  liad  eaii;;ht.  'Their  food,  aeeordiii};'  to  my  oi)serva- 
tion,  consists  principally  ot'  mice  and  other  small  niannnals,  as  well  as  of 
snadi  liirds,  lait  in  this  re;;ion  they  kill   very  few  of  the  latter. 

"The  only  call  note  I  have  ever  heard  the  ShariJ-sliinned  Hawk  utter 
Hounds  very  nnich  like  the  "eac,  eae,  eai'"  of  the  j-'lieker,  and  is  exactly  like 
that  of  the  Cooper's  Hawk,  exceptin^i'  pci'haps,  that  it  sounds  a  little  shriller 
and  not  (piite  so  haul.  These  Itirds  res(a't  to  the  woods,  thick  with  ever- 
green trees,  durinj;'  the  hrecdinji'  season,  liut  at  other  times  they  are  often 
seen  in  the  open,  especially  in  swampy  |)laces,  vvhei'c  they  prey  (ai  mice 
and  moles,  usually  c(anmon  in  siu'h  situatiiais.  I  have  often  seen  them  in 
Florida  durinji'  the  winter,  iait  have  la'xei-  found  them  hreedinji'  there. 
Southern  people  call  this  Hawk  the  'The  Little  Mine  harter,'  aiat  Coopei-'s 
Hawk  the  '\V\<-:   Mine   Darter.' 

"The  nests  of  the  Sharp-shinned  Tlawk  are  usually  very  1ar;;('  for  the  size 
of  the  hiril,  .so  nuich  .so  that  it  is  impossihle  hy  hxtkin^'  from  the  ^i'ronud  to  tell 
whether  (aie  is  occupied  or  not.  'They  measure  sonu'tinu's  from  2r>  to  ,'50  inches 
in  diana'ter  and  from  I  to  I!  inches  in  depth  lai  the  outside,  and  from  10  to  12 
inches  in  diametei"  i)y  fr(an  'J  to  4  inches  on  the  inside,  'i'hey  are  placed 
in  everfrreen  trees,  usually  a;j;aiust  the  trunk,  on  hranches  jiro\>  iuji'  out  from  it. 
I  have  ne\t'i'  found  owe  in  any  other  situation.  The  nest  is  <icuerally  made  of 
lar<»'e  twi^i's  and  lined  with  small  ones,  i)ut  sonu'tinu's  a  i\'\v  pieces  of  hendock 
hark,  or  a  few  stri|)s  of  the  inner  hark,  oi'  a  little  of  hotli,  arc  added  to  the  linin;;'. 
They  are  situat<'il  frcan  "i")  to  .'')()  feet  aimve  the  ;iround.  usually  alxait  4(>  feet. 
The  nests  are  evidently  niadi'  l)y  the  liirds  thenisehcs,  as  J  know  of  no  other 
species  that   iaiilds  exactly  like  them. 

"  In  this  locality  Sharp-shinneil  Ifawks  commeia-e  lav  in^'  aliout  the  middle 
of  May,  and  fresh  e^'^s  can  he  found  from  that  time  mitil  the  1st  of  .Fune.  The 
male  naiy  assist  in  incuhation,  hut  I  think  not.  for  I  have  foiuid  a  nuudier  of 
their  nests  and  soua-  of  them  I  visited  several  times,  hut  every  tiaa-  that  I  coidd 
make  sure  of  the  sex  of  the  iiird  it  proved  to  he  the  female.  I  have,  howevei', 
seiMi  the  male  hrinu'  food  to  its  mate  while  she  was  inculiatint;'. 

"  I  have  nevei"  kiuiwu  of  hut  one  instaiwe  here  in  the  Xia'th  of  a  nest 
iM-hamiui;-  to  liirds  of  la'ev  lieinij'  ilefeuded  liv  its  owners,  and  this  was  a  nest 
owned  hv  a  pair  ot'  tliis  spe<'ies.  that  was  found  durin;;'  the  |iresent  season,  ISKO. 
Tsnally,  when  a  nest  of  the.se  liinls  is  disturhe(|,  the  female  will  Hy  around 
amonji'  the  trees  some  distance  away  and  utter  her  Flicker-like  cries,  while  the 
nude  will  keep  out  of  sijiht  altogether.  Tliis  nest  was  "foiuid  lai  .Mav  It,  and 
even  then  the  fenude  was  cpiitc;  anyry  and   struck  at  the  climlier  sevei-al  times, 


TIIK  ailAltl'-SIIINNHI)  IL  VK. 


18!) 


ahlioiin'li  mIic  liinl  liiiil  Imt  tlirco  rnni*.      )ii  Miiy  1<!,  Mr.  Kylicrt  Hn^'y'  mid  I  wfiif, 
to  nilli'ct  tin*  c^K'H,  mill  (III  our  iinivjil  roiiiul  tint  t'ciiiiili'  Hitfiii;>'  iiihI  tlio  iiialit  juHt 


IVlll 


til   til 


HI  iicHt  with  <i  iiiiili'  ill  liis  clinvs.      Aj<  \vi'   rraclii'd   tlif  fimt.  <if  tli 


li'i'c  till-  I'ciiiiiKi  llcw  til  ii  liiiili  iii'iir  liy  miil  the  iii.ili^  ilisti|i|ii'iii'('i|  tVinii  \ic\v,mii| 
till  tlic  cliiiiliiT  ri'iiflicil  till'  iH'st  till'  tiiilv  ilciiiiiiistnitiiiii  iiiadi-  l»\-  citlicr  was 


tllll  CI 


V  iitti'ii'd  liv  till'  t'i'iiia 


I.'.     N. 


cMTtlicli's-*  slic  WHS  licrcf  I'liiuij'li  tlicii, 


^trik- 


iiifi'  at  liiin  cvi'i'V  li'W  srniiids  wliili?  lie  was  in  tlir  trn-,  a  pcriud  ol'  iilKiiit  a 
ijiiarti-r  nt'  an  Imiir,  cxi't'iit  in  a  sini^lc  instance,  wlicii  slu-  hurt  licrHcU'  liy  fly- 
ing; a>iain.st  a  limli,  which  kept  her  iiuict  fur  two  nr  throe  ininuti's.  Diirinj;' 
the  last  halt'  nf  tliu  li;;lit    the  male   took   part    and    struck   at    the  cliniher 


is  is  the  imlv  time 


na\e  e\ci' 


:nowii  a  niali 


deteriiimi'dly  as  his  mate, 
(if  this  species  |ii  make  any  kind  ut'  deiiiiiiistratinn  while  its  nest  wim  lieiiiff 
nililied.  'i'lie  set  lit'  eji'i^s  iielmijiiii;^'  to  this  pa'r  ut'  Sharp-shinned  Hawks  is 
the  earliest  I  have  ever  t'liiind.  'Hie  nest  was  peculiar,  much  deeper  than 
usual,  ni('asurini>'  alioiit  7  inches  in  depth  mi  the  inside,  while  tim  inajiirity  are 
jieneralK'  ipiite  shalhiw  in  c(iiiiparisitn  with  the  diameter.  This  little  lla\>k  is 
nut  imciiminiiii  in  pnrtiniis  ut'  St.  .lulins  and  I'litnam  Cuunties,  KInrida,  diirin^r 
tlie  winter,  and  1  think  that  a  verv  tew  remain  to  lireed.      'I'he  native  hunters 


ly  that  they  stay  duriiif^  the  summer, 


ami 


ha\e  Slinkell   Wltll  sollli 


th 


that 


til  liavo  f'liiind  their  nests,  'i'he  latest  date  on  which  I  saw  any  of  thi'si;  liirds 
diiriii},''  the  season  of  l.Sl)l  was  .March  2(!.  Like  tiie  .Marsh  Hawk,  they  will 
sometimes  fly  just  in  front  of  a  forest  or  prairie  tire  to  catch  the  small  mam- 
mals that  arc^  driven  out  liy  the  heat." 

Mr.  J.  II.  Saj;'e  found  a  nest  of  this  species  containing'  four  fresh  e<i'o's  in  a 


rtland, 


small  wluti^  piiie  tree,  in  a  ;^ro\-e  ot  tliese  trees  and  hemlocks,  near  I  or 
(V)iuiocti('ut,  May  30,  IS.SI).  This  nest  was  composed  entirely  of  pine  and  hem- 
lock Hticks  and  twiji's;  it  was  .saddled  on  the  liase  of  a  limli  and  liuilt  partly 
around  the  trunk  of  the  tree.     The  nest  was  H  inches  thick,  .'iO  inches  in  loiim'st 


aiH 


I  'Mi  inches  in  shortest  diameter;  the  deiiri'ssioii  for  the  ('Hi's 


was  very  sliylit; 


it  was  4H  feet  from  the  ground.     The  female  was  on  the  nest  and  was  shot   as 


siio  tiew  troin  It;   she  was  ni  the  youn;^'  plum 


th 


ih 


aj-'e 


le  male  was  tl\ini>' 


II  > 


lllOUt, 


contmuall\'    utterni'j 


th 


I' 


'ciiliar  crv  ot    this  species. 


SI 


larii-siiimieil  is 


one  of  the  most  ahuiidaut  Hawks  in  the  vicinity  uf  i'ortland,  and  is  seen  occa- 
sionally in  tlu^  winter. 

Mr.  Lvnds  .Fones,  of  (Jrinnell,  Ii 


•f  tl 


wa,  tound  e<:';,''s  of  tins  species  on  May  2 


Ml 


am 


I   writes   me   "tliat    in   this  locality  thev   lirced 


id 


occasiona'ly    in   lioiiows  in 


Lmoncan 


lind 


ens 


ami  111  siicli  cases 


the  nest  is  made  of  the  iimcr  liark  of  th 


tree  and  of  tlii^  wild  jirapeviiie,  with  a  lining;'  of  i^rass  and  feather.- 


Ill 


tree 


(an  oji 


^t) 


leii  nest)  sticks  are  iisei 


It 


H'eiierallv  cliooses 


limld 


liiiilt 


leii 
ess  trees, 


oiiost  freipiently  oaks,  to  nest  in,  from  l.'i  to  (10  feet  up.  I  lielieve  the  female 
alone  inculiate.s,  from  the  fact  that  at  this  tiiiu'  tlu^  male  only  is  seen  searching- 
for  food." 


In  the  vicinity  of  St.  .Johns,  New   Brunswipk,  M.-.  .1.  W.  Hank 


s  says 


species  nests  usually  in  tlu^  latter  part  of  May   and  the  1 


leii'inninii'  o 


i'  J 


uuc; 


;,!!> 


mh'-  'J 

iiilHi 

190 


LIFE  IIISTOUIKS  OF  NORTH  AMEUIOAN  HIHDS. 


ij 


'*  ".,1 


.M.    ' 


Nit 


the  Hosts  l)('iii<j^  placed  ajjainst  tlic  trunks  of  si)i'iict'  and  fir  trees,  at  a  height 
of  about  30  feet.  Ho  found  two  fresh  eggs  on  one  occasion,  May  5,  1H80;  and 
on  May  H  tlie  nest  contained  four  eggs,  hut  this  is  unusually  early  for  this 
locality.     Their  call  ufite  is  a  clear  "chee-uj),  chee-ui)." 

In  the  West,  in  Oregon,  Washington,  and  Idaho,  these  birds  are  not  very 
common,  and  1  found  oidy  two  nests.  One  on  Craig's  Mountain,  near  Fort 
I./aj)wai,  Idaho,  May  24,  1H70,  was  in  a  spruce  grove,  in  a  tree  of  this  species, 
close  to  the  main  stem,  and  al)out  20  feet  from  tho  ground;  it  contained 
foiu'  nearly  fresh  eggs.  Tin*  nest  was  composed  of  small  twigs  t)f  the  service- 
berry  bush,  rather  shallow,  and  contained  no  lining  of  any  kind. 

Another  nest  of  this  species  was  taken  l)y  me  near  Fort  Klamath,  Oregon, 
May  IS,  IH'^'J,  containing  five  handsome  fresh  eggs.  This  was  composed 
"utirely  of  fine  willow  and  sage  bush  twigs,  none  thicker  than  a  lead  ])encil, 
and  evidently  selected  with  care  as  to  size.  Tlu^  nest  was  about  20  inches  in 
diameter  outside  by  7  inclu's  dee]»,  and  placed  in  the  top  of  a  small  Ijushy 
l)lack  pine,  close  to  the  main  trunk  about  2")  feet  from  the  ground.  In  both 
instances  the  birds  themselves  betrayed  the  location  of  the  nests  by  their 
.solicitous  actions.  The  females  were  in  each  case  noisy  and  demonstrative, 
and  the  owner  of  the  last  nest  swooped  twice  pretty  close  to  me,  scream- 
ing fiercely  at  the  same  time.  This  nest  was  shallow  and  contained  no  lining-, 
l)ut  was  very  compactly  and  strongly  built,  and  well  hidden  by  the  lower 
branches. 

According  to  Mr.  ('.  F.  Morrison  this  species  lu'eeds  in  abandoned 
Magpies'  nests  along  the  La  I'lata  River  in  Colorado;  and  three  eggs  taken 
by  him  near  Fort  Lewis,  Colorado,  on  June  22,  ISSfi,  now  in  the  U.  IS. 
National  Museum  collection,  were  said  to  have  been  deposited  in  a  dilapi- 
dated nest  of  a  Mag[)ie,  the  arched  mof  of  wliicli  hail  fallen  upon  the  main 
nest,  forming  a  hollow,  which  was  lined  with  a  few  feathers  upon  some  dead 
leaves  which  had  i)artially  fille<l  it  the  fall  l)efore.' 

Occasionally  the  Sliar[)-shinned  Ilawk  is  .said  tf>  nest  in  <difl's,  and  while 
this  may  j)ossiI)ly  be  of  mor(!  frecjuent  occurrence  in  the  Arctic  I'egions,  where 
the  haltits  of  our  l)irds  r.re  not  as  well  known  as  one  could  wish,  such  nesting 
site.s,  as  well  as  those  in  hollow  trees,  nmst,  in  the  United  States  at  least,  l)e 
considered  as  decidedly  rare  and  exceptional.  The  Sharp-shinned  Hawk  nests 
in  evergreens  from  choice,  and  if  thesn  be  absent,  it  may  n'sort  to  a  l)irch,  an 
oak,  a  ma])le,  chestnut,  or  hickory  tree;  if  any  conifers  are  found  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  their  breeiling  grounds  it  invarial)ly  nests  in  these.  It  is  a.  late  l)reeder, 
in  fact  one  of  the  tanliest  of  oin'  Kai)tores.  As  a  rule  the  eggs  are  seldom  laid 
earlier  than  the  first  week  in  May,  usually  in  the  last  half  of  this  month,  and 
not  infrecpu'ntly  in  June.  A  set  of  four  was  taken  as  late  as  May  20,  near 
Washington,  D.  C. 

The  nests  of  this  species  are  usually  fairly  well  constructed,  better  than 
those  of  the  majority  of  our  Haptores,  and  it  generally  builds  its  own  nest, 
seldom  using  those  which  have  been  abandoned  by  other  species. 

•  OruitliologiBt  and  Oulu|;i8t,     ol.  Xll,  18tj7,  No.  Si,  p.  27 . 


1^;    ■■■ 


I , 


THE  SnAKr-HIIINJilOii  iljVWK. 


191 


The  usual  nninl)or  of  I'fi'j^s  Inid  by  tin*  Sliiirp-sliiimcd  Ilaw!'  is  four  or  five; 
liu'for  sots  are  rare.  Mr.  (!.  L.  liawsou,  of  Xorwicli,  ( 'oiineeticut,  took  a  set  of 
seven  ou  June  I,  1H81.  Aside  from  tiie  uiuisiially  larjfu  number  of  c^'^^,  the 
situation  of  tlie  nest  from  wliicli  they  were  taken  was  also  rather  remarkable, 
bein;i'  placed  in  a  low  pine,  only  10  feet  from  the  <fround. 

The  eggs  are  laid  at  intervals  of  one  and  two  days,  and  incnl)ation  does 
not  conmienco  till  the  set  is  eomplete;  the  female  guarding  iier  nest  constantly, 
liowever.  lucubation  lasts  probaldy  about  three  weeks,  and  tli(i  male  does  not 
appear  to  assist  in  this  duty,  but  supplies  the  food  for  his  mate  during  the  time. 
The  young,  when  iirst  hatclied,  are  covered  \titli  white  down  and  grow  rapidly. 
But  one  brood  is  raised  in  a  season. 

The  shape  of  these  eggs  is  nearly  a  perfect  oval;  an  occasional  specimen 
may  be  called  short  ovate.  The  ground  color  is  usually  a  jjale  l)hiish  or 
greenish  white,  which  fades  with  age  into  a  dull  gray  white.  In  a  k\\  speci- 
mens the  ground  color  is  almost  completely  hidden  by  confluent  markings 
of  cinnamon-rufous. 

The  eggs  are  mostly  heavily  l)lotched,  spotted,  and  marbled  with  various 
shades  of  brown,  the  darker  of  these  tints  predominating;  the.se  are  again 
mixed  with  ditl'erent  shades  of  drab,  fawn  color,  lavender,  and  clay  color. 
The  different  patterns  of  markings  are  endless  in  variety,  in  some  specimens 
they  are  heaviest  on  the  larger,  in  others  the  smaller  end;  in  a  few  they  are 
disposed  in  the  shape  of  a  wreath  in  the  center,  leaving  both  ends  of  the 
egg  nearly  unspotted.  In  others,  again,  they  are  pretty  evenly  distributed 
over  the  entire  eti;*i;,  and  a  few  an;  almost  unspotteil.  Finally,  in  some  speci- 
mens, the  markings  run  into  each  other,  giving  the  egg  a  clouded  ap[)earance. 

The  average  size  of  fifty  sj)ecimens  in  the  U.  8.  National  A[useum  col- 
lection is  37  by  30.")  millimetres.  The  largest  v^ii  measures  3!)  by  32,  the 
smallest  35  by  2!)  millin\etres. 

Of  the  type  specimens.  No.  20()7r)  (PI.  5,  Fig.  11),  .selected  from  a  set  of 
three  eggs,  was  taken  in  Massachnsetts,  May  2!t,  ISTf);  No.  20(!77  (I'l.  f).  Fig. 
12),  from  a  set  of  four,  taken  .Fmu^  1,  1S7S,  near  Kastford,  Connecticut;  No. 
20(i7!)  (PI.  i"),  Fig.  13),  from  a  set  of  five,  taken  at  Fort  Klamath,  Oregon,  May 
IS,  1883;  No.  20G80  (PI.  .'),  Fig.  14),  taken  May,  ISTIt,  at  Blue  Ridge,  Pennsyl- 
vania; all  from  the  IVndirc  collection.  No.  21042  (PI.  5,  Fig.  la),  from  an 
incomplete  set  of  two,  taken  near  Kdinburg,  Texas,  in  187S,  from  the  Merrill 
(•(illection.  No.  22812  (PI.  "t.  Fig.  l(i),  from  a  .set  of  four,  taken  near  Red- 
ding, California,  by  Mr.  1..  W.  (Jreen,  May,  ISSd;  jiiid  No.  23.")(i6  (PI.  .">, 
Fig.  17),  from  a  set  of  three  taken  by  Mr.  Charles  F.  Morrison,  near  Fort 
Lewis,  Colorado,  June  22,  188(j. 


■4^'i.'  I  ■ 


it" 


pp 


*l 


:■  Vi 


1^: 


■  r 


Is  :i 


1^ 

I 


192  Lll'E  UISTOUIEH  OK  NOKTU  AMKHIOAN  HIUDS. 

66.     Accipiter  cooperi  (H(inapaute). 

tooi'kk's  hawk. 

Fa\rn  (001)1  ri  Ronapakte,  American  OrnitiioloKy.  ii.  1S2S,  I,  PI.  x.  Fig.  1. 
AavipHi  f  riioiu  vi  (tuw .  List  of  Hinls  in  Bi'ilisli  Museum,  Accipidvs,  IS44,  38. 

(I?  IT).  1(1.  (;  .j:!!!.  r  4;ii.  c  mr..  U  :{;i:i.) 

GEOORAPHirAL  KAN«E ;  Wlu)k'  of  temperate  North  America,  including  the  greater 
part  of  Mexico. 

Witli  the  exception  of  Alaska,  the  InxHfdiiifj  ran<re  of  the  CooperV  Hawk 
IS  coextensive  with  thc^  limits  of  the  I'niteil  States.  It  is  known  to  breed 
from  Maine  to  Florida,  from  Lonisiana  and  Texas  thronjihont  the  inte- 
rior, and  on  the  Pacific  coast  from  northern  Lower  California  (Cape  Col- 
nett,  latitude  iU"),  to  our  northern  border.  It  is  also  met  with  alonff  the 
southern  (jortions  of  the  Dominion  of  ("anatla,  from  Xewfoiuulland  and 
New  Brunswick  westward  to  i\[anitol)a,  where  it  is  reported  as  tolerably 
connuoii  in  the  vicinity  of  Winnipeg,  n|)  t.)  latitude  oO",  and  stra^'j^lers 
probal)ly  reach  points  still  farther  north,  as  Dr.  V.  .^i.  ih'ewer  re])orted  it  from 
the  Saskatchewan.  It  also  occurs  in  British  (.'olundda,  both  on  the  coast 
and  in  the  interior,  and  undoubtedly  breeds  there  as  well.  In  the  more  north- 
ern portions  of  its  ran<j'e  it  is  only  a  sunnner  resident,  winterin<;  from  about 
latitude  1511^,  southward,  and  i)assinfjr  into  .Mexico.  It  breeds  most  connnonly 
in  the  ^liddle  ami  Northern  States,  becomiuf;-  rarer  as  the  extreme  limits  of 
its  northern  and  soutiu-rn  ranji'e  are  reached. 

Cooper's  IlawU  nnist  lie  considered  as  one  of  the  few  really  injurious 
Ra])tores  found  witiiin  our  limits,  an<l  as  it  is  fairly  common  at  all  seasons 
throuji'hout  the  ji'reater  part  of  the  I'nited  States,  it  does,  in  the  a<j;fifre;jfate, 
far  more  harm  than  all  other  Hawks.  It  is  well  known  to  be  the  most 
audacious  rol)i)er  tiie  fa'-nu'r  has  to  contend  with  in  the  protection  of  his 
poultry,  and  is  tiie  eipial  in  every  way,  both  in  spirit  and  dash,  as  well  as 
in  bloodthirstiness,  of  its  larger  relative,  the  (Joshawk,  lacking-,  however,  the 
strenji'th  of  tiie  latter,  owinji'  t"  i''^  nuich  smaller  size.  It  is  by  far  the  worst 
enemy  of  all  the  smaller  name  birds,  living'  to  a  <;reat  extent  on  them  as  well 
as  on  small  birds  jicnerally. 

It  does  not  ajipear  to  Ik*  especially  fond  of  the  smaller  rodents;  these, 
as  w(dl  as  reptiles,  b;itrachians,  and  insects  seem  to  enter  only  to  a  limited 
extent  into  its  daily  liill  of  fare,  and  unfortunately  it  is  only  too  often  the 
case  that  many  of  our  harndess  and  really  beiieticial  Hawks  have  to  suffer 
for  the  depicdations  connnitted  by  theses  darin<.f  thieves. 

The  HiirJU  of  ('oo|)er's  Hawk  is  both  easy  and  ji'raceful,  and  ordinarily 
not  es|)ecially  swift.  He  may  most  often  be  seen  .'kinnuinif  alonjf  close  to 
the  f^round.  in  rather  a  doultopy  nuinner,  usually  skirtini^-  the  imI^^cs  of  open 
woods  or  clearines;  Imt  once  in  sii^'lit  and  in  active  pursuit  of  its  selected 
prey  it  darts  in   and   out    throu;j;li    the   densest    thickets  with  amazing  swift- 


COOPER'S  HAWK. 


193 


11088,  where  it  Wduld  seem  iinposHiblti  ftir  it  to  follow  successfully;  ospecially 
is  this  the  case  wlicn  clmsing  some  small  J)inl  that  {jjeiicrally  tries  to  take 
ri'fuf,^'  in  such  places.  It  manages,  however,  with  the  assistance  of  its  long 
tail,  which  helps  it  very  materially,  to  turn  suddenly  aiul  double  with  re- 
iiiarkabk'  ease,  even  in  dense  undergrowth,  arresting  its  flight  instantly,  and 
darting  off,  perhaps,  at  a  right  angle  the  next  second  to  capture  its  selected 
victim. 

Tiic  favorite  haunts  of  Cooper's  Hawk  are  moderately  timljcred  districts, 
iuterspcrsed  with  cultivated  fields  and  meadows,  Ijut  it  is  also  found  in  the 
more  extensive  and  heavily  wooded  mountiiin  regions,  and  in  the  West  on 
tlie  ojjcn  and  almost  treeless  prairies.  It  is  more  or  less  migratory  through- 
out its  range,  excepting  in  the  extreme  southern  parts,  where  it  is  perhajjs 
a  constant  resident.  Birds  nesting  in  the  nortiiern  half  of  the  United  .States 
I  believe  migrate  regularly,  and  an*  replaced  l)y  otiiers  coming  from  jioints 
still  farther  north,  which  would  naturally  lead  to  the  belief  that  they  were 
cnnstaut  residents  when  this  is  not  the  case. 

In  the  Mi<ldle  States  they  usnjdly  return  from  their  winter  haunts  about 
.March  15,  and  l)y  tiie  end  of  the  month  they  are  located  again  on  their  l)rec(l- 
iiig  grounds,  which  are  generally  resorted  to  from  3-ear  to  year  by  the  same 
birds,  if  not  |)ersistently  disturbed. 

As  a  rule  I  believe  a  new  nesting  site  is  selected  each  season  at  no 
great  distance  from  that  of  the  previous  year,  l)ut  occasionally  the  old  one 
is  resorted  to  for  successive  seasons.  In  tiie  choice  of  these,  old  ('rows' 
iicsts  when  available  are  given  the  preference,  but  larger  Hawks'  nests,  as 
well  as  those  of  squirrels,  are  frequently  used.  When  they  build  nests  of 
tlicir  own  they  are  usually  placed  between  the  di';erging  limbs  in  a  crotch 
of  the  tree  or  saddled  on  some  smaller  limb  close  to  the  trunk,  'i^his  last 
is  most  often  the  case  when  they  nest  in  thick  and  bushy  conifers.  Xo 
|inference  seems  to  be  given  to  any  particular  kind  of  tree,  and  their  nests 
aic  generally  found  at  no  very  great  height  from  the  ground,  ranging  from 
20  to  50  feet  up,  rarely  lower  or  hig!;er. 

Their  nests  vary  con.siderably  in  bulk,  according  to  the  locations  in 
wliicli  they  are  placeil,  and  are  conq)osed  of  sticks  line(l  witli  finer  twigs, 
and  scattered  among  these  are  generally  found  small  scales  and  flakes  of  tlie 
(inter  bark  of  different  species  of  trees,  those  of  the  yellow  pine  being  i)re- 
t'crred  when  ol)tainal)le.  Nests  built  l)y  the  birds  themselves  comj)are  favor- 
altly  with  those  of  other  Haptores. 

On  tlie  plains,  where,  from  scarcity  of  suitable  timber  elsewhere,  they 
are  confined  to  the  shrubbery  of  the  creek  bottoms,  consisting  mainly  of 
coltonwoiids  ami  willows,  they  .sometimes  nest  as  low  as  10  fet't  from  the 
grnimd,  and  1  have  here  found  some  of  their  nests  fairly  well  lined  with  tiie 
dry  inner  bark  of  tlu^  cottonwood  and  with  weed  st.  Iks;  wliile  in  the  vicinity 
of  (Jrand  Forks.  North  Dakota,  according  to  information  furnished  me  liy 
Mr.  (ir.  (t.  Cantwell,  they  are  .said  to  nest  occasionally  directly  on  the  grouml. 


:?f| 


20957— Bull.  1- 


13. 


.<t      '• 


liiHi 


ilMI 


If 


■  y 

■  I 

ii 

'is 


194  LIFE  mSTOKIES  OF  NORTH  AMKRIOAN  UIUDS. 

Kven  ill  the  iiuire  soutlicrii  parts  of  their  riiii^ic  in(iiti<'iitinii  rarely  liejiiiis 
before  Ajtril  lA.  In  tlie  soiitlicrii  New  Kiijilaiid  States,  as  well  as  in  New 
York,    IVnnsylvania,  Indiana,  Micliifjfaii,  Minnesota,  Nebraska,  Cooper's    Hawk 


I'casionalh'  liejiins   hniii"'  alioiit  Mav    1,   lint  nsiialh'  no 


t   l.ef 


( >re 


tl 


w  second 


week  of    tliis  moiitli  and   fre(|iieiitly    later.      Kveii    in    Lower    California   and 


southern  Arizona   it  rare 


Iv   h 


ivs   as  earlv  as 


\pril    2(t. 


ind   ill    the  mountain 


regions  of  Colorado  and  Montana  tlie  time  is  protracted  until  the  he^iinniug 
of  .June. 

Mr.  Denis  Gale,  of  (Jold  Mill.  I?oulder  County,  Colorado,  writes  me; 
"(111  Juno  25  I  found  a  nest  of  a  Cooper's  Hawk  contaiiiiug  four  unmarked 
Itluish  white  ej^gs,  restinji'  upon  some  thin  flakes  or  scales  of  spruce  l)ark, 
which  alone  constituted  the  liiiiiij;'  of  the  nest,  the  availaltle  contri\ance  for 
which  was  a  lar<ife  Iniuch  of  matted  .scrul),  an  excresceiici'  upon  a  horizontal 
limb,  about  1(S  inches  from  the  trunk  and  about  20  feet  from  the  ground. 
This  bunch  consisted  of  a  wonderful  growth  of  very  deiisidy  interlaced  twigs, 
tluf  surface  of  which  (>tVere(l  a  commodious  nesting  site,  having  not  only  an 
ample  flat  area,  liut  a  sutticient  depression  in  its  ctMiter  to  meet  every  rccpiini- 
nuMit  for  a  nest.  On  .Inly  2  these  tour  eggs  were  represeiiteij  by  four  liright 
liv(dv  Ilawklets,  deiiselv  covered  with  white  down.  Neither  food  nor  feathers 
of  any  kind  were  found  in  or  about  the  nest.  Tiui  character  of  this  species 
is  liohl  and  brave,  especially  so  in  defense  of  its  young.  It  has  a  rapitl  and 
graceful  flight.  Tlui  skill  with  wliich  it  pursues  its  devious  path  along  a 
creek  l)ottoni,  noiselessly  following  the  intricate  opening  close  to  the  ground 
througii  the  trees  and  undergrowth  is  remarkalile. 

"From  the  dati^  at  which  they  have  their  young  to  provide  for,  until  late  in 
the  sea.sou,  thi.s  seems  to  \n-  tlieir  favorite  mode  of  iinnting,  l»ut  especially  is  it 


so  after  the  hen   Grouse,  accompanied   liy  her  y 


Ollll 


b 


(rood,  has  sought  such 


localities  for  food  and  water,  and  w 


( >n  the  I'acitic  coast,  in  ( )r 


•euoii, 


icre  tliey  loiter  tiirougiiont  tiie  summer. 
Washington,  and  Idaho,  I  foi 


IIKl 


C 


Hawk  rather  rare,  while  in  southwestern  Montana  it  is  mori'  almndant  tiian  aiiN' 


>f  tile  other  U 


ipt 


xautores. 


t  is  also  common  in 


nzoiia 


'Phrougliout  the  greater  part  of  the  year  Cooper's  Hawk  is  usually  a 
silent  l)ird  and  rarely  utters  any  notes,  lait  during  tlie  mating  .season  it 
freijiieiitly  emits  a  cackling  or  chattering  sin't  of  noise,  also  a  note  something 
like  "tick,  tick"  tmpiently  repeated.  Wlien  disturbed  on  the  nest,  it  usually 
screams  shrilly  and  violently,  but  generally  tlies  otV  and    watches  proceed 


from  a.  safe  (list; 


ince. 


Oth 


lers,  liowcver. 


low 


a  "(lod  deal  ot'  ( 


111"'.- 


oiirau'c  at  times, 


;t  season,  men 


Imti 


on  last 


and  boldly  dash  at  the  intruder. 

A.s  far  art  known  only  a  single  brood  is  rai.sed  in 
iiig  aliout  twenty-four  days,  the  male  assi.sting  to  a  sliglit  extent  only  in  these 
(hities,  but  keeping  its  mate  supplied  witii  food.  The  number  of  eggs  laid 
varies  from  two  to  six.  In  the  more  soutiiern  parts  of  its  range  it  usually 
lays  three  or  four,  and  sometimes  but  two  eggs,  while  along  our  northern 
Ixirder  and  the  southern   N;-w  Kngland  States,  they  range  from  four  to  six  iu 


number,  sets  of  five  being  rather  common, 


COOl'EK'S  HAWK. 


195 


Cooper's  Hawks  arc  pcrsistout  layers  Tlic  loss  of  tlicir  first  sot  (loos  not 
at  all  iliscoura^o  tliom;  in  duo  tinio  tlioy  will  have  a  soooud,  mikI  if  this  is  taken, 
eviMi  a  third  one,  each  one  usnally  smaller  in  nnnil)er  than  the  first  clutch. 
Some  hirds  show  groat  attachment  to  the  original  nesting  site,  and  will  continue 
laving  in  the  same  nest,  even  after  being  ropeateiUy  rohbed;  others  abandon 
the  ritled  nest  <^acli  time  and  seh^ct  a  new  site,  geiieridly  in  the  siime  woods, 
iiowus-er.  .Mr.  C  tF.  Pennock  records  taking  a  set  of  four  eggs  from  the  nest 
of  a  Cooper's  Hawk  on  xVpril  24,  1H74;  .May  5  two  more  eggs  were  taken 
from  the  same  nest,  and  on  -May  11  two  others.  Later  ni  the  season  (about 
August  1),  on  visiting  the  same  locality,  two  young  Hawks  of  this  species  weri' 
seen,  l)Ut  it  is  not  known  if  they  were  reared  in  the  old  nest.' 

Tho  eggs  of  Cooper's  Hawk  are  deposited  at  intervals  of  one  or  two  days, 
,'md  incubation  does  not  begin  until  the  sot  is  nearly  comi)leted. 

Tiieir  ground  color  varies  from  a  pale  bluish  white  to  ii  greenish  white 
tint,  which  fades  out  consideralily  in  time  Occasionally  a  nuich  higher  tintoil 
set  is  found.  Mr.  C.  J.  Pennock  has  a  set  of  five  eggs  in  his  collection,  in 
which  the  ground  color  is  a  rich  bright  green,  and  four  of  these  eggs  are 
distinctly  and  handsomely  marked.  I^hcy  wore  collected  by  himself  near 
Kennett  8(piare,  Pennsylvania,  May  2,  1HH7» 

While  many  of  these  eggs  are  perfectly  iimnnculate.  fully  one-half  of 
those  in  the  Q.  8.  National  Museum  collection  are  spotted  with  irregular  mark- 
ings or  scrawls  of  different  shades  of  brown,  drab,  or  fawn  color.  These 
markings,  in  most  cases,  are  rather  faint  and  irregularly  scattered  over  the 
(.uMP,  usually  heaviest  alxnit  tho  larger  end. 

Tlie  average  size  of  si.\ty-two  eggs  in  the  l^.  S.  National  Museum  col- 
lection, from  various  parts  of  tlu?  United  States,  is  4'.»  by  .'JS.,')  millimetres. 
The  largest  (igg  of  this  series  measures  ')l.')  by  4l',  the  smallest  4.'1  by  34 
millimetres. 

Of  the  ty[)e  specimens  No. 'iiJOd;},  selectiid  from  a  set  of  four  eggs  (PI. 
.">,  Fig.  IS),  taken  l)y  First  Lieut.  H.  ( '.  lienson.  Fourth  Cavalry,  V.  S.  Army, 
near  lluachuca,  .Vrizona,  May  l"i,  1SS7,  shows  the  scrawls  referred  to  aliovc; 
and  No  -J-'J;}!)!;  (PI.  't.  Figs.  11)  and  20),  both  from  a  set  of  t\\\\  taken  by  Mr. 
.Ferome  Trombly,  uiiar  Petersburg,  .\[onroe  (Jonnty,  .Mi(ingan,  May  14,  \xx't, 
show  one  of  tiie  tietter  markeil  typos,  and  an  mispotted  egg.  Four  eggs  of 
this  Slit  are  distinctly  spotti^l,  'i'lieso  eggs  were  taken  from  an  old  Crow's 
nest  placed  in  the  forks  of  a  pin  oak,  a  tritic  over  40  feet  from  the  gromid. 
The  Hawks  had  simply  repaired  the  inside  of  tlie  nest,  and  lined  it  slightly 
with  a  few  dry  leaves,  a  little  moss,  and  shreds  of  i)ark. 

■  Uulletiii  Nuttali  Orultbulugicul  Cliiii,  Vol.  ill,  IriTd,  |>.  41. 


itt' 


.if 


1i 


■■■  II 


I'- 


i 


19G  LIFE  UISTOKIKW  oK  NOUTII  A.MKUICAX  l!IUI>S. 


67.     Accipiter  atricapillus  (Wil.son). 

AMKKK'AN    (iOSllAWK. 

Fiilro  filrirapillus  Wii.sox.  Aini'ric;iii  ( trnitlioloi^'y,  vi.    si>.  sii,  PI.  .V,',  Fij;.  3. 
Accipifcr  (itrinipilluN  Skkhoiim,  Histoi'y  of  Mritisli  Bii'.ls,  1,  l.ss:!,  iv. 

(H  It.  C  ;iKi,  ll4:i:i,  C  llMi,  U  ;i:i4.) 


(Jkooraphicai,  haxok.  Nortlicni,  ciMitr! 


(1  iMstiTii  North  Ainci'ica; 


itl 


soiltll    in 


winter  to  tlit>  Midillii  States  iuiil  soiithorii  Rocky  Mi)uutiius,  sti'ai,'f^liii,y;  west   iiitu  On 
ifiiii  (F'ort  Kliiniatli). 


r . 


t '  i 


The  fiitsliiiwk,  oii(f  (if  our  liiiiidsoincst  l)ii'(1s  of  prey,  hrccds  priiicipallv 


lu 


irtli  of  tlu!  Suited  States,  oceiirr 


111"-  iiKii'c  Of   less  (•oiiiiiioiil\-,  thoii' 


iiowlien* 


iilmiidaiitly,  in  suital)l(f  localities  fliroiif;iioiit    tlie   Hritish  Doiiiiiiioii,  from    tlie 
sliorcs  of  the  North  Atlantic  Ocean  to  the  Ai'ctic  and   Uei'iii<;'  Seas. 


Witliin  the  United  States  its  lireeiHii"'  fanye  is  confined  to  the  extn 


ine 


northern  l)order,  ItreeiUn^-  sparingly  l)nt  rej^iilarly  from  central  .Maine  nortl;- 
ward,  and  prol)al)ly  also  in  the  northern  [lortions  of  \'ermont,  \ew  Hampshire, 
and  New  York.  In  tlu^  l»ocky  Mountain  region  it  is  said  to  Itreed  as  far  south 
as  Colorado.  West  of  th(!  Hticky  Moinitains  it  occurs  as  a  straji'j.^ler  only,  hut 
possibly  breeds  in  limited  nmidiers  in  the  Hitter  Hoot  Mountains  and  the  spurs 
thereof  in  Idaho.  In  i-astern  Washinj;ton  and  Orej^'on  it  is  replaced  by  the 
western  rat'e,  a  much  darker-colorc(l  l)ird.  A  typical  specimen  of  Asfiir  iifricit- 
))illi(.s  has,  however,  been  taken  on  the  t-astern  slop<'s  of  the  Cascade  Haiijic, 
near  Fort  Klamath,  ( )rej;on,  by  Dr.  .himes  C  Merrill,  l^.  S.  Army,  on  March 
11,  1HS7,  the  most  westerly  record  I  know  of  Throughout  the  United  States 
it  is  bv  far  more  al)undant  dinnii"'  the  winter  months  than  in  the  Ijreedinii'  sea- 


son. 


At  tl 


us  tunc 


it  k 


celts  more 


to  tl 


le  mountains,  where  j>anie  is  a 


ibuiid; 


nit. 


while  ill  the  fall   and  winter  it  mav  often  l>e  seen  in  tlu^  fertile  and  cultivated 


vallexs  ad 


noticei 


I.       1- 


icell 
ive 


t  to  tl 


lese.  111  scan 


li  of 


illv 


mt  of  six  of  the  liirds 


prey,  aiKt  is  naturally  much  more  reaihly 


lih 


seen  a 


t  tl 


lis  time  are 


tl 


e  vouii 


year,  which  have  lieeii  left  by  the  jiareiits  to  tli 
The  Goshawk  is  the  lioldest    and  bv  far  tl 


-J  of  tl 


le 


eir  own  resources. 


le  mos 


t  destructive  of  the  North 


birds 


aiK 


th 


poultry 


American  Haptores;  infinitely  more  injurious  to  our  ;.;ame 

yard  as  well,  tluiii  any  other  spei'ies,  the  lar;:'e  (iyrfalcous  not  i'xce])ted.     Xot- 

withstandiii};'  its  comparatively  short  winys,  its  Hiylit  is  powerful  and  swift;    it 


is  stroll"'  and  active  in  bodv,  sli\-  and  k( 


eiisu 


lited.  savaye  and  liloodtliirstv  in 


disposition,  a  veritabh^  terror  to  all   smaller  birds,  and  mori'  than  a  match  f 

otl 

kill 


lers  consu 


lerablv  larjjfer  than  itself      It   loves  to  destroy  life  for  the  sake  of 


inir. 


In  northern  Alaska,  alonn'  the    siiores  of  the  Yukon    lvi\'er,  it  is  | 


liajis    more  aliundant  tiian  anywhere  else  within  its  ranji't',  feedin<;'  principal!\- 
on  the  numerous  I't: 
times  in  abundance. 


irmij'an,  leiumin'''s,  am 


I  Arctic  hares  to  be  f 


)e  touiii 


Itl 


lere  at  a 


tall 


Mr.  L.  M.  'I'urner  says:    "The  American  Ooshawl 


Iv  IS  a   common  species 
throughout  the  Yukon  Valley,  and  apparently  coutiiies  itself  entirely  to  the 


THE  AMERICAN  GOSHAWK. 


191 


mainland,  althoufjli  plontiful  alonj^'  tlic  soasliorc  Spooimons  were  obtained 
from  Fort,  Yukon,  the  Yukon  Delta,  and  the  vit-inity  of  St.  Michael.  The  tracts 
preferred  1))'  this  (Joshawk  are  th;i  narrow  valleys,  borders  of  streams,  and  open 
tundras,  wiiicli  it  constantly  scans  for  I'tarmiffan  and  small  animals,  the  lem- 
iiiinji'  forminj;'  a  considerable  portion  of  its  food.  It  will  .•sit  for  hours  in  some 
secduih'd  spot  waitinj,"-  for  a  l'tarnii<ran  to  rise  on  its  win<is.  No  sooner  does  its 
prey  ri.se  a  few  feet  from  the  <;ronnd,  than  vith  a  few  rapid  strokes  of  the  vvin<>' 
and  a  short  sail,  tlie  (joshawk  is  bronj^ht  witliin  .seizin}^  distance;  it  pounces  u\hh\ 
the  liird,  graspin;^-  it  with  both  feet  under  the  wings,  and  after  giving  it  a  few 
i)lows  on  the  head  they  both  fall  to  the  ground,  often  tumltling  several  feet 
liefori*  they  stop,  the  Hawk  not  relinquishing  its  hold  during  tlie  time.  *  «  * 
I  hav(f  seen  this  Hawk  sail,  witlumt  u  quiver  of  its  pinions,  until  witliin  seizing 
distance*  of  its  (piarry,  and  suddeidy  throw  its  wings  back,  when  with  a  clash 
they  came  together,  and  the  vicinity  was  filled  with  white  feathers  tloating 
peacefully  through  the  air.  I  secure<l  l)oth  birds,  and  found  the  entire  side  of 
the  l^tarinigan  ripjied  open.     *     »     * 

"It  is  a  resident  of  the  interior,  and  comes  to  the  coast  quite  early  in 
spring,  as  is  attested  by  tin;  fact  that  I  killed  one  specimen  April  2X,  and  a  tine 
example  was  l)i'ought  to  me  from  the  mouth  of  the  U[)hun  (j)art  of  tlu;  northern 
Yukon  Delta)  wlua'e  it  was  killed  April  '2').  It  was  a  female,  and  contained  an 
tgg  ready  for  extrusion,  which  had  already  received  a  pale  bluish  green  color 
un  the  shell,  'i'iie  bir<l  was  shot  on  the  nest  which  was  placed  in  a  small  jxiplar 
tree.  Tlu*  nest  was  composed  of  sticks  and  a  few  blades  of  grass.  The  size  was 
quite  l)idky,  meiisuring  nearly  2  feet  in  extreme  diameter,  and  having  but  a 
slight  depression.  Tlie  bird  was  extremely  vicious,  dutosing  to  remain  on  the 
nest  rather  than  desert  it.  The  male  attacked  the  native,  tore  his  cotton 
shirt  into  shreds,  and  snatched  the  cap  from  tlie  head  of  the  astonished  man, 
who  was  so  surprised  at  the  impetuosity  of  the  attack  that  he  struck  wildly 
at  the  bird  with  his  arm,  and  before  he  could  reload  his  gun  the  bird  took 
night. 

"This  Goshawk  breeds  wherever  found  in  summer,  ])lacing  its. nest  in  a 
tree  or  shrill),  or  even  on  the  edgi*  of  a  cl.if,  inaccessible  to  foxes  or  other 
enemies."' 

.Mr.  Manly  Hardy,  of  Hrewer,  Maine,  writes  me:  "According  to  my  obser- 
vations the  (J-oshawk  does  niDre  daiiiiigc  to  game  and  ))()ultrv  than  all  other 
hawks  combined.  They  live  almost  entirely  on  Kut^'ed  Grouse,  (hmiestic  fowls, 
and  rabbits.  I  have  known  one  to  destroy  five  Kutfed  Grouse  in  one  morn- 
ing, tearing  thorn  to  pieces  and  leaving  them;  and  have  also  known  one  to  tear 
out  a  Grouse's  leg  and  hip  and  to  swallow  it  whole,  but  never  knew  one  to  be 
tiikeii  with  an  empty  crop. 

"There  is  both  an  old  and  new  nest  of  this  species  on  my  own  land.  The 
iirst  about  140  yards  from  a  blacksmith's  shop.  Tlit^se  are  the  only  two  I  ever 
heard  of  having  been  fouiiil  in  this  vicinity.     1  think  they  occupied  the  first 


>Ooiitribiiti(iU!i  to  Natural  HWtury  nf  Alaska,  Turner,  IHHC,  \i.  1.17. 


I, 


198 


LIFK  niHTOlMKH  OK  NOKTII  AMKHICAN  HIHDS. 


lU'st  at  least  six  or  cijilit  yt'iirs,  as  ten  or  twelve  adults  and  youiif;  were  shot  in 
tlie  near  \icinity;  l>iit  so  shy  were  they  that  no  one  eversiispeeteil  tlieir  nestinjjf 
until  the  nest  was  acciiU'iitally  t'ountl.  A  female  was  shot  from  it  in  1S77,  and 
anotlier  in  ISTS.  They  then  deserted  the  locality,  and  I  have  recently 
foinid  whei'e  thev  rehuilt.     The  nestiu"   sites  were  in  l)oth  instaiu-es  in  white 


l)irches,  alfout  "JO  feet  from  the  uroinid. 


verv   small   youn^  one  was 


tak 


en 


from  the  last  nest  .lune  r»,  1SH7.     Thev  pnihably  oommence  lavinj;'  here  al)out 
May  1." 

Mr.  J.  W.  Hanks,  of  St.  Johns,  Now  Ih'unswick,  writes  me:   "  1  know  of  two 
nests  of  the  (lo.shawk  taken  in  this  vicinitx'.     ( )ne  nest  al)out  !(•  miles  awa\', 


d  f 


mil  trom  w 


hid 


1  one  o 


f  tl 


le  parents  was  shot,  was  i)nilt  in  the  torks  of  a   laruc 


l>irch    tree.      It    contained   two  fresh   ejij;s,  and 


was 


taken    aliont   the   last   of 


A])ril.     Another  nest   was  found  uhout  "i")  miles  from  this  city;  both  ]»arents 
were  shot,   and    the  two   youn}>'  liirds   it   contained  were  Itrouf^ht  here  to  lie 


■itutfed.     The  male  onl\    was 


s  m  the  mature  jiluma^;* 


Tl 


le  Aouny  were  a 


hout 


as  lai'fi'c  as  hrahma  chicks  six  weeks  old,  and  covered  with  a  thick  coat  of  ]iui'e 
white  down  without  a  sijjii  of  ])in  feathers.  This  nest  was  also  placed  in  tiie 
forks  of  a  Itiich  tree.     It  was  found  May  f)." 

Accordinji'  to  Mr.  W.  L.  Bishop's  observations  in  Xova  Scotia,  this  Hawk 


oreeds    on 


hiul 


1    m-i 


lund. 


stl 


mostn    111 


hard 


d    timher,    and    nearlv  all    tli 


nests  found   liy  liiiii  wvw  jilaced  in  tall  .slim  lieech  or  hircli  trees,  about  40 
feet   from    the   <;idnnd,  built  of   sticks,  and   lined  with  a  few  yreen  hemlock 


twins,  vellow 


birch  liark,  and  a  few  featli 


le 


Mr.  li.  j\I.  Turner  says  that  this  Hawk  is  rather  rare  in  Labrador,  but  as  1 
observed  it  near  Fort   Cliinio  in  Mav,  it  certainlv   lireeds  there.     On  Afav  1, 


lS7(i,  he  took  a  handsome  set  of  tiv 


e  •■"•"■s  111 


the  Yukon  Hiver  Delta,  Alaska, 


and  another  incoiiiplete  set  of  two  eji'iis  on  the  saiiu^  date  a  year  later.     These 


e<.-<.-s  w 
lection. 


ere  fresli  wiieii  taken  and  are  now  in  tin-   V.  S.  National  Mu.se 


iim  CO 


1- 


Tii 


le    nests    were    placed    in    poplar   trees.     Another   set   of   four   was 


po] 


taken   by  ("apt.  W.  II.  Dall,  of  tiie  l".  S.  Coast  Survey,  on  Ainil  28,  ISIJS,  i 
Nulato,  Alaska. 


lear 


tl 


I  cannot  add   any  personal    ob.sorvations   concernin}?  the  life  hi.story  of 


us 


species,      it  nests  early,  even   m  the  northern  re<.>ioiis;    l)ei;'i!iiiiiij;' 


rth 


b 


H-  to   li 


IV 


aliout  April   1,  or  evi'ii   earlier,  in    the  mor(^    .southern    jiortioiis    of  its  ran^c. 


an 


d  in  Alaska  from  about  Ajiril  20  to  May  10.      Iiicubatii 


>n,  as  with  mos 


st  ot 


the  lar^i'er   IJaptores,  lasts  about  four  week." 


Hut 


a  sill' 


le  brood  is  raised  in 


a  .season. 


The  number  of  e"<;s  laid  b^•  the  Uoshawk  varies  trom  two  to  five.     Ii 


the  North,    \\here    an    aliundance    of  food    can    be  readih 


iji-ociirei 


1    t 


or 


VOlUli 


the  lar^'er  sets  of  four  or  five  ejifi's    seem  to  pre<loiiiiiiate.     Thev 


are 


pale  liliiish  white  in  color  and  nnsjiotted.  An  occasional  specimen  shows 
slijiht  traces  of  lirowni.sh-biit!'  iiiarkin;is,  which  are  i)robably  old  blood  stains. 
The  shells  of  these  ejiji's  are  somewhat  rou^li  to  thc^  touch,  deejilv  jiittecl,  and 
f^ranulated.     They  vary  in  shape  from  ovate  to  elliptical  o\ate.     The  avera<>'e 


il^ 


TIIK  AMKUH'AN  (JOHHAWK. 


199 


int'ii-iiirciiicnt  of  sfvciitccii  s|)('ciiiii'iis  in  tln'  l^  S.  Niitiuiiiil  Miisfiiiu  collc)'- 
tioii  is  T)!!  by  4'!.;")  iiiillimctrfs,  tin-  Inr^icst  i"^>i  int'iisiiriii^'  (il  Ity  I7.r>,  tlif 
siiiallcst  r»4  l>y  4;')  niilliiiM'trcs. 

The  t\|i('  spcciiiu'ii  (Nu.  •_'()(!S4,  I'l.  (1,  V\<x.  1),  sclcctcil  from  n  set  of  (ivc, 
WHS  tiikcii  li\  .Mr.  L.  M.  'I'linicr.  l'.  S.  Si^iiiiil  Service,  .May  I,  iHTtl.  in  tiie 
Yukon   Wiver   Deltii,  Alaska. 


68.     Accipiter  atricapillus  striatulus  Ixiimjwav. 


WI'.STKIJN    (ioSllAWK. 

Axhir  (ilrlrditilluN  var.  .slfialiiliis  Kidow  av,  in  llislnrv  of  Noitli   .Vini'iicaii  liinls,  in, 

ISM,  -.Mil. 
Arcijiilfr   (ilrirtijullKs  slridliiliiN  UiixavAV.  I'm Iiiii;s  l'.  S.  .N'litioiial  .Miiseiiiii,  viii. 

|8S,5,  :t5,'). 

(15  — .  ('  -.  U  l.i:i-(,  ('  V.i].  V  ;(:(i((.) 

(iK()(il{APlllcAi,  K\X(iK.:  Wc'stiTM  .\nrtli  .\ iiii'r'icii  ;  iii.itli  ((>  Sitka.  .Maskii  ;  soutli 
1o  C'alii'oriiia:  east  to  lil;ilio. 

'I'lie  la-eediiij;'  raii^e  of  tlie  Western  (iosliawk  extends  fcoin  Sitka,  Alaska, 
south  throiij^'li  tlit^  moiuitains  of  tlie  roast  re;iion  in  ISi'itisli  Colmnliia  and  the 
States  of  Washin}>ton  and  <  )rejion,  to  ahont  latitude  .'is^  \n  California.  Mr. 
'{idfi'way's  statement,  in  his  .Mainial  of  North  .Vineriean  Hirds,  "lireedin<>'  at 
least  south  to  latitude  .'{o  ,""  is  evidently  a  tyiiojira|ihical  error,  and  shoidd 
read   ".'J!!'." 

.\eeordinji'  to  my  oi)ser\ations,  the  {general  haliits  of  tlie  Western  (ios- 
liawk are  very  similar  to  those  of  its  easteiMi  relative;  it  is  etiually  destructive 
to  small  jiiinie  of  all  kinds,  ]iarticularly  the  Sooty,  Ikull'ed,  and  Shari)-taileil 
(irouse,  as  well  as  to  the  fowls  of  the  |)oultr\'  \ai'il.  While  nowhei'e  almn- 
daiit,  it  seems  to  l)e  pretty  jicnerallx  distiihuted  tlirou<ihout  the  iiliie  .Moun- 
tain re;4ion  of  ( )rejidn  and  Wasliinjiton,  and  la'eeds  in  suital)le  hx'alities  when^ 
food  is  plenty.  Dnrinn'  spring;'  and  summer  it  is  seldom  seen  in  the  mortf 
oj)cn  districts,  thou;ih  it  is  aimndant  enough  later  on,  when  the  heav\'  snows 
drive  tlut  frame  into  the  foothills  and  lower  valle\s.  I  have  shot  (piite  a 
miinl)er  of  these  liirds  iit  \arious  times,  and  all,  as  far  as  I  am  aware,  ai'e 
relerahh*  to  this  subspecies,  with  one  exception,  which  is  intermediate  hetwi'en 
it  and  the  jjrecedinj;-. 

.M\'  lirst  acipiaintance  with  the  Oosliauk  dates  hack  to  1H7(I,  and  on 
.\pril  21,  IH71,  while  hunting-  in  Lawyer's  Canon,  'M)  miles  south  of  Kort 
Lapwai,  Idaho,  I  found  a  ui'st  of  this  sul)species  containing'  a  sin<ile  ej;'<^'. 
h  was  placed  in  the  forks  of  a  lar<>e  cottonwood  tnn^  about  AO  feet 
from  the  eround,  and  was  a  bulky  aliair,  fully  '2  feet  in  dianu'ter  and  (piite 
as  deep.  'I'he  nest  was  composed  of  sticks,  some  of  them  (piite  lar<;e  and 
looselv  put  together.  It  was  rather  shallow  on  i  .]»  and  lined  with  weed 
stalks,  a   species  of  wild  nettle,  and   a   U'W  pine  needh's.      The   parent  on   the 


T 


:  \ 


[fl 


1  ,' 


■,;■ 


jt  -- 


1'  i 


i'. 


200 


LIF13  IIISTOUIKS  OK  NdlJTIl  A.MKKIUAN  ItlRDS. 


lU'st  WHS  (piito  licrcv',  iiiid  iiltliouj;-li  slic  did  not  ai'tiiidly  strike  the  iiiiin  \\\w 
cliinliiMl  to  it,  sli(!  cjiiiic  scNcnd  times  very  close  to  liiiii,  iitteriiiji'  slirill 
screimis  of  iiiiNcr  tiiid  protest.  While  stiitioiied  lit  Ciiiiiit  liiiniey.  ( )rej;oii, 
with  the  iissistiiiice  ot'  wo  idclioppers  jiiid  Iiidiims,  se\cnd  ot"  tlieir  nests  weic 
t'oiiiid,  nolle  nearer  tlifin  '1  niiles  tnini  each  other.  One,  tound  on  iMa\- 
•_'(!,  iST.'i,  containeil  two  yonnu'  just  hatched  and  an  cmmt  alread\-  chipped. 
It  was  in  a  cluster  of  pines  a  tew  niih's  northeast  of  the  post.  Moth  parents 
were  exceedinjily  ajijiressive,  and  several  shots  lired  close  to  them  did  not 
seem  to  intimidate  them  in  the  least.  1  conld  have  easily  killeil  lioth,  Itiit 
retrained  on  account  of  the  youn^;-.  ( )idy  one  of  the  liirds  was  in  the  adult 
plumaji'e. 

A  nest  found  on  April  IS,  ISTC,  was  placed  in  the  top  of  a  tall  and  l>ush\- 
juniper  tree,  only  ai)ont  I'O  feet  from  the  ^rotnul.  It  was  not  as  larjic  as  the 
two  former,  and  looked  as  if  it  had  iieen  newlv  built.  It  was  situated  in  a 
fork  of  the  main  trunk  and  was  well  hidden.  The  female  was  on  the  nest 
and  conuneuced  screamin<f  ln-fore  we  came  within  "JO  feet  of  the  tree,  which 
caused  the  discovery.  She  det'ended  her  e;;';is  \aliantl\-,  and  did  not  cease 
her  attacks  on  the  clind)cr  till  he  finally  succeeded  in  hittin;i'  her  with  a 
I'lul),  \\  hich  caused  her  to  leave.  The  male  was  not  seen.  The  nest  con- 
tained three  slif>htly  incuhated  e^^^js,  anil  was  sparin;.;ly  lined  with  the  dr\- 
inner  hark  of  the  juniper  trees  j^rowin^'  in  the  viciinty.  (hi  April  !>,  1S77, 
I  found  another  nest  not  far  from  where  the  (irst  was  taken  in  iSTo.  This 
was  built  in  a,  tall  pine,  at  least  "lO  feet  from  tlw  jii'ound,  and  in  addition  to 
the  usual  juniper  bark  liuinji'  it  contained  a  few  ^ii-eeii  lir  to|i.s.  This  also 
contained  three  eji'^i's,  and  incubation  had  alreadx'  conuneuced.  I  shot  the 
female,  a  hanilsouu!  bird  in  the  adult  pluma^ic,  while  it  was  circling;'  about 
the  crnuber  and  tryinji'  to  sti'ike  him.  The  larj^cst  set  obtained  was  one  of 
live  ciif^s.  Th(!  nest  was  placed  in  a  bushy  pine  in  a  canon  of  the  Blue 
.Moimtaius,  clo.se  to  the  road  from  the  I'matilla  Indian  A^cucn'  to  (irande 
lionde  Valley,  ()re;;on.  This  nest,  evidently  used  for  years,  was  well  out  on 
ouo  of  the  larji'er  limbs  an  I  placed  in  a  fork  of  it.  It  was  (piite  larj^c,  and 
slij^htly  lined  with  ^rass,  tree  moss,  "usnea,"  and  a  few  scales  of  jiine  bark; 
di.stance  from  the  ground  aliout  ;")(»  feet.  l?oth  parents  were  present,  and  the 
female  was  shot,  as  she  was  too  a^jiressive  for  the  comfort  of  the  clind)er. 
The  male  was  also  rather  demonstrative,  iiut  not  to  the  extent  of  his  mate. 
The  eji'jzs  were  nearly  hatched  when  foinul,  A|a'il  17,  1S81.  All  the  cavities 
of  the  nests  were  very  shallow,  none  bein<;'  over  1  .J  inches  deep.  While  none 
lif  the  nestinj''  sites  were  in  the  denser  portions  of  the  forests,  the\-  were  all 
foinid  in  tlm  heavy  timber,  and  jienerally  on  tla^  slojies  of  canons  not  far  from 
watt^r. 

A  pair  of  theses  l)irds  bred  within  a  mih^  or  so  of  Foi't  Klamath,  OreiJ'on, 
in  the  sprinji'  of  ISS.'}.  but  I  nev(>r  succeeded  in  locatinj"'  the  nest  on  account 
of  the  dense  timber  fomid  all  around  the  ])0st  and  the  lar<>'e  si/.e  of  most  of 
thr  trees.     IJoth  Itirds,   but  especially  the  male,  a  handsome  specimen   in  the 


'U 


Till':  WKSTKUN  ^iOSIIAWK. 


201 


niliilt.  |)Iumii;,''t',  paiil  rcfriilar  diiily  visits  to  tlic  ditl'crcMt  jMUiItrv  yiii'<ls  of  the 
jrjii'risdii,  mill  iiliMDst  iiiNiiriiilily  iiiaiDi^cd  to  ;;i't  awiiy  with  n  cliickcii.  I,  as 
well  as  otlit'i's,  ti'ifil  tiiiic  anil  a;;aiii  ti»  [)iit  an  cml  tn  tlirsi-  alln^rtlicr  tiai 
I'liMlni'iit  (Icpi't'datiiins,  lint  no  one  siiri'ccdi'd  in  killin;;'  cillicr  of  tlic  iiinlrt. 
'I'licy  wcro  too  sMiai't  to  In-  ranjilit,  knew  jiist  wlim  to  make  tlii-ir  raids,  and 
wi'H*  succcsstnl  nrarly  cscry   time. 

Tlic  I'ollowini^'  iiifidi'iit  will  illiistratr  tlic  iicrlcct  t'carlcssncss  and  audacity 
111'  tlicsc  Hawks.  I  was  rctnniiii;;'  from  a  sliort  limit  one  al'tcniooii  in  Scp- 
trmltiT,  lsS"i,  my  lircccli-Ioadcr  cliar^cd  with  dust  sliot.  At  llic  oiitskirts  of 
liic  ^iiirrison,  near  tlic  cavalry  stable,  was  tin  old  lirnsli  coiTal,  nincli  fre(|iiciited 
li\-  tlic  fowls  kc|it  in  the  nci};'lil)orli(»oil.  While  walkin;;'  |tast  this  fence  I 
Middcniy  heard  a  ;;rcat  laitcry  and  saw  i|nite  a  commotion  anion<^'  a  nnmlicr 
of  cliickcMs  in  the  place,  which  were  s(|iieakinji-  and  scattcriii;;'  in  all  directions 
;it  a,  lively  rate.  At  the  sam»!  instant  a  hw^v  (ioshawk,  an  adult  female,  dashed 
tliroiiiili  the  inclosnrc,  failiii;;'  to  jict  a  chicken  this  time,  however.  I  tired  at 
iiiT  at  short  niM^c,  and,  as  it  siiitsei|iieiitly  |iro\ed,  |)c|i|ii'red  her  well  with  dnst 
.'lot  as  she  went  l»y,  which  possilily  disconcerted  her  aim  a  little.  Never 
h'camin^'  for  an  instant  that  the  liinl  would  return  after  such  a  reception, 
1  uevertheless  inserted  u  heavier  cartridi^e  in  my  j.<'iin,  and  had  scarcely  done 
:.ii  when  she  came  hack  to  make  a  second  and  last  attempt  at  a  too  ventnre- 
soiiu)  chicken.  'I'liis  time  1  iiroiijilit  her  down  with  a  broken  win;;',  and  her 
lli;ilit  was  so  suddenly  arrested  that  she  rolleil  over  scxcral  times  aftci-  sti'ikiiiji' 
oil  the*  jiromid.  1  never  saw  more  vindictive  t'nrv  expressed  in  a  bird's  e\-es 
than  was  shown  by  hers.  Slu^  tried  to  attack  me,  and  would  liav(f  doiui  so 
had  she  Hot  been  so  badly  wonnded.  'I'lie  will  and  coin'a;;!'  to  do  so  were 
there,  but  her  strciijitli  failed  her.  On  skiniiiiiy-  her  I  fomid  a  mmiber  of  dnst 
shot  imlieddcd  niiiler  tin*  skin,  showing;'  that  she  had  iteeii  hit  the  iirst  time  1 
lircil.  'This,  though,  was  not  snlhcienl  to  cause  her  to  leave  without  her 
intciidcil  victim,  iiotwithsfandinj;'  the  fact  that  she  saw  me  plainly  enoiijj'li  the 
second,  if  not  the  iirst  time.  When  its  appetite  lor  blood  is  once  excitcil,  the 
(ioshawk  is  certainly  dexoid  of  all  fear  and  discretion  as  wi'll,  while  niider 
urdinai'y  circuinstaiices  therc^  is  no  shyer  bird  to  circimiveiit  and  brin^'  to  baj^'. 

.Mr.  li.  Mcldiii;;'  met  with  this  bird  in  ('alaveras  ('oinity,  (!alifornia,  x\  here 
it  seems  to  lie  a  slimmer  resident. 

The  Western  (rosliawk  becomes  stroiii^ly  attaclu^d  to  tlu^  locality  once 
chosen  for  a  breeilinn'  jininnd.  1  noticed,  csptH-ially  at  (!amp  Harney,  Ore- 
jioii,  that  considerable  discriininatioii  was  shown  by  these  birds  in  tiie  selection 
of  such  places  only  in  which  the  ;;ame  they  fed  on  was  most  abundant. 

Hesides  ii  shrill  scream  of  aiij;'er  they  haxn  ii  call  note  reseniblin;i'  the 
jvord  "kecah,  keeah,"  or  "kree-ah,"  fre([uently  repeated,  this  note  beinj;'  often 
uttered  ill  the  early  spriii;i-.  Their  food  consists  of  the  ditferent  jiaiiie  birds 
found  in  the  country  they  inhiiliit,  especially  the  Sooty  Orouse,  as  well  as 
iiares  and  smaller  niaiuiuul.s.  One  of  the  nests  found  liy  me  contained  the 
partly-eateii  remains  of  ii  Columbian  Sharp-tailed  Cirou.se. 


iiifil 

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jLjiii 

202  I'U'K  IIIHTOKIKS  ()!-'  NOIM'II  AMKUICAX  IWUUH. 

Nidilicatioii  lic;;iiH  ciiily,  iiHimlly  nliniit  the  Iiittcr  |mit  nt'  .Miinli  nr  tlic 
h(>(riiiiiiii;;;  i)t'  April,  liiu);  lirt'ni-c  tlio  siiow  liiis  tlisiipiit'tind  t'lnni  tin-  iiniiiii- 
tiiiiis  tiiiil  >\hilo  tint  liillsiili'H  nro  ntill  siitiiiiiti'd  with  iiinistiirc,  iiiiikiii^'  it 
anytliiiiy  luit  easy  wurk  to  look  lor  tlicir  iicsts.  'riicHc  arc  usually  liuilt  iu 
tall  trees,  ami  uo  particulai-  pn'tcrt'uce  smus  to  lie  mIiowu  in  their  Helection, 
The  Mests  ar((  iimstly  plaeeil  eluse  to  the  truuk  ami  j>'eiieral!y  \v«'ll  hidden 
troMi  view,  nroasidually  one  is  phieed  suiiie  distanri'  nut,  or  lietween  tin- 
forks  ot'  one  of  the  lar<^'er  limits,  and  on  that  account  can  lie  more  readily 
seen.  I  l»elieve  each  pair  of  liirds  has  its  rejiular  hmitiufi'  ranije,  from  which 
all  other  Hpecies  of  Uaptores  are  driven  otV.  At  any  rate  I  never  found  the 
Western  lied-taileil  or  Swainson's  Hawks,  the  most  conunon  kinds  foimd, 
lireedin;:'  in  the  vicinity  of  a  )iair  of  (ioshawks. 

The  eji'^i's   are  from   three  to  live   in    lunniier  and    indistin^^uisliahle  from 


those   of  tlu!   eastern    liird.      1    lielievc    hut 


lirnod    is 


ised    m  a   season, 


and  do  nut  know  whether  the  male  assists  in  incidiation. 


'I'he  i'ixi<:>*  in  the  1 1.  S.  National  .Museinn  collection,  nine  in  nundier, 
averai^e  a  triHe  lar;i'er  than  those  of  the  |»recedin;f  sultspecies,  the  mean  lieiny 
(10    hy    4.">.')    millimetres.     The    lar^-est    specimen    measures    fio.")   Iiy  -Ht.fi,   the 


•*mallest  f}i'>  l»v  41  millimetres.     ( >ne  of  tli 


•se    e^'^is  shows  some   peciihar  ihs- 


colorations  of  the  shell,  which  are  nut  stains,  ucifhei'  are  they  sjiols;  and 
another  has  vcr\  mimUe  and  scarcely  perceptilile  markings  of  pale,  rusty 
hrown  near  the  smaller  end. 

The  type  specimen  (\o.  'JOdlK;,  j'l.  (1.  Kin.  •_»),  selecteil  from  a  set  of  live, 
from  the  hendire  collection,  was  taken  liy  the  writer  mar  the  I'matilla  Indian 
Afi'ency,  (h'ejidu,  April   17,    issl. 

69.     Parabuteo  unicinctus  harrisi  (Ai  ni  ito\). 

nAKiti.s's  n.vwK. 

Fdli'o  iKiffi.si.  ArnrnoN,  Hiids  ol'  Aiunicii.  v.  I.s:i!i.  :i(i,  i'l,  :!!i->. 

I 'until  II  Ik  I   iitiiciiichis  viir.  Iinrrlsi   ItnxiWAV,  ia    Ilistdry  I'f  Nnrtli    .Vniciicaii   Hiiils, 
III.  .Jiuniary.  1ST4,  ■•.">4. 

(B4I1.  (,';)4s.  K.|:i4.  ('  r,\>.  V  :•,:',:,.) 

ORooKAPHlcAr,  l!AN(iF, :  Miildle  AMiiTi(:i;  iini'tli  In  southern  liorilcr  of  LTnitnl 
States  (Lipiiisiaiiii  to  soutliiTii  Ari/.uan),  Lower  ('alifurnia. 

'i'he  Itreedin;^'  rau^^c  of  Harris's  Itawk  within  the  borders  of  the  ITnited 
States  is  I'ather  restricted,  it  hein;^-  found  only  alon;;-  oin-  soutiiern  frontier 
from  .southern  and  southwestern  Texas  to  southern  Ari/.iaia  and  Lower  ('ali- 
fornia.  it  is  said  to  occur  also  occasionally  in  Louisiana,  liut  it  is  douhtfid 
if  it  hi-eetls  there,      it  extends  throu^jh   Mexico  to  Central  America. 

Within  the  I'nited  States  it  is  most  aliimdant  in  southern  and  southwestern 
'I^exas,  where  it  is  a  resident  and  where  it  hreeds  conunoid\'. 

Accordin;>'  to  Mr.  (!.  H.  Sennett,  "it  is  a  resident  on  the  Lower  Uio 
(Jrande,  and  mortf  alamdant  than   any  other  of  the  family.      1    foimd    in   the 


IIAItlMH'S  HAWK. 


L'OM 


i'ni|iH  ol'  tlidsi'  I  itlitiiiiii'd  iiiii'c,  li/iinU,  liinls,  iiiid  nl'ti'ii  tlic  IMcxicaii  Mti'i|H'il 
;f<i|ilici'  (Siirniiiiiihiliix  iHi.riioiiiii),  pruviii^f  fliciii  to  l)('  iirtiNc  liiiiitt'iN,  iiisti'iiil  nl' 
till'  sliij;';;isli  Itinls  they  a|»|(('!in'(l  flic  yi'iir  licfort'  at  Hruwiisvillc.  'I'licv  nic 
.silent  iiiid  iHit  vt'i'V  sliy.  Yiniii;;'  trdin  tin-  cy;;  hit  cuvcrcil  witli  iIonmi,  iiimc 
|il(iitil'iilly  <i|i  cnnvii  iiinl  liiick  tliiiii  dsru  licrc;  iii'c  cnlnrcd  white  on  innItT 
jiiu'ts,  sliiiilin^'  to  Imll'  tnnl  ochriiiTons  un  liack  inii|  IkmiI,  jiml  nni  vrr\'  prcttv 
little  cliieks.  Iti'^section  of  ii  leiniile  on  Api'il  1 1  iliscloseil  an  {"^>t  iilnioHt  I'ejiilv 
to  III'  liiiil.  ( >n  Ajiril  !'•_',  two  sets  of  e^'^^'s  wei'c  tiikeii,  4  or  A  miles  from  l.omitii, 
on(*  "jr*  t't't't  lii^ili  ill  nil  clioiiy  tree,  tin'  otiier  •_'(»  feet  lii^ili  in  a  mesi|iiite.  I'laeli 
ripntiiine(l  lln'eo  (•e';is  liani  sat  U|»oii."' 

('apt.  M.  I'',  (ioss  foiiml  tliis  species  \ery  aliiiinlant  in  tlie  \iciiiit\'  of  Cor- 
pus ( !liristi,  Texas,  in  tin-  sprJiiM'  of  l,ss,'{,  jiiul  look  ipiite  a  luiml.ier  of  llieir 
nests  ami  ci^^i"?*.  lit'  fomiil  one  containinj;'  e;i-;js  as  early  as  {''ehrnars'  \x.  lie 
sa\s:  "Tliey  ImiM  a  siihstantial  nest  of  slicks  ami  weeds,  lined  witli  ^^rasses 
and  small  roots,  after  tli(«  fasliion  of  the  Miiteos,  lint  do  not  tinish  it  as  nicely 


ll 


u!   hitter. 


I 


exaimneil    em'liteeii    i 


-•ht( 


.f    th 


leir  nests,    and   there   was   iiothiii"' 


iiinarkahht  ahoiit  them,  except  that  they  wero  often  placed  (piite  low,  when 
lii^her  sites  were  e(pially  a\ailal>le.  'i'he  a\-ei'a;;e  numiier  of  e;;';is  found  liy 
me  to  a  set  was  three,  Itut  sets  of  four  nvv.  not  uncommon." 

I'ersonally  1  met  with  the  nest  of  this  Itird  on  Imt  thre<'  occasions  diiriiif."- 
the  sprinj;'  of  IS72,  while  stationed  near  Tucson,  .Vrizona.  ( hie  of  these  nests, 
containing'  two  fresh  e^'o's,  was  found  on  .May  17.  It  was  a  Inilky  structure, 
placed  ill  ii  low  hiishy  cottoiiwood  tree,  ill  a  fork  iihoiit  "JK  feet  up,  alioiit  Id 
miles  helow  Tiicsoii,  near  tlui  La^i'iina,  tint  sink  of  the  Santa  ("rn/.  iiixcr.  It 
was  composed  of  sticks,  ami  sparin^iK  lined  with  pieces  of  the  (\vv  inner  liark 
ut'  the  Cottonwood,  and  grasses.  The  liird  made  no  hostile  demonstrations,  hiit 
sailed  slowly  around  alio\c  the  nest  out  of  ^iiinshot  raii^je.     The  inner  casitx' 


.f  tl 


()  nest  was  s 


lil-ht. 


The  two  other  nests,   each  containing'   hut  two  e"'"'s,   were  found   in  1 


ow 


mesipiito  troes,  altoiit  1.")  feet  aiiovc?  the  jii'ound,  on  .liine  1  and  .liine  (I,  respec- 
ti\cl\-.  The  first  nest  was  a  very  slight  affair,  composed  of  mesipiite  sticks,  as 
\vell  as  tli(*  <lr\'  seed  pods  of'  this  trees,  and  a  little  ^i'rass.  While  standiiij^' 
direclly  under  the  nest  I  could  sec  the  ejij;s  throuji'li  tlu;  hottom  of  it.  The 
third  oim  was  similarly  situated,  and  hotli  w<'re  found  on  the  liarrcii  plains 
west  of  the  camp. 

I  know  Imt  little  ai)oiit  tlio  lial)its  of  this  species,  and  while  in  other  regions 


licy  seem  to  assoc 
tl 


saw  tliein  (.loiii"-  so  in  soi 


ate  with  the  Turkey  Vultures  and  the  ( 'aracaras,    I  never 
itlu'i'ii  Arizona,  where  liotli  wert^  also  found  li\-  me. 


They  appeared  to  he  a  lazy   slu;;';;'isli   hird,  their  tlif^-|it  .sh)W,  and  not  fii'acefiil. 


Dr.  .lames  ( '.  .Merrill,  V.  S.  Army,  found  a  iicst  of  this  sjiccies  near  Mio 


WllS- 


ville,  Tiixas,  placed  on  the  top  of  a  Spanish  hayoiict  some  S  or  K  feet  ahove  the 


irroiUK 


'  l'"iirtli«l'  Ndti'H  oil  tho  Oi'iiifliDlo^jy  of  thu  Lo\v«r  Kio  (iriuiito  of  Texas,  I'.  S.  (ji'oloKiciil  iiiiil  (Ji'ojjrnpli- 
icill  Survey,  Hiiyilmi,  Vol.  V,  No.  H,  1S7'.».  pp.  41!l,  WO. 


WMi 


lit 


204 


LIFE  niSTOlUKS  OF  NOHTH  AMKIUCAX  BIRDS. 


11    f  j    .    .     '^ 


ft" 
I ' 


mh' 


IB 


Mr.  L.  lioMiii}!:  roports  Ilnrris's  Ilinvk  ns  ('0111111011  at  tlio  C;\po  ro<jion  of 
Lowor  Califoniiii.  where  he  f'reiiiieiitly  nut  with  it  in  May,  iilonj;-  the  route 
troiii  San  Jose  (h'l  Calio  to  Miratiores,  He  also  t'oniid  it  witliiii  40  miles  of 
San  Dieyo,  Calit'ornia.  Mr.  Walter  Iv  Bryant  .saw  one  at  San  .lorjre,  and  a^ain 
near  Sail  Jiiaii,  where  a,  pair  had  Imilt  in  a  ^iaiit  cactus,  Crriiis.  On  April  (!, 
lH8i),  he  t'oiind  a  nest  at  San  (Jreji'orio.  hnilt  on  the  toj)  of  ii  hush,  AtdDi'ixiiiicit 
(■iiKirf/iiKifd.     'riie  nest  was  rather  Hat,  coiiipo.sed  ct"  sticks  and  lined  with  jj-rass 


ant 


1  orchilla.      It  measured  ahoiit  2   feet  in   <liameter. 


\  contained  two  eyiis, 
which  were  secured,  oiu*  quite  fresh,  the  other  with  a  small  embryo.  One  of 
the  eji'jT'*  i>*  white,  th(^  other  pale  <i-reeiiisli    white.' 


The  numlier  of  ei;'<;'.s  varies  from  two  to  four,  usuallv  three, 


aiK 


I  tl 


lese  are 


mos 


tly  oval  in  shape,  a  few  ar(^  ovate,  and  an  excejitioiial  oik*  is  short  ovate. 
The  shell  is  lusterless  and  fairly  smooth.  The  firoiind  color  is  a  dead  dirty 
white;    perfectly   fresh    specimens    show    a    slijiht    j^reeiiisli    tint    occasionall\-. 


le  e<ji>-s   are    iisualK-    more   or    less    iiest-stained 


Tl 

mifi'lit  readily  he  mistaken  for  iiiarkiiius. 

A  careful  I'xamination  of  twenty-ei;;lit  s| 


aiK 


I    s. 


line    o 


f   tl 


lese 


stains 


lecimens   111 


Musi'iim  collection  siiowfi  that  alioiit 


one 


-lialf  of  tl 


le   r.  S.   National 
ire  umiiarke(l,   the 


remainder  arc*  spotted  with  small  irreuular  iiintches  of  jiale  (■innamoii  in  some 

uaiii,  are  lavender  colored.     Oiih- 


cases  at 


id  fawn  color  in  others,  while  si 


>me,  a 


on 


e  shade  of  markiiijis  is  foinid  on 


eacn   e 


iiHi  iioiK*  are   heavilv  ma 


One  of   tlu*   specimens    tijiured  shows  the  most  ])ronouiice(l   markiiifi's  in  the 
series;    in  the   others  thev   are  less    distinct,    and    in    some   so   faint   as   to   he 


harelv   noticeahh 


lie  ('"li's  an 


>  deposited   at   intervals  of 


severa 


1  di 


l\'; 


hut 


men 


hat 


1011  coimiKinces  as  soon  as 


the  li.st 


eii'ii'  IS 


laid,  and   lasts 


liont  four 


i's  are    l»v  no  niean.- 


weeks.      In  southern  Texas   sets  ot"  four 

Arizona  and  Lower  California  two  seem  to  ho  the  rule, 

The  averaji'e  measurement  of  the 
collectioii  is  '(4  hv  4"2  millimetre 


are,  w 


hil 


siiecmu'ns  m 


the  r.  S.  Nat 


lonal 


M 


e  111 


useiim 


The   laru'est  e"'"' of  the  serit 


s  measures  ;)(.,) 


1)V  44.;-),  tl 


10  Sllli 


illest  411  hv  ;is..-)  iiiilliinrtri 


tl 


Th(*  typo  specimen.  No.  "JOToT  (I'l.  (>,  Fi^-.  3),  from   the    .Merrill   collecti 


on. 


IS  the  mos 


t  distinctl 


y  markeil  em 
James  (!.  ^rerrill,  V.  S.  Ariiiv, 
from  a  set  of  fc 


'•  111  tli(!  series,  ami  was  collectei 


d  hv  Asst.  S 


iir<!'. 


Ilea 


r   Fort  Hrowii,  Tex; 


IS. 


No.   ■22'u-2,  stdected 


>iir,  an  uiiiiia 


rked  specimen  (IM.  (!,  Fi<>'.  4),  was  taken  near  ( 


or- 


piis  (!hristi,  Texas,  on    .March   ;$0,    ISS,'?,  and   ohtained  in   exchan^'e  from  ("apt. 


B.  F.  (Joss,  of  1 


ewaiikee 


w 


isconsin. 


'  PrnooediiiKS  Academy  Suleticos  of  Cnliforuin,  'id  stories,  Vol,  II,  1889,  {>•  'J79. 


TUIJ  KUKOI'HAN  JUV./AKl). 


70,     Buteo  buteo  (LiNx.v:rs). 


K.l'KOl'KAN    lUV.ZAKl). 


/•>(/(•()  hillio   LTNN.KI-S.   Systcniii   Niit  11 
IlllliO  hlltto   LiniTKN'STKIN.  Nulll 


(H 


■ii.  10. 1,  ir.^s,  00. 

atiii-  Mnsco  Hcniliiiciisis.  ls,")l,:i. 


205 


\\w 


Okoohai'HICal  KAX(iK, :  XurtluTii  iportions  of  ivistiTu  lioiuisphoro ;  acciilciitMl 
UiiitiMl  Stales,  Mii'hisaii  (?) 


'V\\i'  ('(iiumoii  Kiir()i)(.'iUi    Hii/.zard    is    iidmittcd    to  ii  ])iai'(>   in    tlic    Nurtli 
American    avifauna   ou  a   sdinewliat    (|ncsti(>nal)le    rccdnl.      ft   certainly  dues 


III) 


t   iireeil   witli  us.      It 
itinent  of  Kim 


is  a  connnon  si)ecies    tln-ou"liout   tlie    ":i'eater  i)ai't  of 


the  eoi 


itl 


■o[)e,  a  resident  ni  tlu3  soutliefu  jiortion  ot  its  raufi'c,  and 


•Illy  a  summer  visitor  m  the  nortlierii  part 


rtli 


.Ml 


enr\-  Seel)olim,  in  liis  cxci'lleiit  vork  on   "Uritisli  Hirds,"  descril) 


the    hreedili"- 


lialtits  of  tile  IJiizzard  as  follow; 


Tlie    Huz/ard   hreeds  on  tli 


nil 


tskirts  ot'  tlii^  forests,   wlieiice    it  issues  in    searcli   ot    food. 


and 


niav  o 


fton 


seen    lPer( 


'li.'d 


on 


tile    li 


ire 


hill; 


llle: 


waitiiiii'   for    mice    and   otlie 


mammals,  or  nia\'  he  o 


itser\('(|  crossini;'  the  open   tie 


(Is  \\\ 


th 


somew 


liat  1 


small 
ieii\  \' 


and   nil 


loleiit  tlijilit.      It  is  etpially  comuion  in  dry    as  in  swampy  \\ooils,  and 


lireeds  in   pine   forests  as   freely 


as  in  those  ot 


•li  and  oak.      in  the  forests 


M 


riiiiswiek, 


toiiii 


tl 


le  nests  mostly  in 


heed 


1   am 


1  oak,   Imt   in    !' 


iiiiiia  many  were  in  Scotch  tirs,  one  in  a  hircli,  and  one  in  an  elm.     *     *     * 
The   Ihizzard    hiiilds  a  nest  from    W,  to  1  t'eet  in   diameter,  and  if  it   is  in  a 


t'lirk  of  a   trei 


(•times  nearly  as  lii;.;h.     'i'lie  foundation  is  of  lar;i-e  twi^' 


lull 


<lie(l  at    the    t( 


\\\ 


th    slender    t 


\Vl!i> 


It 


IS 


verv  llat,   tlu! 


Iiollow    111 


til 


iiiKlille,  coiitaiiunu'  the  eu'^s 


lllOIlt 


ilie  size  and  dep 


ith   of 


a  soup  jilate. 


liual  linin^i'  is  fresii  jireeii  leaves,  ^■eiierally  lieecli;   luit  in  oii((  nest,  althoiifih 


it   was  in  a  heecli  t 


ree 


le   iiniii;;'  was   jn'een   larch   twi^ 


'riiis  liiiino'  must 


he    reliewec 


1  fl 


•om  tune    to    tune 


( >iit    of  ele\fii    nests  near    \\y 


iinswie 


ut  whicii  contained  e: 


liv 


e   \(iunt 


tl 


iiid  one   three  e;;<is  and  a  \-oini; 


liird,   all   hut  one   were  lined   with   tresli   lea\es.     *      »     * 

"'I'he  nests   varied   t'roui  o(>  to    W    feet    from    the    liroiind,   hut    some,  to 
which   we  did  not  attemiit  to  < 


limit 


were 


hi-li 


(imerama 


1 


era!  nests  m 


Itch  ti 


IS,  not    mor"   than  'J")  feet  from   the  uro 


UIK 


saw  sev- 
Mv  friend 


Dr.  Holland,  who  has  paid  i^reat  attention  to  the  hirds  ot'  |irey  in  I'oineraiU! 


ir  many  yean 


in 


forms  me  that   the   Ihizzard  heyiiis  to  la\-  ahout  tlu*  iniddli 


if  .\pril,  that  the  period   of  inciiliatioii   lasts   three   weeks,   and   that  the   male 


relie\es 


female  at   her  duti 


til 


le   tells   11 
I  oth 


le  that,  hesidi 


uzzard  will  eat  j;rasshoppers  and  other  insects,  r( 
mall   birds,  if  it  yets  a  chance  of  catchiu"'  them  sitt 


■ptilc 


mammals. 


and  occasionalh' 


111' 


he  sullies  ( 


if 


hedyehoji'  lia\o  heen  found  in  tlii'  stomach  of  tin-  Buzzard,  and  Dr.  llollaiid 
also  mentioned  an  itistaiu-e  of  a  female  bird  liaviny  heen  found  dead  on  the 
nest,  with  a  live  viiier  inidi'r  her. 


206 


LIFK  llISTORIEa  OF  NOllTIl  AMEllICAN  lUUDS. 


"The  13iii;ziiitl  returns  year  after  year  to  tlie  ssame  nest,  Imt  is  said  not  to 
breed  a  second  time  the  same  year  it'  the  eji<is  are  taken.  When  the  eggs  are 
very  niueh  in(iil)ated  she  sits  very  eh)se."' 

Tlio  eggs  are  usually  from  two  to  four  in  numl)er,  generall}'  three,  and 
according  to  Seel)ohm  tlii'  ground  color  varies  from  milky  hlue  to  a.  jjale  red- 
dish white.  They  are  Idotched,  streakeil,  spotted,  or  clouiled  witli  rich  brown 
surface  sj)ots  and  j)ale  lilac  .shell  markings.  There  is  considerable  variation  in 
botli  size  and  color,  some  specimens  being  spotless.  rhey  also  vary  consid- 
erably in  shape;  some  are  said  to  be  almost  round,  others  oval,  some  elongated, 
and,  more  rarely,  elliptical.  Their  size  is  given  as  vai-ying  from  57.2  to  50.8 
millimetres  in  length  l)y  4S.3  to  41. 1»  millimetres  in  l)readth. 

The  II.  8.  National  Museum  ccdlection  I'ontaiiis  a  series  of  eighteen  eggs 
whose  average  measiu'ement  is  55.5  by  44.5  millimetres.  The  largest  of  these 
measures  58.5  by  47,  the  smallest  52  by  44  millimetres.  None  of  these  eggs 
are  figured,  as  this  species  does  not  breed  on  the  North  American  continent. 


71.     Buteo  borealis  (fJMi:u\). 

HKn-lAll.Kll    HAWK. 


ir^ 


3; 

-    f  ; 

i 


;|l 


a 


Fiilrn  hniralis  GMVAAy.  Systnuii  Xatiuii'.  I.  ii.  irss.  ■,>(')(!. 
Buteo  bDvealin  Vieu.lot,  Xdiiveau  Dictidiiaii'c.  iv,  isid.  t^s. 

(B  -.>;!,  c  ;i.-)i,  R  4:10,  c  OKI.  V  .Tir.) 

Geocjraphical.  RANGE:  EiisttTii  Nortli  AiiicriiM,  wt;sl  ti)  horder  (if  Gn^iit  Plains; 
nccasiouiil  ill  eastern  Mexico;  Panama  (rasual!'). 

The  Reil-tailed  Hawk  is  generally  distributed,  and  breeds  more  or  less 
abundantly  in  suitable  localities  in  all  that  poi'tion  of  tlu^  I'nited  States  east 
of  the  Mississippi  Hi\er.  West  of  this  stream  it  occurs  sparingly  in  northern 
Louisiana,  ami  more  fre(piently  in  Arkansas,  tlu*  eastern  portion  of  Texas, 
and  in  the  Indian  Territorv ,  Kansas,  Xel)raska,  North  and  South  l>akota. 
It  is  fairly  couunon  throughout  the  area  indicated,  excei)ting  j-'lorida  and 
the  Gulf  coast  generally,  \vhere,  although  very  counnon  in  winter,  it  can, 
from  our  presi'Ut  knowledge  at  least,  be  considered  oidy  as  a  rare  sununer 
resident. 

North  of  (an-  l)order  it  is  found  thioughout  the  southern  parts  of  the 
Dominion  of  Canada,  ranging  from  Newfuundland.  Nova  Scotia,  and  New 
Brunswick,  wlier"  along  the  coast  it  is  generalK'  rare,  but  couunon  enough, 
probal)ly,  in  the  interior,  througli  the  pro\inces  ot'  (.Quebec  and  ( )ntario,  \\est 
to  Manitolta  and  the  Northwest  Territory.  .Mr.  W.  L.  Uishop  found  a  single 
nest  of  this  species  placed  in  a  large  birch  tree  near  Kent\ille,  Nova  Scotia, 
on  dune  H,  181)0,  containing  two  young  in  the  down.  lie  considers  it  rare 
in  this  province. 

'  History  of  BritiBh  Hird»,  18«1,  Vol.  I,  pp.  117-f^a. 


THH  UKD-TAILKI)  HAWK. 


207 


Oil  till*  Atliiiitic  st'iilMiiird  it  lias  nut,  a('i'(>r<liiij^'  to  (!liaii\l)t'rl<iiii,  liccii  taken 
north  ot'  latitiulu  4i)'^,  but  durin};-  the  iTiiiso  t»t'  the  l'.  S.  Fisli  CNmniiission 
,sc]i()oni'r  Gnimitiis,  in  tho  luontlis  of  .Inly  s\ni\  AuiiMist,  1SS7,  Mr.  Wilhain 
I'ahncr,  tho  taxi(h'rinist  ot"  thu  IJ.  S.  National  Miisoiini,  saw  two  of  thi'so  l)ii'(ls 
on  olio  of  tho  .Min;i,'an  IsIjukIs  in  tho  Strait  of  Mcllci  isle,  olV  tho  southern  coast 
of  Lal)rii(lor,  wliicii  point  iiiarks,  as  far  as  known,  tho  northern  limit  of  its 
ran;;o  in  this  diret'tioii.  lu  tho  interior  it  readies  a  niiicli  hij^hor  latitmle, 
liavinj>-  been  obsorvod  at  Fort  (Jlmrehhill,  Hudson  Hay,  l)y  Dr.  Hell,  near 
latitudo  f)!)"   north.' 

'IMio  lieil-tailed  Hawk  is  oiio  of  the  coininonest  and  best  known  of  the 
larji'er  llaptoros,  and  occurs  iiioro  or  less  almndantly  throMj;hoiit  the  eastern 
portion  of  tho  United  States.  It  is  partial  to  moderately  tiiiilu'red  districts, 
swain[)y  woods  and  tho  bottom  lands  aloii;>-  water  courses  beiii^'  its  favorites 
aljidin;"'  places;  i)ut  it  is  also  foiiiul,  tiiou^li  less  freipieiitly,  in  tho  inon! 
extensive  tracts  of  woods  on  uplands  and  in  tluf  mountain  reji-ions.  In  the 
extreme  northern  parts  of  its  raii;i'o  it  is  a  summer  residcuit  only,  but  never- 
theless it  is  a  liardy  bird,  and  can  rea<lily  endure  ;;-reat  de;;rees  of  cold.  It 
usually  passes  south,  at  times  in  consideral)le  flocks,  during;'  the  latter  ])art  of 
September  and  the  month  of  Octolier,  whih^  (piit(!  a  nnmbi'r  lini.>i'r  aloii;;'  o 


rtl 


nortlieru 


bord 


ers    III 


itil    \ 


ovemlter,  and   not   a  few  winter  reiru 


latitude  42'' 


ilarly 


nor 


iir 


th  of 


It  is  oiui  of  the  less  active  of  our  Ua])tores, 


■nerallv  slow  and  deliberatt 


in  its  movements,  and  tl.ouffh  larj^'er  and  far  stroii<^er  in  proportion  to  its  size,  it 


icks  tho  (lasn  ami  courage  o 


.f  C. 


Hawk 


k,  and  williiiLih'  contents  itself  with 


moio  humltle  i)roy.  It  may  freijueiitly  bo  seen  sitting;',  for  hours  at  a  time,  on  a 
dead  limb  of  a  tall  ti'MS  <>Towin>jf  at  or  near  the  outskirts  of  a  piece  of  woods, 
jireferably  near  water,  watchinj;'  for  its  (piarry.  Our  ini;:lit  think  them  asleeji 
at  such  tiuK^s,  but  they  are  wide  euou^li  awake,  as  the  woiild-i)c  collector  would 


soon 


iind  out  should  ho  try  to  u'l^t  witl 


mil  "uiisiio 


t  of  one.      Macli  bird  seems  t( 


have  its  favorite  perch,  and  this  is  resorteil   to   prett\'  coiistantlx'  from  da\-  ti 


hey  are  very  shy  and   war\ 


fro  II 


Ix'inji'   more   or   less    shot   at  and 


molested,  and  will   not  often  allow  themselves  to    be  approached  closelv. 

rnfortunately   the   Red-taile(l  Hawk  has  a  far  worse    reputation  with  the 


'rayt'  farmer  than  it  re;ill\-  do.sorves;  <4Tantin<;'  that  it  does  capture  a  i 


hick 


ell 


or  one  o 


f  tl 


10  smaller 


Ih 


birds 


s  now  and  then,  and  this  seems  to  bo  the  v:\> 


only  in  winter  when  such  t'ood  as  tlu-y  usually  snlisist  on  i>  scarce,  it  can  be 
readily  proved  that  it  is  far  mon^  iieiieticial  than  others  ise,  and  n^illy  doser\-es 
lirotection  instt-ad  of  haviiij;'  a  lioiinty  placeil  on  its  head,  as  has  lieeii  the  case 


111   S( 


veral  States. 

This  statement  is  fully  borne  out  by  the  careful  examination  of  more  tiiaii 


llireo 


hundre<l  st 


omaciis  ot 


th 


IS   snecie; 


iiiai 


h'    1 


l>r.  (!.    Hart  Merriam,   chief  of  the   IHv 


ISlllll       o 


i\'  an 

f  ]•: 


urn 


ler  the  direction   ot 


coiiomic 


Ornitl 


ioio"\'  am 


Maiumalojry,   U.  S.    I)e|)artinent   of   Ai^riculture.     His   report    shows    that   th 


'  (Jaondinu  liirils,  Cbumburlaiu,  x).  &I3. 


li 


/I 


•1 


i 


mm 


ah- 
}■»  5  '>  ■. 

-  \  I'    ' 

i.;  .'. 
il  ■ 


f: 


J  - 

|v  ■- '■ 

1- 

r '  ■  • 

It 

i'i.' 

h 

&» 

i  ■ 

pi 


ill 


208 


LlFli;  lUSTORIKS  OF  NOKTII  AMKKK'AN  BIRDS. 


Hrd-tfiilcd  Iliiwk,  iiistciid  of  liviujf  '"''fi"''l>' <•"  poultry  and  j;anu'  l>inls,  as  is 
gciR'rally  Ix-Iii-vcd,  t'ci'ds  mostly  on  iiiici'  and  slnx^ws,  as  wtdl  as  on  iron's,  toads, 
cmwHsli,  snaki's,  lizards,  and  insects  of  various  kinds.  Coniparativcdy  few  ot 
tlii'ir  stoinaclis,  less  than  ono  in  ton,  contained  tlie  remains  of  poultry  or  <;ame 
l)irds,  while   fully   two-thirds   contained   mice.      In   tluf    .M 


ississii)))!   an( 


ipp 


I   Ol 


HO 


Valley.s,  wliero  scjuirrels  abound,  they  feed  very  larjiely  on  these,  and  in  the 


more  open  prame  regions  ni  Iowa,  lllniois,  and  Wisconsi 


I( 


d  Wi 


they  1 


ive  on  "rouni 


(plU' 


rels,  <roi)ner 


UKl  meadow  nu( 


I'c;   rul)l)its  also  arc;  often  cauyht  by  then 


iUK 


I  small   Ijirds  but   rarely.      I'airs  of  thesu  Hawks  freipiently  hunt  together, 


xnd  ni  suck  case- 


it  is  dilHcult  for  even 


.so  mil 


d>l 


e  an  annual  as  a  .siiunre 


escai)o  tUem 


th 


A  to 


In  the  Miihlle  and  Northern  State 


S   SU( 


h  bii'ds  as  liave  mijirated,  ii-eiierally 


return  from  their  winter  haunts  l)v  the  middle  of  February  or  the  beginning  of 


March,  and  somewhat  later  farther  northward.      Duriu"-  tl 


le  mating  season  they 


are 


ither  nois\' 


lik 
d.l 


e  mos 


t  1 


vapt 


ores. 


Their  princi[)al  call  note  at  these  times — 
hih 


cueralh-  idtered  durui^'  their  aerial  uvratioiis,  while  circling'  about,  hiiili  in  ai 


chasing  and   pursuing  each  other  m    the   \iciiiity  i 


th 


.f  tl 


eir   tutiirt 


loiiie- 


-IS   a 


shrill  and  far-reaching  "kee-aah,"  repeated  at  short  interxals.     Another  note, 
somewhat  like  "chirr"  or  "pii-chiir,"  is  also  uttered  during  this  season,  when 


perched  on  some  deat 
more  silent. 


I  limb 


)  near  their  ne.st. 


At  otl 


ler  sea.soiis  they  are  much 


lere  IS  coi 


isidcralile  dilfereiice  in  their  iiestiii"'  haliits  in  some  s< ctioi 


that 


while  III  certain  localities  must  ot  them   nest  on 


hi-i 


1  'iTdund,  in  other 


places  the  inajoi-ity  prefer  the  heavily  timliered   bottom  land.* 


Dr.   W 


illiaii 


1    L.    ivalnli    has    kiiidl\-    furnished    me    the   followiii"-   notes  on 


this  species,   iiascd  princiiially  on  observations  made    by   him   in   ( dieida  and 


Herkimer    ( "ouiities,    X 


ew 


York.      He    sa\-; 


The    Ued-tailed     HaA 


are 


migrants   ii 


1    this   locality,  althoii-ili  a   t 


ew   ma\'    remain  during   mild    wiiiteiv 


'I'liey  begin  to  arrive  from  the  south  from  the  first  to  the  middle  of  .March. 


am 


I  at 


once  commence  reijairiui. 


tl 


leir  o 


hi 


nests  or   biiildinu'  new  oiii's, 


and 


l)y  the  1st  of  .Vpril  the  first  eggs  are  laid.     I   think  that,  with  the  i'Xce])tion 
of  tlu!   Maid   Kagle,  ILilia'tits  /ntcoirplmlK'i,  this  liird   lU'sts  earlier  in  this  local- 


ity than  any  other  iiu'iniier  of  tlu;  fainiK'  Falroiiidn 


Th 


jdaces  chosen  l)\ 


them  for  nesting  are  rather  small  woods,  and  when  tlie\'  nest  in  large  forests, 


rhicl 


1    IS   seldom 


tl 


ley    wil 


be   f( 


)e   found   on    the    e.\trem< 


th 


bord 


er.- 


Oiu 


e    III  a 


great  while  they  nest  in  isolated  trees  growing  in  the  vicinity  of  ^voods.    One 
])air  that   I   have  watched  with  great  interest  has  nesteil  for  several   \-ears  in 


a  larjre  elm  tn^e  that 


is  standing  in 


a  meadow  about    '20   rods   from 


a   w()o( 


w 


here  they  formerly  nested,  and  from  wlii<'li  they  were  driven   by  a   pair  of 


(treat   Honied  Owls,  litdi 


'ill  ririiiiiiciiiis,  taking  possession  of  their  nest 


1   h 


i\'e 


known  other  instances  of  the  (ireat  Horneil  Owl  appropriating  the  nest  of  the 
Red-tailed  Hawk.  In  one  case  the  Hawks  h.'d  built  a  nest  wiiich  tlie\-  were 
occupying  at  the  time  I  found  it,  and  they  used  it  for  two  or  three  years 
after.     It  was  then  taken  possession  of  by  the  Owls,  which  held  it   for  two 


} 


THE   IJED-TAILEI)  HAWK.  20d 

\c;ir.s  iiiid  tlii'ii  tor  sdiiie  cause  left  it,  and  after  reiiiaiiiiiif>-  umised  for  a  year 
it  was  aj^aiii  taken  l)y  tlie  Hawks  wliieli  liad,  in  tlie  mean  time,  nested  in  tlie 
same  wood  only  about  20  rods  away. 

"Both  this  and  tlio  Ked-shouldered  Hawk  will  sometimes,  when  driven 
from  H  nest,  build  a  new  one,  which  they  may  occupy  for  a  year  or  two 
and  then  return  to  the  (dd  one.  In  this  vicinity  the  Ked-tailed  Hawk  pre- 
fers birch  trees  al)ove  all  others  to  build  in,  and  al)out  SO  jier  cent,  of  their 
nests  will  l)e  found  in  such  situations.  The  remaining;'  2l)  per  cent,  is  about 
(•([iially  divided  amon;^'  bei'ch,  maple,  hemlock,  elm,  and  l)asswood  trees.  Why 
tiiesi-  birds  shonhl  prefer  birch  trees  1  do  not  know,  for  they  are  usuall\- 
not  very  hard  to  (dimb,  while  the  nif)st  ditticult  of  their  nests  to  reach  were 
built  in  elm,  hemlock,  and  l)asswood  trvcs.  They  ;;-enerally  select  the  largest 
and  tallest  trees  they  can  find  to  build  in,  and  their  nests  are  situateil  near 
tlie  tops,   in  crotches  tbi'uu'd  b\-  two  or  more  lai-j^c  lind 


IS,  or  at  the  lunction 


tl 


limlis  with  the  trindvs.     'I'hey  an^  usually  placed  from  (io  to  7(1  feet 


I'niii  the  ji'rouui 


Tlie  nests  are  composed   of  sticks  lined    with  strips  of  iiark  and  t 


WlliS 


iVniii  cdniferous  trees,  usually  the  hemlock,  and   feathers  from  the  birds  them 

Th 


>cl\cs,  which  liecome  more  and  more  numerous  as  incubation  ad\ances. 


'}■ 


arc   lai'Li'e    s 


triictiires,   but   not  out  of   pi'oportion    to  the  size  of   tlie  birds.      If 


nut   molested  tliev    will  occupy  the  same  nest   foi'  a  numlu'r  of  year.- 


About 


one 


dialf  of  the  nests  of  the   K'ed-tailed   Hawk   found  in  this  re- 


;iion  contained  four  e^j^i's  or  yoim;:',  and  nearly    all    the   remainder   t 
least   1   have   ne\cr   seen  a  nest  with  more  than  tour,  or  h 


wo.     At 


ss  tlian  tw<i  \iiuim' 


liirdr- 


Tl 


•   ])artly  inciiliated   cli'^s,  and   lint  one  or  two  that  contained  thr< 
leir  eu'^i's   \ar\'  coiisiderabK-  in   si/.e,   more  so  than   lliosi'  ot'  an\-  otiiei 


bird    ot    pre\'    with    win 
lia\e  no   connection   wi 


tl 


piitaiii    the    hii'ii'est    e^'fis, 


th 

ich    1   am    ac(piainte(l,   and    the    size  ot'   these    seem    to 

f   the    sets,   as  the    largest  si'ts   will   often 

irii'e   anil    small    ones    are    often 


th   tl 


e    sixe   o 


and   auain    liotli    li 


roiiiid  ill  the  same  nest.  Hut  one  lirood  is  raised  in  a  .season:  lint  like  most 
other  liinis  of  pre\'  the  female  will  lay  scNcral  sets  of  ej^'^s  when  the  first  base 
destroyed.      Both   sexes  assist    in   iiii'ubation,   and   usually   are   not   \('rv 

ie\'  once    lea\e    their   nests 


heeli 
.-nlicitoiis  abo 


lit  tl 


icir  ('uiis   ami    voiiie 


anil 


Iter  th 


lhe\'   seldom   come   within   tiunshut,   or  make  mm 


k. 


-h  a.h 


le  idaces  w 


here   K'ed-tailed   Hawks   like   lust   to   lixc  an 
d 


ill 


('   small   woods 


wiih   open   swaiiips,    or   with    meadows   and    pastures  near  li\,   and  mdeeil  a 


;roi 


mils  that  are  tVeipieiited  b\-  mice,  t'oi-  these   little  mammals  are  their  favorite 


ood,  as  IS  the  case  with  neai 


th 


Iv  all  other  Hawk 


anil 


(  hvl.- 


Tlieir  call  note  is  weak  for  the  si/.e  of'  the   bird,  and   has  a   rather  disa- 


Lileealile  sound,   resemblm"^-  the   sipu-aliii;.;'  of    a    pi;.;-  more   than   anythmj:'  elsi 
I    found  the   Wed-tailed  Hawk  rather  rare  in  I'utnam  and  St.  .lolins  ('ountie> 


I'loiida,  even   in  winter,  and   ver\'  few    remain  there  to  b 


On  .March    IS, 


1S!I1,  one  of  my  assistants  found  a  nest  of  this  species   in  a  wild  and  desolate 
place,  alioiit  'JO  miles  southeast  of'  San  .Mateo  and    I  or  o  n 
2(i!l57— liull.  1 It 


from  the  nearest 


' 


^^iii| 


i!i 


w~ 


'I!  « 


i'5r 


1:C 


210 


LIFK  IIISnUtlKS  OF  NORTH  AMFIMdAN   HIKDS 


house.     I  dill  iiiit  cximiiiic  this  iicst  till    Miircli   "Jd,  wlicii   it  cniitiiiin'il 


hint 


just   liiilclicd 


ni    ('"■<••  t'nini    \\IhcIi  tlic    nouiil;-  wiis  ou   tlic 


ciiicrmu';-. 


CdMUU"'    SOMlctllMCS    \VI 


('  |iiir<Mits   niiidc   mucii   iidn 
tliiu    10    feet   ol'  liiii 


;\\\i\ 


t'n 


Til 


f(|uciilly 


11 


v\\   ;lt    lll\    ( 


ynuilj;- 
inilil  of 
lillll 


lllMT, 


(•    iicst    u;i.- 


avu 


<l  |)ni('  tree  ui  low  piuc  woods  ink 


d  mI> 


tut  .'{II  \;irds  tVoiii 


|p|ii('('il    Ml   ;i    ^ooil- 
ii   cN  |ir('ss   sw;iiii|i. 


It  WHS  situated  fifi  t't'ct  f'nnii  tlii'  jfroiiiiil,  iiiid  iihniit  "J  tect  t'roiii  tlu^  liody  of  tlic 
tree,  on  a  lari^e  linil).  It  was  coiiiposed  of  sticks  with  jiiuc  iici'dlcs  scattered 
amon;^'  tlieiii,  and  lined  with  cypress  hark,  iiiiie  needles,  Spanish  moss,  raltliit 
hair,  and  feathers  tVoin  the  sittinj;'  liinls.  it  also  cnntaiiie(l  a  dead  mouse  and 
the  reinaiiis  of  a    lai'iic   rahliit.     Tlie 


>t,  thoiii-li  of  I; 


iru'f-   circumlereiice,  \\as 


vei\'  shallow 


nil 


1   had    hardiv  anv  de 


ire: 


ion  for  til 


(.     (.(J'O'S 


to   lie  in;    from  the 


fact  that  another  larye  nest  laid 


on  the  j^Touni 


1  liel 


ow  tins  one,  w 


liicli 


to   have   lieeii    hlowii    from    the   same    tree,    1    think    the    female    was    ohliycd 


to  lay 


in 


tl 


le   new 


one   liefore   it   was   completed.     The   e, 


'<■   wa^ 


ladlv    nesl- 


•<taiiied,  fairly  well  marked,  and  measured  (>-  li\'   h"i  millimetre 


Accordin^i-  to  Mr.  I'.  Smith,  jr.,  the  iieil-tailed   I  hn 
in^i:  the  Itreedinii'  season  in  portions  of  soiiiliwestern  11 


IS  \('r\-  common  dur- 


hoiid  ( 'onnt\',  where  tlie\    nest  in  consideralile  nil 


inois,  anil    especialU'  so 
miiers.      Here  tliex'  prefer 


luLih  dr\"  woods  to  the   swainpx 


liott 


olll 


ids   for   the   purpose  of  iiidilication 


No  special  pi'eference  is  shown  for  |(articular  species  of  trees;  oaks,  hickory,  or 
elms  ar(^  most  often  used  to  nest  in.  'I'hey  place  tlieir  nests  at  various  distances 
from  the  jironnd,  anywhere  from  J(>  to  !l()  feet  up,  j;ciierally  from  oO  to  (iO  feet. 


r 


111 


aiall\   tlie\-  lie 


4eil 


111  or  near 


the  edtics  of  timhered  tract 


am 


111  occasional 


^t  miu'lit  be  placed  in  an  isolateil  tree  in 


I  pasture 


ir  of  these   Hawk 


were  al\\a\'s  sure  to  i»e  found  in  an\'  ;^'ro\-e  inhabited  by  squirrels,  whose  worst 


eiieiiiies 


th 


are. 


Iie\'  also  catcli  many  rab 


bits 


itl 


111  southwesterii 


11 


IIIOIS   1 


liiliflcation  ordinarilv  commeii 


about  M 


irch  -Jtl; 


full  sets  of  e^'f^s,  however,  have  been  found  as  earl\'  as   .March  ;},  and  a^aiii  a? 


late  as  June  10,  tin;  latter  no  doultt  l)eiii!>'  second  or  even 


I  in 


1   1; 


IXIllti- 


Tl 


le 


imnilier  of  eii'^s  to  a  set  is  two  or  three,  some  seasons 


til 


smaller  sizeil  sets  priv 


loininatin^-,  in  others  tlu 


11'! 


■r.      In  mole  than  a    hundred  nests  t'.xainiiied  bv 


Mr.  Smith,  but  laie  contained  tour  eui's. 


I  fi 
The  nest  of  the  Ked-tailed  11; 


iwU  IS  a  lai'iie  hiilk\-  structure,  measiiriiii''  on 


an  average 


Th 


about  "21  ind 
Itl 


les   111   (H 


mieter  and   t'rom   10  to    I ,")   iucli 


es    111    (l( 


le  inner  cavity  is  ratiier  sliallow,  usiiail\-  not   o\ei 


inclles  deep. 


Tl 


■ptl 


lere    is 


coiisiilerahle  variation 


boll 


1  as  ren'anls  size 


im 


I  imik  in  their  nests,  those  wli 


b 


dt 


lave  heeii  nseil  tor  several  \'ears  in  succession,  ai 


id  to  which  sliiiht  addit 


lolls  are 


made   yearly,   exceediujr  such  as  an 


newly  built,     (ieiierallv    tlie\ 


iiiditVerently  lined  and  not  models  of  neatness.    Soiiietinies  the  e; 


lie  directly 


on 


tl 


e  coars 


e  twin's  of  which  the  nest 


composei 


■r  nests  are  fairly  well 


lined  with  strips  of  bark,  corn  husks,  dry  leaves  and  ;j;'rasses,  weed  stalks,  moss, 
or  hue  hemlock  twi^s. 

In  the  southern  part  of  its  r.iiiu'e  the  Red-tailed  ITawk  commences  iiestiiij. 
in  the  latter  half  of  l''ebruary  or  the  iirst   week   in   .March,  and  e\eii  at  iiiori 


i." 


THE  RKD-TAILRI)  HAWK. 


211 


Mni'tlnTii  |H)iMts  uiililiciitioii  somi'tiini's  Itc^iiis  ('(|ii;illy  ciii'ly.  .Mr.  .1.  W.  Viv>i- 
tiiM  illl'nriM>  IIH'  tllilt  lie  tniik  ii  set  of  (■L;';i's  of  this  species  on  .Mlli'cll  '»,  I  SIM), 
iiiNir  r>iiNtcr  in  cciitriil  lowii,  wliicli  were,  even  nt  lliiit  cfirly  date,  slightly 
iiiciil)!it<'il.  Heavy  snow  fell  wiiile  tlu3  v'^'^a  were  Wein^'  depositeil,  and  this 
|Mir  of  liirds  were  seen  rejiairin;;'  the  old  nest  some  time  in  the  latter  part 
lit'  January.  He  found  a  pair  ol"  these  l)irds  nestinji'  in  a  nidst  innisnal  sit- 
uation, their  domicile  heiiij;'  placeil  in  a  Cottonwood  tree,  not  over  12  feet 
I'rom  the  ground  and  clos(^  to  a  pul)Ii<-  road.  li>  the  western  parts  of  its 
ran^c  it  nests  frcMpu-ntly   in  lar^i'c  cottoiiwood   and  sycamore  trei-s. 

In  the  Xew  Kn;^laiid  and  Northern  States,  the  lied-tailed  Hawk  nests 
usually  in  .\pril,  ap|)ai'ently  as  often  din'inji-  the  lirst  as  the  last  half  ot'  this 
month,   and  correspondini;ly   later   nortliw  ai'(i. 

I'sually  hut  a  single  lu'ood  is  raised  in  a  season,  l»nt  in  the  hill  c(umtry 
of  South  ('arolina,  the  I'ieihnont  region,  where  this  species  is  not  uncom- 
uion,  Dr.  I.,everett  .M.  Loiunis,  well  known  as  an  e.\cee(liu;^ly  accurate  olisei'vcr, 
informs  me  that  two  liroods  are  not   infrecpient. 

If  the  first  SI  t  of  ('MM-s  is  lost,  a  secoinl  and  sometimes  a  third  is  laid, 
and  on  very  rare  oc<'asions  e\-en  a  fourth.  .\  |)air  of  iiirds  will  sometimes 
huild  two  nests,  and  if  one  of  these  is  rohlted  the  seciuid  is  made  use  of 
The  e.n'^'s  \ary  from  two  to  four  in  numl)er.  Sets  of  two  ;\iv  most  often 
luund  throuji'liout  the  Lireater  ])art  of  its  raniic,  while  three  are  not  rare,  and 
ill  northern  Xew  ^'ork  sets  of  tour  a|ipear  to  he  as  conmioii  as  smaller 
niics.  Incnhatioii  lasts  aliont  lour  \veeks.  the  male  assisting-  to  some  extent 
in  this  duty,  as  well  as  providing'  his  mate  with  food  while  (Ui  the  nest. 
The  et!'i!'s   ai'e   de])nsiteil   iit    inter\als   of  aliout   twii  days. 

(ieiu'rally  the  Ueil-tailed  Hawk  shows  l)Ut  little  coin'anc  or  de\dtion  in 
defense  of  its  eo-u-s  or  youni;-,  coutentiu;i'  itself'  with  uttei-in;^-  its  protest  l>y 
-hrill  screams  from  a  safe  distance,  l)Ut  as  in  e\cr\  thini;'  (Tse,  tlu'Ve  are  fVe- 
i|Uent  exceptions  to  this  rule,  and  man\'  pairs  show  much  dexotion  in  the 
del'ense  of  their  homes,  dartinj;'  down  dose  to  the  intruder,  and  screaming:- 
fierct'ly   at  him. 

The  uround  color  of  tllese  e;^;;s  is  usualK'  a  dull  Ol'  pale  cream\'  white. 
Occasionally,!  faint  l)luish  white  tint  is  perceptilile,  which  fades  more  or  less 
with   ai;'e. 

In  the  series  liet'oi'e  me  aliout  one-lif'th  of  the  euu's  "I'''  Ullspotte(1,  and 
II  iieavih'  marked  one  ma\"  lie  found  in  the  same  set  with  an  unspotteil  v<^[s. 
.\liout  four-fifths  ot'  the  euu's  are  more  oi'  less  marked  \vitli  irreyiilarlv  shaped 
spots  and  blotches  of  different  shades  of  reddish  and  yellowish  lirowns,  which 
\ar\'  consideral)l\'  in  size,  shape,  and  inteiisit\.  .\  few  s|)ecimens  ha\(!  loiiiii- 
pidinal  markings,  like  No.  "Jol.'iO,  Ihitrn  siniii/sm/i  (I'l.  s,  V]rr.  (1),  mid  some 
.■'how  shell  mai'kiuu's  of  lavender  and  ('cru-drali.  These  markinji's  are  often 
of  rather  uniform  size,  sometimes  larj^c  and   hold,  in  others  small  and  jiretty 

excnly    distributed    over    the    entire    sin'fai f  the  e;^;^',    ami    attain    they   ai'e 

(•oiilined  priiicipallv  to  either  v\u\.      The   mijorily  are  moderately  well   marked 


''! 


^M 


^:h 


i 


th 


I'  ii 


iiis- 


ii!l 


mm 


n  ;■ 


it 


')i 


212 


IJFK  IIISTOltFES  OK  NORTH  AMUUIOAX  lilKDH. 


and  only  dcciisioniilly  is  a  licavily  blotclu'd  set  tnuiid.  In  slifipc,  sonic  iirc 
npiirly  oval,  on(!  ond  liowcvor,  is  j'vncrally  a  tiiHc  snialk'r.  Many  are  ovate 
or  short  ovate. 

Tlie  shell  ill  most  specimens  is  coarse  and  stronj,dy  <jranulated,  l»nt  now  and 
then  an  eji'fjf  is  t'oniid  that  is  much  closer  i^rained  and  feels  rather  smooth  to  the 
touch.  The  avera<;-e  measurement  ot'  a  series  of  eighty- three  efi<;s  is  (!()  l»y 
•ill)  millimetres.  The  larj^'est  e}j<r  in  this  series  measures  (Jr)..")  by  HO,  the 
smallest  Ao..")   I>y  4")  millimetres. 

Inasmuch  as  there  is  no  perceptible  ditfereiice  in  the  ejifys  of  the  Hed-tailed 
Hawk  and  its  li-eoj^'raphical  subspecies,  the  type  specimens  have  lieen  selected 
fi'om  tlu*  wlioh?  serii's  to  show  as  nearly  as  possil)le  the  variations  in  markiiij;s 
irrespective  of  race.  Tliost^  tifrured  (of  Ihifco  horcdlin  })roper)  show  the  unmarked 
typo  and  a  fairly  well-spotted  effff. 

Of  these,  No.  12740  (I'l.  (I,  Kig.  5),  a  plain  colored  ej^g',  wa.  collected  in 
Richland  County,  Illinois,  by  Mr.  Hoi)ert  Ridj^way,  of  the  Smithsonian  Insti- 
tution, on  March  (i,  18S7,  and  No.  'JiUJlO  (IM.  (i,  V\>i.  (!),  a  distinctly  and  fairly 
well-marked  e^'g,  was  taken  by  Mr.  ,\.  W.  Pre  m,  near  IJa.vter,  Iowa,  April  7, 
18S8.      I'liey  are  from  sets  of  two  ejifis. 

72.     Buteo  borealis  kriderii  IIoorKs. 

kimukk's  ii.\wk. 

Bntat  hurrahs  var.  kvidivii  llooi'ics,  I'l'ufccdiii^js  Academy  Nat iii'.il  Scicucos,  Pliila., 

18?;),  X'3S,  I'l.  5. 
(B  — .  C  ;i")lc.  R  i:!i;,(.  C  .11!!,  U  WXn.) 

rjKooKAi'UiCAi,  u.wor, :  (ireat  Plains  of  tlic  Uiiitrd  States,  from  MiniiP.'iota  (o 
Texas;  ciist.  iri't';;iilarly  or  casually  tn  Inwa  and  iiDrtlirni  Illiadis. 

\'ery  little  is  yet  known  ref'arding  the  exact  limits  of  the  breedin;;'  rauffo 
of  Krider's  Hawk,  a  lijiht -colored  race  of  the  l-lastern  Hed-tail.  It  seems  to  be 
restricted  to  the  plains  proper,  and  up  to  the  present  time  has  lieeii  found  more 
freipU'Utly  in  western  Minnesota  diirini^  the  l)reedinji'  season  than  anywhere 
(dse,  thouii'li  nowhere  al)Uiidaiit.  ("ol.  N.  S.  (Joss  states  that  it  breeds  occasion- 
allv  in  western  Kansas.  Mr.  (Jeorn'c  G.  Cantwell  jrives  it  as  a  summer  resident, 
in  his  recently  publisheil  list  of  the  "Birds  of  Minnesota,"  and  he  writes  im* 
that  he  found  a  nest  of  this  Hawk  on  May  18,  188!),  containing  three  eggs.  It 
was  placed  in  an  elm  tree  about  Ao  feet  from  the  ground,  sitiiateil  in  a  grove 
which  fringed  the  Lac-cpii-parle  Hiver,  near  Daw.son,  l\Iinnesota.  The  structure 
of  the  nest,  as  well  as  the  (sggs,  he  says,  went  similar  to  those  (d'  the  common 
Ked-tail. 

Messrs.  Thiimas  S.  Kolierts  and  Franklin  Heiiner,  in  speaking  of  Krider's 
Hawk,  say:  "<)n  the  1  7tli  id"  .Iiiiie  we  took  from  one  (d"  the  large  cottoinvood 
trees  on  the  l)order  <d'  the  Minnesota  Hiver,  in  Mrown's  Valley,  a  young  Hawk, 
not  more  than  a  week  old,  which  we  l)rought  back  to   Minneapolis  with  us. 


KIMDRU'S  HAWK. 


2V^ 


'Pile  piirciit  bird  sonrcil  nhovc  the  nest  wliilc  tin-  voiuij;"  l)ir(l  was  heiiifj;  taken, 
:iiiil  liiT  imticcaMy  wliitc  a|)|)i'iiriiiic('  attnictcd  our  aticntion  at  once,  ami  wt- 
iiiilj:.'il  her  to  lie  i>r  tliis  sjn'cics.  'I'lic  ;in»wtli  of  tlic  youiij;'  hinl  lias  j^'nidiially 
cdiiliran'il  this  idea,  as  it  now.  at  tlic  aj^c  of  nearly  three  months,  shows  uinnis- 
tMk!il)le  evidences  of  l»eiii^'  this  liniit  variety  of  Wed-tailed  Hawk.  *  *  * 
I'liis  Uird  hiis  liecome  very  tame  and  is  a  jiTciit  pet,  allowing;-  itself  to  lie 
iianilled,  and  disrin;^iiishes  pei'sons."' 

Mr.   liol)urt   {{idj^'Wtiy,  of   the  Smithsoniiin   Institution,  has  also  examined 
t\V(t  fcimides  of  this  nice  wiiicli  were  siiot  from  tlieir  nests  in  Miimesota,  and 


K 


far   ai 
rider's 


have    Iteeii    ai)le    to    learn    this    !*ttiite    if 


tl 


e   oniv   one   m   wliicli 


lliiwk  is  as  yet  positively  known  to  Itreed.  it  is  likely,  however, 
iliMt  it  also  nests  in  tlie  prairie  reji'ions  of  Wisconsin,  lowii,  and  iita'theastern 
Illinois.  Mr.  11.  (J.  (,'ole,  of  (!liiciiii'o,  Illinois,  writes  me  that  he  collected  a 
liird  of  this  ract*  at  lliilf  Day.  Luke  (Jounty,  Illiiiois.  .54  miles  northwest  of 
( 'hiciij;t»,  on  July  -'>,  lS7(i.  which  evidently  wiis  a  summer  resident.  Its 
mate  wiis   also   seen 


hut 


was    too   w;!i'\' 


to    he    shot.      'I'll 


111 


tlie    U.    S.     NatiollJll    Museum   cnllectioll. 


US   specimen    is   now 


It  hiis  been  repeateilly  reporteil  iis  lireeilin;;'  in  western  Texas  iind  like- 
uis('  amoiij^'  the  clill's  of  (;olora(lo.  lint  these  records  are  soiiiewhiit  (picstioiialtle 
and  re([uir(<  coulirmatioii.      No  specimens  actualh'  taken    dnriiiii-    the    hreedinji' 


reason  in  tiiese    htates   havi 
ipi'iiitlioloiiical  collections. 


as   vet   found   their  wav   into  aii\-  of  our  larn-er 


I'iiere    are    no    |icisiti\el\-    ideiititied    s|ieciiiu'iis    of  the   e<i;i's    of   KriderV 


Hawk  in  the   II.  W.  National    .Museum    collection,   hut   they  are  not  likely   ti 
differ  materiallv  from    those  of  the   iirecediii<i'   sjiecies.      Nidilication   seems  to 
lake   place  a    little   later  tiian   wi 


the   preceilmji'   sji 

til   the   coiiiiiioii    Ke(l-taile(l    Hawk.      The  w 


in- 


ters are  spent  in  more  southern  latitudes,  in  Texas  and  sonthward. 

73.     Buteo  borealis  calurus  (('.\ssin). 

wksii;i;n   in:i)-T.\ii-. 

Hiiliii  riliirim  Cj\>isi\.  Pi-ipcecMliiiLCs  Acaili'iiiy  Natiir.il  Sciciircs.  Pliila.,  VII,  IS"),'), -.jsi. 
Hull  I)  bun  III  is  Viir.  rnliiriis  IliixiWAV.  Mulleliii  Kssex  Institute,  v.  XoVL'iuber.  is;;j,  ISi;. 
(H  -io.  -u.  C  :i.")h(,  K  4:)b/-.  (.'  ,^)i:,  V  ;!;i:/..) 

(iKo(iUAl'litCAi,  KANcuc:  Western  N'oilli  America.  tVoiii  tlie  Rocky  Mouiitaiiis  t.) 
tile   Pili-ilic:  siiiitll    illlci   .Mexicu;   c;isual   east    til    llliliiiis. 

The  lireediiiii'  i'aii;.i(^  of  the  Western  lied-tail,  a  darker  colored  race  than 
the  two  |ireceiliii;^-,  extends  from  northern  and  northwestern  'i'exas,  throuyh 
ih(!  l{ock\'  .Mountain  regions  of  Colorado,  New  Mexico,  aiitl  Arizona,  north- 
ward through  W'yomiii;^',  central  and  western  Montana,  Utah,  Nevada,  and 
Idaho,  anil  on  th((  Pacific  »'oast  from  Lower  Calit'ornia,  tlirou;;h  California, 
<  >reo()ii,  and   Washington  well    into   Uritish  ('olumbia.     A  single  specimen,  a 


i'l[i 


\m  I 


n 


'  lliillcliii  Niillall  Oriiillidlogiciil  C'liili,  Vol.  C>,  .laiiiiar.v,  IsSO,  |>.  17. 


w 


a 


i 


m 


l-l:: 


>l! 


4 


1   i 


214 


Liri:  IIISTOIMKS  OF  N()I!TII  AMKKK'AN'  lUltDS. 


youii^-  liii'il,  wiiK  sliat  l»y  l/n'iiti'iiiiiit  lvnck\v«'ll,  V.  S.  X.ivy,  in  tlit-  vicinity 
of  Hot  SpriiiLis  Miiy,  oM  Miiroiinr  IsImikI,  ntsir  Sitkfi,  Aliiskii,  Ifititmlc  f)!!^  .'{(»', 
on  .luuc  .'),  IssO;  tills  WMs  |iioiiiilil\'  nilscd  III  liic  iici^'liltorluioil,  :iiiil  iiiiH'ks 
the  most  noi'tiii'i'M   ])oiMt   nt    wliicli   It   li;is   Net   hccn   roiiiiil. 

'I'lic  Wcstci'ii  Ucil-iail,  tlioiiL;li  iiowlicrc  very  iiliiiiiii.int,  Is  pretty  i^cncnilly 
flisti'iltntcil  over  wcsicrii  N'orlli  Ann  tIim  at  iiirj^i',  iiinl  is,  next  to  Swainson's 
lliiwk,  the  comiiioiifst  ot'  tile  lar;;'i'r  Kaptorcs  t'oinid  in  tlu'sc  regions.  Its 
lial)lt^<  ari'  in  many  i-cspccis  similar  to  those  ot'  tlie  common  Ucd-tailed 
Hawk  of  tile  I'lastern  States;  it  is  fond  of  the  tall  timlier  horderiiii;'  tlie 
reams,  and  Is  as  often  loimd  fai'  In   the  mninitain  iiasses  and  deep 


))anks  of  sti 


cafions  as  in  tlie  nnn'e  open  eountr\'  In  the  toothdis  and  the  adjacent  plains, 
lait  seems  to  slum  tlie  dense  and  e\tensi\c  forests,  and  Is  rarely  seen  cxcept- 
iii"'  on  the  horders  of  these,  in  some  of  tlie  desert  rc'iioiis  of  western  'I'cxas, 
southern  New  Mexico,  ami  Arizona,  it  Is  not  infrecpieiitly  met  with  at  lon^' 
distances  from  water,  and  lias  e\cn  lieeii  found  lireediiiL;'  in  sncli  localities, 
it  is  onlv  a  summer  resident  in  the  more  iiortiiern  parts  of  Its  ranne,  wiiiter- 
iii|>-  aloii'i-    the    soiitlierii    liorder  of   liie   I'liited    States,  or  iiassiu"'    siiiitli   into 


M 


exico. 


( 'ol.  X.  S.  (ioss  has  found    It   not   niicomnion   In   winter,   in    K 


insas, 


Mid  I  liav(^  met  with  It  dnrini'-  everv   winter  mouth  at    Fort   Klamatii,  Ore^c 


d  I 

lilt  not  as  fre(|ueiitly  as  in  the  suimner. 


t  IS  oiu^  ot  the  earliest  imiirants  to  return  to  its  lireediui;'  ciromids,  arm 


iiiij'  a  hoi 


It   the    latter    iiarf    of    l-'einiiarv    or   the    first    week    in    .March,   .old 


IS 


reailily  noticed  then,  liotli  on  account  of  Its  size  and  its  shrill  sipteals,  uttereij 
diirinj;'  the  ^ireater  part  of  the  day  wlille  cir(dlni;'  liii;ii  in  the  air,  in  prox- 
imity to  its  future  summer  home.  'I'liey  ap|iear  l<i  lie  Ncry  miicli  attached 
to  certain  localities  and  return  to  them  from  year  to  year.  Their  call  notes 
are  verv  similar  to  those  ot'  the  i"'asterii    IJeil-tail. 

In   Wasliluiitoii,  Idaho,  ()reL;(in,  and  ( 'aliforiila  if  ll\es  principally  on  tlie 
dilVereiit 


miiioii   and    destriictis'i'    in    tin 


■ipecies     ot'    ground    s(plirrels    so    coi 
States,  as  well  as  on  chliimunks,  mice,  snakes,  lizards,  froy's,  raliliits,  and  now 


d    tl 


111(1    tUell    )l  clllclcen. 


Iia\e    never 


se(!u  one    nmUfstini^    cliickeiis    duriiiu' 


niimher    of    vcars'    residence    where    these    Itirds    were    not    uucommou.      Mr. 


Charles  A.  AUeii,  of  Xicasio,  Calil 


ornia,  coriN 


iliorates  this.      II 


e  sa\'; 


I    I 


lave 


iie\'er  known  them  to  distnrli  domestic   I'owls.     TlieN'  sulisist  on  small  animais 


anil    ca 


tch    I; 


iru'c    nuniDers  o 


f  snake..."     Dr.    K.  A.  .M 


earns,  assistant    siirijeon 


r.  S.   Army,   found   remains  of  rattlesnakes  In  the  crojis   of  three  specimen 


nil 


licatiiin'  that   tlie\"    are  a   inati'l 


1  tor 


e\en    these     | 


loisollolls     rei) 


tiles.      In    tl 


late  suimner  and  fall  they  llxc  to  a  yreat  extent  on  iirasshoppers,  wherever 
tliex'  are  aliniidant,  and  seem  to  he  \crv  toiid  ot  tiiem.  i>irds  shot  at  such 
times  I'arely  contain  aiiv  other  food   In  their  stomachs. 

Mr.  William  Lloyd  writes  me  that  in  western  Texas  they  feed  on 
prairie  doi;s,  I'ock  sipilrrels,  cottontail  and  jaidc  raliiiits,  an  occasional  Scaled 
Partridge,  and  in  winter  sometinu's  on  the  carcasses  of  n'oats,  sheep,  and  cattle. 


•si 


ttiiiii'  around  like  true  \'ultures  waitiii"'  for  sick  animals  to  die.     Mr.  \V.  ( )ti 


TIIH  Wr.STHUN   I!i;i)-TAII- 


Mllirl'snli   illt'nriMS    llir  tllilt    ill   uuc    cif    lllcir    llcsls     Hear 


215 


iiywiinls,    Calit' 
iiitaiiiiii;;'    ii   ycniii;;'   ll.iwk   still    in   the  dnwii,    In-    loiiinl    Iwn    ;;n|ili('rs    iii 


iiniia, 


Hi    M 


•till  trap  (■(iiitaiiiiii;''  a  si|uin('l;  ami  In-  also  saw  a  jtair  of  tlicsf  liji-ds  linlit- 
iiy'  or  playiii^i'  over  a  snake,  wliicli  would  lie  di'o|i|iri|  i)y  one  ot  tliciii  and 
•aiiulit   li\  llic  otlicr  licl'orf  it  rcaciicd  the  ;;roiiiic|,  until   liiialh'  tlic  pri/.c  was 


carricil   o 


ir. 


Ill  I 
k.'s  the    r. 


IIS  iiaucr  on 


Itirds  IVoin  tlic  Faralloii  i>lani|s,"  Mr.  Walter  K.   Mrvant 


iwiiil:'   stateinelll    l'e;;ardlli;;'    tins    s(|iis|iecie 


ma 


island    IS   visiteil   l)\'  iininliers  o 


!• 


serv  sjiriii'     tl 


f  these   Hawks.      In   IssJ  tl 


ie\-  came    iii 


Aiiiil, 


alioiif  the   time  of  tlie  ani\al   of  tlie    .Miirres,  lea\iiie'  ajiain  in  .May.      Dnriiiji 
ilieir  slioit  stay   tliey   fed  alnio.-t  e\cliisi\cly    upon   the  Miirres,  killiiiij',  in  tin 


Id. 


estimafioii  of   .\Ir.  l'",niei-,on,  se\'efa!  tlo/.en  a  ila\ 

( )n  llie  whole  the  Western  U'ed-tail,  \  iewed  I'loiii  all  econonii<'  standpoint, 
is  faf  more  lieneli<ial  than  otherwise. 

N'iditieatioii  Itej^ins  rather  early 1    where  the  Itirds  are   not  persistently 

disiiirlied    the  old    iii'sts   are    resorted   to  ami  repaired  from   year  to   year.      In 

I'  this   siilispecies   lia\('   lieeii    found    as 


III     (.ii-ux     II 


ear 


mtherii  ( 'alit'ornia   full    set- 
Iv  as    l''el>niar\   •_'!>:  usualK,  however.  llie\'  ilo  not   la\'  miieh  liefore    .March 


d  t 


II,   ami  till-  maiori 


ty  not  Ipefore   .\pril.      Most   of  tl 


hem   nest   Ml    this  month,   not 


on 


1\'  in  ("alifornia  inn  in    .\ri/.oiia.  New  .Mexico,  and   northwestern   Tesas  als 


!•; 


\i'ii  at   iioints   consideralih' 


fartl 


ler  north,  as  at    I'ort    Lajiwai, 


Idalio.   I  lia\i 


1  h 


found   full   sets  of  (■;;•^•s  li\-  .\pril    111.      ill   tile  moimtains   ot'  ( )reL;'on,    Wash 


IIIL!- 


Idalio,    .Montana,    and    WxomiiiL''  llie\-    iisiiallv   nest   s 'wliat   hit 


Ion, 
eral 


has  foiinil  this  siil 


er,    -.cn- 


ly   ill    the  last    week  of  April  or  the  lieuinniiiii-  ot'  .May.      .Mr.   I''.  Sfepheii,- 
ispecii's  nestiiiL;'  as   l.iti'  as  June  li',  iiiit  in  this  case  tin-  liird> 


'I'll 


i>t    likely    lo>i    their   lirst   clutch. 

le  nests  arc  niaced  at   various  distanci's  from   the  Liinund,  soini'tinies   in 


P 


i|mle  low  situations,  and  a^i'Min  at  ;i  iircat  heiji'ht,  especiaiix  wlieii  |ilaced  iie;ir 
llic  lops  ot'  tall  rcil>\(iod  and  jiine  trees,  ol'teii  fiill\'  jdi)  lect  from  the  ^i'rouiid, 
and   iM'aclicalK'    inaccessilile.      .\ir.    W.    Iv    I ).   .Scott    mentions    lindinu'   iicsts  of 


tins  sipccii'S   II 


1   soiiliiern    Arizona   a-   low  as    10  t'eet,  and  one  oiil\-  7  t'cet    fi 


'om 


the  yroiind.      I  iieir  avera^'( 


I'll 


height     is   from   .'id   to   ."lO   feet.       ill    their 


clioice    o 


llesllim'     sites,      lary'e     cottoliWoiM 


1>,    sxcamores,    and    li\e    oaks    are    liciieralK' 


willows,  ;inil    as|)elis 


sehtctcil,  while    pines,    reilwood    trees,    junipers,    lllesiplili 

come  in   the  order   iianieil. 

Ill  southern  .\ri/.oiia  they  .ilso  nest  occasionally  in  a  sahiiara,  the  i;iant 
c;ictiis  peculiar  to  that  region.  (  >ii  .March  21,  Isj-J,  |  found  ;i  not  of  this 
subspecies  thus   situated,  which  contained    two   partly  iiiciiltated    eji'^s.      It  wll^^ 


a    vcrv   lartic  and    liulk\'    oik 


and   had  evideiitlv  heeii  used   for  a  numlicr  of 


'V'ears,  the  sticks  in  the  liottom  of  the  iicst    heint;'  (piite  rotten,      it    was  placed 


'tween   tin;   main   trunk  and   one   of  tl 


le  arms  o 


f   the   cactus,   aitout    I'J    feet 


iroi 


I  the   "round,  and  was  fiumd    near  the   source   of   liillitto  Creek,   Arizoii 


Till!  iR'st  was  rather  Hat  on  top,  and   fairlv  well   lined  with  the  inner  hark  of 


I  l'rii(i!iilia;;»  t'lilirnniiii  Acacliiii.v  SrloiircH,  ail  ser.,  Vul.  i,  ISs-,  p. -I.'i 


i'll 


■ill 


FT 


I* 


:|(i 


i; 


1) 


III 


'<! 


2  It} 


liiir,  msToitiKs  OK  nohtii  amkkican  mitns. 


the  cottoinvfxxl  tiiiil  u  lew  ilry  Icitvcs.  It  was  tully  .'{<>  iiiclics  in  diamt'tcr 
nil  tup  iiinl  'Jil  iiii'lics  i|('('|)  tiiitsiilt'.  Ill  soiitlirni  ( 'nlDcailo  iiinl  iinrtliwt-sti-rii 
'TcMls  lliry  llcsl  (MTilsinliiilly  nil  clilVs  iillil  till-  siilt-s  ul'  |iiT|icllili)'llliir  lillltl's, 
Mr.  William  Llnyd  incsciiinl  a  liiic  sit  nt'  lliicc  cjjjis  nl'  tliis  s|ic(ics  In  |lu« 
U.  H.  Natiniial  MtiHtMiiii  rnllcctinii,  takrii  I'niiii  tli*>  nitl*^  of  a  tlialk  ItliilV,  aliniit 
75  I't'ft  Irniii  tlic  linttniii  ami  20  Iri-t  I'naii  the  tn|i  nf  llic  Idiill',  on  April  -J,  iHltd, 
ill  I'rcsidin  Cniiiity,  Texas.  Sucli  sites  arc  |anltai)ly  stdfcftii  on  ancaiiif 
n!'  tlic  ahsciicc  nl'  siiitalilc   trees, 

1    lielie\e   tliey    rarely    laiild    a    new    nest    in    tlie  West,  tlie  nld   nlles   lieil 
}reiierallv    rejiaireil    liy    tlie    addition    nt'  a   little    tVesli    material.     'I'lie  lilll•nl|^ 
liark  nt'  tlie  redwood    is  ol'teii   used    ''or    linin;;'  wlieii  nlitainalde,  and  tlie  line 
inner  liark  of  tlie  cottoiiuood   likewise. 

In  western  Texas  tlie  >aiiie  nest  lias  orcasioiially  done  duty  for  two 
dilVereiit  species  of  Uaptores,  tlie  Western  llnrned  ( >« Is  iisiii).;  it  ill  .laiiiiary 
and   l''el)niary,  and  tlie   U'cd-tails  snlise(|iieiitly. 

le  lii'ood   is  raised   in  a   season;   a  second   and   sometiines  a  tliinl 


Hut 


II   SIU"' 


S( 
us 


t  of  e<ij;s  is  laiil,  liowever,  slioiild  tlie  first  lie  taken  or  destroyed.  The 
mil  inimlier  of  e;;jis  is  two  or  tliree,  sets  of  one  or  lour  heiii^i'  rarely  found. 
I  lia\c,  however,  found  the  Western  IJeil-tail  inciiliatiiiji'  a  siiijile  e^fi'  in  which 
the  emhi'NO  was  well  adsaiiced  and  where  the  liirds  had  not  lieeii  previously 
distnrlied,  and  also  found  a  set  of  rniir,  near  l''ni't  La|iwai,  Idaho,  in  the 
spriiiji'  of  1S71. 

Mr.    ( 'harles    II.    To\Miseiid     tnok    aiinther    set   of    four    near    Ked     Hliilf 
California,  in   April,  issl.     The  nest   from   wiiich   these  ej^'fi's  were  taken   w 
placed   in  a  scriililiy  oak.  alioiit  'ii)  feet    from    the    ji'roiind.      It   was    liiiilt 
lieavv   twiji's  and  had  a   uniform  liniiii;'  of  r^oap  root   lilier.' 

Iiiciiliatinii  lasts  ahoiit  I'mir  weeks,  and  the  e;i';;s  are  deposited  at  Interxals 
of  a  couple  of  da\s.  There  is  no  marked  dill'ereiice  in  the  size,  shape,  and 
color  of  these  ejij^s  as  compared  \\itli  those  of  the  commnii  lied-tailed  Hawk, 
and  they  are  ]a-actically  indistinynishaltle  I'mm  each  ntlier;  lait  amnii;;'  those 
liefnre  me  the  proportion  of  spotted  ones  is  larjicr  than  in  the  former,  \ery 
few  lieiiiji'  <'ntirely  immarkeil.  The  a\-era;:-e  nieasaremeiit  of  thirty-six  eji'jis 
of  the   Western    IJcd-tail    is   o'.i   ii\     Id.,')    millimetres.     The   lar<i<'st  e;;ji-  of  the 


•ries  measures  (1(1  1)\-    Id.o,  tli 


e  smalles 


t   ."..'J.-)   Ii\     II 


millimetres. 


The  \^ 


\|)e  specimens  selected  show  the  more  heavilv  markeil  styles.  No. 
■_*(l74.'i  (I'l.  (1,  Fi;^-.  7).  from  a  set  nf  three  in  the  IJeiidire  cnllectinii,  was  taken 
l>y  the  writer  near  ('amp  llariie\-,  Oreji'nii.  .May  "Jit,  1S77,  and  iucuhatioii 
was  far  ad\ance(l  when  found.  It  shows  a  coiisideralile  amount  of  the  laveii- 
iler  and  I'cru-dral)  shell  marking:',  not  cnmmniilv  fniiiid  aiiinn^'  the  ("^<xx  of  the 
Ued-tailed    Hawks.      Xo.  ■_'II7(;;{  (I'l.  (1.  V\'/.  S),  from  a  set  of  two,  IJeiiilire  C(d- 


lection,  is   the   darkest  coha'ed   ei;';'  of  the  entire  seri 


Tl 


le  "roiiiH 


I     .'Ol 


or  111 


this  specimen  is  a  rather  liiilit  fawn,  while  in  the  other  it  is  of  the  normal 
tint.  It  was  taken  hy  invself  from  a  nest  in  an  oak  tree  near  Camp  ( "ritleii- 
deii,  Arizona,  April  211,  ls72. 

'rnucidiiiKH  r.  .S,  Niitioiiiil  .Mii^iiiiM,  ls-7,  Vol.  x,  p. '.'IW. 


8A1NT  LUCA8  KliD-TAIL. 


217 


74.     Buteo  borealis  lucasanus  Uiixiway. 

SArNT    I.ICAS    l(i;ii-TAII,. 

Ilitliii  liDrnili.s  viir.   Iiiciisiniii,'-:   [Iwmw.w,  ill  C'oiii's's  Key  In   Xcirtli   Aiiii'iic.iii  Birds, 

is;;.',  -iir,  (iiiiclcr  /;.  lion  III  is). 
(H— .  V,:Vi\h,  U  V.UU:  C'.is.  {'  :\r„.) 

(iKnciiJArillCAl-  UANiiK:  ('.'iin'Sl,  Liiciis.  I,i>\M  r  ( 'alilnniia. 

'Tlir  St.  Ijii'iis  I»('il-tiiil,  II  sriii'ich'  tciiiiltic  nice,  very  siiiiilar  In  /)'.  Iinrnilis 
tiihinis  cxccittiii;;'  lliiil  llic  liliitk  liiiis  on  llir  tiiil  n\'  tin-  tuliilt  iiff  ^iciiiTiilly 
waiitiii;;-,  is  cuiitiiicil  In  tile  ( 'aiic  St.  Liiciis  rfjiioii  nf  l^uwcr  ( 'alil'uciiia.  Its 
lialiits,  nests,  iiiiil  i'iX'^s,  arc  likr  tlinsc  ol'  tlic  Wcstcin  licil-tail  wliidi  iM(ii|>it's 
llic  siiiiif  lix'iilitit'S. 

Sinn-  tliis  WHS  written,  Mr.  Willijim  lire«ster  lias  niinle  a  caret'iil  study 
III'  tills  siipposeil  silltspecies,  aiiil  in  a  Iclti  r  ti>  nie,  dateil  .Marcli  l"i,  I  SKI, 
lie  makes  tile  I'ullowin;.;'  remarks:  "In  my  n|iini(iii  tliere  is  no  siieli  liini 
as  l!i(l((i  hiiicdlis  hiiirsdinis.  Tlie  t\|ie  ami  tlie  iiKinnted  speeiineii  in  tlie  {'.  S. 
Niitituiiil  .Miiseiim  enllecliini  are  simply  lij^litly  handed  specimens  ot'  the 
Western  l\ed-tail.  hutli  have  the  hand,  hnt  it  is  indistinct.  I  can  miitcli  the 
iiKiimted  hird  hy  specimens  iVuiii  lintli  Lnw  er  ( 'alit'uriiia  and  Ari/diiii.  I 
hrniii^lit  tii^i'ctlicr  iieai'h  one  hmidred  skins,  incliidin;;'  over  tliirtx  IVnm  Lower 
Ciilit'oniiM;  the  latter  as  a  series  show  110  peculiarities  so  far  as  I  can  see. 
The  tvpe  of  liiiU'it  IioiciiHk  hirdsdinis  is  certaiiiK'  peculiar  in  respect  to  the 
tail,  imt   in  no  other  wav."      1    liillv   ayree   with    Mr.  IJrewster's  conclusions. 


^^Hi 


I 


75.     Buteo  bo     ills  harlani  (Ai  niiioN). 

IIAUI.AN  .s    HAWK. 

/■'iilcii  hiirliiiii  AmriioN,  P.ii'ds  of  .Vmi'iica.  1.  isiiii,  .tii,  Pl.  .sil. 
Hiilio  lioriiilis  liiirliiiii   ftllxiWAV,  Auk,  vil.  l.silO.  -.'(l."). 

(i!  ■.'•.'.  ('  :!.Mi.  I{  i.i.s.  (•  .-.i.-,.  r  :!:!:,/.) 

(inooHAl'IlICAl.  l!AN(ii::  (<  111!' Slates  and  I,ow.t  ^lississi|)|ii  N'allcy;  iKntli  (casually) 
til  Kaiisjis.  Iiiwa.  Illinois.  ;iiid  I'ciiiisyl\aiiia  ;  cast  In  (lenrHJa  ,'0111  Fhirida. 

llarliin's  Hawk,  which  till  receiith'  lienred  iis  ji  distinct  species,  is  now 
considered  onl\  a  \ariet\'  of  lliiUi,  hundlis.  It  is  the  darkest  of  the  ditfereiit 
ecoiii'aphical  races  of  this  sjiecies,  and  ranges  trtnii  northern  I'lorida,  (ieoi'eia, 
the  (liilf  States,  and  tlic^  Lower  Mississippi  N'alh'y,  north  to  Kansas,  Iowa, 
Jlliiiois,  and   Peiinsyhania. 

All  we  know  altoiit  the  lireedine'  lialiits  id  lliis  siilispecies  is  Aiidiilion"s 
'statement,    who  first   descrilied   this   Hawk   from   a   pair  olitaineil   liy   liiiii  near 

Si.    I'Vancisville,    Louisiana,    which    had    lired    in    that    neiehhorh 1    for   two 

seasons;  were  sli\'  and  dillicnlt  id'  approach,  and  for  a  long-  while  (diided  his 
pursuit.' 

'  IliHtoi'.Y  ol'Niiiili  Aiiii'iii'Hii  Itiid.H,  1S7I,  Vol.  in,  p.  'J'.M. 


fi 

I 


I 


■ 


!i:^t 


mi 


' 


■ 


218  MKK  niSTOlMKS  OF  NORTH  AMKUICAN  lURDS. 

^[y  tViciid,  Dr.  William  I^.  lkal|ili  writi-s  me:  "llarliiu's  llawk  is  not  very 
uiipoiiiinon,  tliiriii;^'  the  winter,  in  St.  .Inlms  and  I'ntnam  Counties,  Florida, 
lint   until    this    seas(   i    I   had   taken   it  lor  tlie  Caracara,   which    is  (|uite    rare 


here,   and    1    now   l)e,ie\e  that   most  of  the    Black    \l,\\ 


wUs  seen  l)v  me  duriny 


past  years  were  ret'eralde  to  this  sul)sj)ecies.  'l'he\-  are  exactl}'  like  the  Ued- 
tailed  llawk:^  except  in  color,  and  their  call  note  is  also  the  sanu-,  only  lu'inj'' 
lonjjfer  drawn  out.  The  call  of  the  latter  liird  as  already  stati-d,  sounds  like 
tlu^  s(juealin}4'  of  a  \A'^,  or  'kee-i'c-e,'  and  that  of  Harlan's  Hawk  lilie  'kee- 
ee-ee-i'-e-ee.' 

"Thev   are   not    uncoimnon    here    in    wild    and    indrecpiented    places,    l)ut 


are   seldom    seen    ni    the    more    s( 


■tthMl    parts.     'I'll 


e\-    are    well    Known 


to    th 


avi'    seen    six 


native   hiuitei-s  and    cattle   men,   wlio   call    them   dosha wks. 

or  ei"ht  dillereiU  l)irds  this  .season,   ISIH,   that  1  am  sure  helonyed  lo  this  snb- 


si  (ecies. 


The    last   one    noticed    1 


t\'    me    was 


a    few    da\s    liefore    these    iiolt 


were  written,  on  .March  '_'(!.  With  the  exception  of  the  lirst  pair,  oltservcd 
on  ["'el)ruary  .'{,  which  acted  as  havint:-  taken  possession  of  a  lar-i'e  nest  in 
a  pine  tree,  hut  which,  on  a  sui)se(pieiit  \isil,  was  found  occupied  Ity  a  pair 
of  Florid;'  Marred  ( (wis,  I  have  seen  no  evidence  of  their  hreedinji-.  nor 
ha\('  1  Ion  I  an  occupied  nest,  although  a  friend  and  my.self,  as  well  as  two 
assistants,  have  lookeil   fur  them    to   the   exclusion   of  nther  nests   for   the   past 


month 


th 


If  tl 


le  ^^rass  m 


the  1 


ow  lime  woods  or  prairies 


lie   I 


ired,  and   these   liird 


are  near  ellou^^h  to  see  the  smoke,  tlle\  \\'\\\  come  til  it  at  olice,  like  the 
Ked-tailed  and  otlier  Hawks  alreadx'  mentioned,  and  ll\  jii-I  ahead  of  the 
lilaze   to  catch   the  small    mammals    driven   out    liv    tlii'   heat.      Thev    are   verv 


will 


1    inileed,    and    mil 


ess    coiicealeil    tVoiii    their    vi<'V\     it    is    almost    impossilile 
for  a    person    to    L:'('t    nearer    to  one    tiiaii    .'((Ml    vards.      ( )ue    of   iiiv     as>istaiits 


tells   me  that  on    .March   L".i  I 


le   saw    live   III    tiicse    Hawks   that   came   to  a    iii' 


irairie   lire   that    had    lieen  start 

if   tl 


le   >aiil    that   a    pair  o 


if   these   I 
II. 


mils   were 


cliasiuji'    oiie    aiiotlicr   as    it    thev     were    niatiUL;',    and    that    one    Hew    into    the 
smoke  and    cau^^lit    souu'    >mall    mammal    which   it    iia^e    to   Its    mate      I    have 


examiiK'd    several    iiests    that    I     wa> 


tol 


d     Wer •cllpled     li 


V     these    liinis    last 


V  ear,  hut  have  not  found  aiiv  tliinu   in  them,   and   lielieve  they   have  not   liei;iin 
nesting-  yet." 

The  "u-st   and  e<^;:s  of  Harlan's   Hawk  are  proliahly   very  similar  to  those 
of  till'  common    Kcd-tailed    Hawk. 


THE  UHD-SIJOULDKIJED  liAWK.  219 

76.     Buteo  lineatus  ((imkmn). 

Ki:i>-.sii()iij)i;iir.ii  hawk. 

Fiilro  linedlu.s  Gmkmx.  Systciiiu  Natiii'ji',  1,  ii.  IT.ss,  -Ms. 

fliilto  liuKthiN  Jakdink,  ciI.  Wilsdirs  AiuiTicaii  ( )riiit!ii>l()ii:y.  11,  is.'iv',  JJitO. 

(lEOOKAPlIlCAL  KAX(iK:  EiistiTu  Xijit  li  America:  iiort  li  to  Nnvji  Scolia  and  smith- 
ii'ii  Canada;  west  to  Texas  and  tlic  (ircat  Plains;  soutli  to  the  (Jiilf  coa.'-t  and 
.Mexico. 

'riic  ln'ccdiiij''  raii^i'c  of  tin-  Rc(l-slimil(lcr(.'il  Hawk  cxt'-iids  tlii'oii^li  cast- 
.'I'M  Ntii'tli  .Vincrica  Iroiii  .Maine  tn  Flni'ida,  ami  westward  to  tin'  borders  ot' 
the  (ireat  Plains.  It  reacdn-s  central  'IV.xas,  where  it  appears  to  be  connnon, 
and,  acconlinj^'  to  .Mr.  William  Lloyd,  it  is  a  rare  resident  of  western  Te.xas; 
it  is  also  found  in  tlie  eastern  jiortioiis  of  the  Indian  Territory  ami  in  east- 
ern Kansas  and  Nel)raska.  it  appears  to  be  rare  in  Minm'sota,  ami  prol)al)l\' 
occnrs  in  small  mindiers  in  the  more  heavily  timbered  parts  ot  South  and 
North  Dakota.  .Mr.  W.  K.  D  Scott,  in  iiis  "I'lirds  of  the  (inlf  Coast  of 
Florida,"  reports  it  as  connnon   ami   breedine-  there.' 

While  perhaps  the  majority  of  tlx'  l{e(|-shoiddered  Hawks  fonnd  in  the 
central  parts  of  'I'exas  liear  a  closer  resendilam-e  lioth  in  si/.e  and  coloration 
to  1).  Iiiii((fiis  than  to  tile  two  ^^coHi'aphical  races,  /.'.  liiiniliis  ullini  and  //. 
I'l'ifdhis  firtidiis,  the\'  are  not  tviiic.d  representatives  o|'  either.  SpecinnMis 
from  Hall'  Coinny,  ceinr.d  .\laliama,  shot  diirini^  the  lireedin;^'  season,  aic 
t\pi<'al  //.  rniniliis.  North  of  the  rnite<l  States  it  rejiches  the  sonthern  lior- 
ders  of  the  Oominioii  of  ( 'anada  from  northern  No\.i  Scotia,  where  it  is, 
liowexi'r,  Mv\  rare,  ami  westward  to  eastern  .Manitoi)a.  .Mr.  'I".  .M(dl\\  raitli 
reports  it  as  ;i  conumni  siimniei-  resident  in  sonthern  ( •ntario,'  ami  .Mr.  .M.  ( 'Innn- 
iierlain,  in  his  "Cataloiine  ot  ( '.iiiadian  I'.irils,"  makes  the  follow  in^^-  remarks 
aiioiil  this  species:  ".\  rather  coimnon  snimner  resilient  ot  the  eastern  prov- 
inces, |)robabl\  more  abmnlain  in  ( hitario  than  elsewhere.  I  tr.  I'ell  reports 
its  occnrrem'e  at  \<iik  I'.ictorv ,  on  llmison  lia\  ;  .ind  .Mr.  'Thompson,  on 
the  aiuhoritv  ol'  .^Il•    llnnter.  ^iv  es  it  as  laliier  connnon   in  eastern   .Manitoba." 

The  haltits  as  well  as  the  ran^o  of  the  IJed-tailed  ami  lu-d-shoiildercd 
Hawks  are  very  similar;  the  former  beiii^'  slij^htly  the  hardier  bird  of  tlio 
two,  and  reaching  somewhat  tarther  north.  Like  the  Ived-tailed  Hawk,  it  is 
oiiiv  a  snnnner  resident  in  the  northern  parts  ot  its  briedinu-  r.in^e,  miyratiii''' 
-outh  in  winter,  some  passing  imo  .Mexico.  It  winters  connnoidy  in  latitude 
.!'.•  ,  and  sonn-  remain  throiiiihoiit  the  \car  in  favoralile  localities  in  the  soinli- 
'crn   New  Lnj^land  States. 

Dr.  William  L.  L'alpli  writes  me:  "The  i\ed-slionldered  lliiwk  is  the  com- 
moin'st  bird  ot'  pre\   in  Oneida  and   Herkimer  ('oinnies.  New   ^'ork.     There  has 

'Aiili.  \iil.  \  1,  Is-'.l,  |i.  ','17. 
"Journal  ami  I'loiri'iiin^js  lluiiiilloii  .\s»iiiialiiiM,  Vol    n.  l"ii,  p.  Il'iil. 


I 


^ 


'If 


M 


i  . 


i 


1 1' 


I' 


'i']V 


11 


220 


LIFE  rilSTOllIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


hardly  boon  a  yoar  in  tlic  past  twelve?  that,  with  tlio  lu*l])  of  ono  or  two  assist- 
ants, 1  have  not  loiuul  fnim  twcntv  to  thirtv  of  their  iicsts  while  lookinyf  for 


those  of  other  hinls.     AhlioiiM-h  the\-  occur  soiiietiiiies  <1 


iirmi 


tl 


le  winter  months 


thesiv  liii'ds  are  niijiratory,  ami  nsnally  arrive  in  tliis  Idcajiiy  from  the  Soutli 
altont  the  miildh?  of  March,  occasiunaliy  a  little  earlier  or  later,  i.;'i;',ji  inHueiiced 
l>y  the  condition  of  the  weather.  Like  the  He(l-tails,  they  connnence  workin;;" 
on  their  nests  almost  inune(!iately  after  their  arrival,  hut  do  not  l)ei;in  laying;' 
(|nite  so  early.  The  majority  of  their  ej;'^s  are  dejtosited  here  l)etwei'n  the 
20th  of  April  and  the  1st  of  May;  I  have  fonnd  fnll  sets,  however,  on  thu  10th 
of  th((  former  month,  and  as  late  as  the  last  ilay  of  the  latter.  'I'hose  laid  after 
Mav  \'2  wer<'  pi'oltai)lv  sccund  la\ini;'s.  The  sets  here  \arv  in  the  t'ollowin;;' 
pruportion;  ( )ne-lialf  of  the  nests  contain  thr<'e  ejjji's,  one-third  t'onr,  anil  one- 
sixth  only  two.  'i'he  second  and  third  layinj;s  nt'vcr  consist  of  more  than  three 
ejijis,  an<l  jicnerally  of  hnt  two. 


The   Ked-shoiddered   Hawk    r 


Mses 


l)nt  one  lu'ood   in  a  sea.son,  hnt  the\' 


irenerally  lay  two  or  tiiree  sets  of  «'ji<;s  slionid  the  first  lie  destroyed.  Hotli 
l)ir<ls  assist  in  incnltation  and  make  a  i^reat  fuss  when  their  nests  are  distnrhed, 
1  althonjih  they  seldom  aiijiroach  \ery  near  to  the  persons  examiniiifi'  ihem. 


am 


they  keep  uji  their  lond  calls  as  Ion;;'  as  any  one  remains  in  the  \icinity.      i-ike 
more   solicitnde   jnst   hel'ore   and    jnst   alter   their  ej^'^^'s  are 


all  liirds  they  show 

hatched,  and  no  matter  how  wild  and  snspicions  they  may  have  heen,  or  how 
manv  times  the\'  ma\'  have  heen  shot  at,  the\'  nsnalh'  appear  to  lose  all  sense 
of  dan<i'er  at  such  times. 

"The  yoiuiff  birds  wiien  jnst  ont  of  the  shell  look  like  halls  of  yellowish 
down,  and  their  e\cs  are  as  bright  and  clear  as  thos<'  ot'  the  adnlts.  in  a 
remai'kably  short  time  they  learn  what  food  is  for,  ami  will  fi^ht  amoni^'  them- 
selves foi-  it,  and  peck  at  one  another  when  tiic;  are  lint  a  few  hoins  old. 


Tlu?    ncNt  of  the    Ued-shonldered    Hawk    is   composed   of   sticks,   lined 
th    i)ircli    bark,    strips    of    the    iimer   bark    of   varions    tree: 


witli  hn-cli  Dark,  strips  ot  the  nmer  hark  ot  varions  trees,  and  hemlock 
twiji's.  ( Iccasionallv  everi^reen  twiys,  drv  «i'rass,  or  dead  roots  ai'e  addeil  to 
to,  or  snbstitnted  for,  some  ot'  thi'  matei'ials  ot'  wliicii  the  lining'  is  composed; 


also  more  and  moi-e  ot  the  feathers  t'rom  the  lower  parts  of  the  sittin^i'  liiri 


drop   ont   ami   ai-e   adueil    to    the    Inim;;'  as   the  e^'^^s   advance   ni    men 
There  are  no  birds  ot'  |U'e\'  tliat   I  am  ac(piainted  with,  ot 
tell  almost  the  exact   sti 


diat 


ion 


whose   r<^i 


ilic  oi    iiiciihation   l)\    till'  ijUantitN' 


feat! 


hnniii-  o 


f  its  nests,  tl 


lev    increase  so   re<iiiiarl\ . 


Tl 


le    nest    IS  either    located    m   a   crotch    ot  a   tree  or   ai^ainst  tile    trim 


;s  I  caiiiiot 
lers  in  the 


trunk 


on   Imilis   Li'rowni'^-  out   troiii    it,    at    an 


•raiii-    lieii.''lil    "1    atioiit    od    feet; 


and  (in  feet  from  the  jii'oiind  are  the  lowfst  and  the  hifihest  locations  of  tiie 


nests    accori 


linj;'    tl 


>   measurements    mai 


le    b 


le    tree; 


chosen    b\-    till 


|{ed-shonlilered  Ibiwk  to  nest  in  are  birch,  ash,  maple,  and  lieech.  If  there 
is  aiu'  |a'efereiice  shown  in  their  selection  it  is  in  tavor  ol'  the  liircli  and  ash. 
The  places  they  like  be.-,t   to  breed   in  are  small    woods,  located   in   the  nei^iii- 


THE  UED-SUOULDEUEl)  UAWK. 


221 


lioHiodd  of  open   ficMs  iiii<l   swiimjjs,  and  tliey  frccjucnt  such  Idcalitie'S  most 
of  tli(!  time  tlicy  roniaiii  with  lis. 

"1  have  noticed  oik-  haltit  of  tliis  TTawk  wliidi  is  conniion  witli  most 
hirds  of  prey  that  1  am  familiar  with — while  they  will  l)reed  in  close  prox- 
imity to  hirds  of  the  same  order,  they  will  never  hreed  very  near  one 
another — each    pair   occnpyinj;'   a    piece    of 


woods 


liv    themselvt 


s,    unless 


It 


should  be  quite  a  lar;;e  one,  and  excluding'  all  others  of  the  same  s| 


lecies. 


"Amon;^'  other  cases  of  the  kind,  I  iiave  known  the  Ked-tailed  and  Keil- 
shonldered  Hawks  and  the  (ireat  Horned  Owl  to  nest  near  one  another  in 
II  small  wood,  and  on  one  occasion  1  foinwl  a  pair  each  of  the  Siiarp-shinned, 
Cooper's,  and  Red-shouldered  [lawks,  and  of  the  i,onjj-eared  ( )wl  hreediiii;- 
so  near  to;r(.ther  that  I  could  stand  heside  the  nest  of  a   KutVed  (irouse,  which 


was 


close  lt\'  als 


IlK 


til 


row  a  stom^  to  anv  of'  tlie  othei'> 


"Accordin<>'  to  my  ol)ser\ations  the  food  of  this  lla\\k  consists  principally 
(if  mice,  with  the  addition  of  moles,  stpiirrels,  \oun^'  raliliits,  and  once  in  awhile 
a  small  liird.  They  catch  \-ery  few  of  the  latter,  hiit  destroy  perhaps  more 
poultry  than  tlie  h'ed-tails,  prohalily  hecanse  they  are  more  nnmerons  here  and 
not  *o  wild,  lint  1  am  certain  that  the  few  fowls  they  take  are  more  than  com- 
pensated lor  l>y  the  j;'ood  thev  <lo  in  destro\in;i'  noxious  rodents." 

Accordiii"'  to  a  careful  investigation  of  laie  hundred  and  two  stomachs 
o'  this  species,  made  under  the  direction  of  I  >r.  ( '.  Hart  Merriam,  in  char^ic 
.)!  the  Division  of  Economic  Ornithology  and  .Mammaloiiy,  V.  S.  |)epartment 
of  A;;ricultnre,   duriu"-   the   year   1SS7,  the  followiny'  sinnmar\'   was  olitained: 


( )f  lil"_»  stomachs  examined,  1   c(intaine(l 


poultry;  ."i,  other  liird 


<il. 


mice 


•20. 


craw- 


nihi'r  mammals;    lo,  reptiles  or  hatiachians;    In,  insects;    7,  spiders; 

lish;    1,  earth-worms;    1,  otfal;    1,  cattish,   and   .'!  were   empty.     'I'lie    majority 


11/ 


these  hirds  were  taken   hetweeii   the  months  of  ( )cti 


and    March.     Tl 


IS 


>ho\\s   conclusi\-ely    that    the    Hed-shouhlered    Hawk    is   one   of    tlie   lieiieiicial 
species,  and  does  little  injurw 

In  the  southern    part    of   its   ranjie  it  liei;ins  layinj:'    early   in   March;  in 


Xoitli   ('arolina,  Teim 


M 


issoiiri,  aiK 


I    K 


insas 


ilioiit    the    latter    half  of 


this  month;  in  the  New  l'!ii;^land  and  other  N(atherii  States  rarely  hefoie 
ilie  second  week  ill  April,  usually  alioiit  the  midille  ot'  this  month,  and  i-or- 
re>poniliii;;ly  later  northwanl.  They  htiild  more  fre(|ueiitly  in  small  woods 
than   the    lied-tails,   ami   the  niaiorit\    of    their  nests  are    found   in  lower  sitii- 


aiiniis,   varying-  in  hei;:ht    from    "Jn  ti 
III  feet   from   the   "round. 


feet,   rareh    more,   axfrayiii'i-  a 


I  tout 


besides   tl 


le    sjiecies   o 


I    tl 


IreadX'    nientloliei 


I.  tl 


ie\   nest    111   elms,  oa 


Inci^drie 


line: 


and    chestnuts.     ( )ii 


-oil' 


anil 


New    York,    Mr.   Williaii 


dhitcher    informs    me    that    the    latter   are   almost   invarialilv    selected,     'i'l.i  ir 


iiists  arc    usiialh'   smaller    than    tli 


if   the    lied-tail,   measnriii"'    yeiieralh 


liiiiii    is  to  ■_' I    inches    in    outer    diametei 


I IV    fi 


■ol 


M  .")  to  s  inches    in    de]it 


II. 


The    hulk    of   the    nest    \aries    coiisideralih ,    accoidiii"'    to    its   lucation    in    tlu 


:' ' 


«! 


'It 


M:> 


m 


Ifir 


i  I 


; 


r 


■111 
In 


222 


Lll'H  IllSTOlJIES  OF  NOUT[I  AMERICAN   IllliDti. 


tree  ;mil  iis  rr^jards  its  (•uiii|ii>ii('iit  piirts.  Somo  iicsts  iirc  iiliiiost  ciilircly 
coiistnictcil  of  [line  or  licinltick  twi^s,  linili  ^rccii  aiul  dry,  ami  liiic(l  witli 
leaves  ot'  the  pine,  moss,  lichens,  Itits  ot"  Itark  or  corn  liiisks,  hesides  tlie 
materials  already  mentioned.  They  nest  later  than  tlu;  iied-tails  and  Imild 
new  nests  mor(^  I'rennently  than  does  that  species. 

They  are  ('(^'tsiinly  tho  most  proliiic.  ot"  the  Hnteos;  sets  ot'  t'onr  e;j';.is 
are  not  at  all  rare,  others  of  tiv(!  and  even  six  e^iis  are  occasionally  t'oniid. 
The  late  Dr.  William  Wood,  ot'  lOast  Win.lsor  Hill.  Connecticut,  records 
havinjf  taken  a  set  of  si.x,  and  .Mr.  U.  I>.  ^[cliani^•hlin,  of  Statesxille,  North 
Carolina,  writes  mu  that  he  took  ii  set  of  six  i'lxix^  <'f  this  Hawk  on  .\prii  ;">, 
ISSK.  Ho  says:  "I  saw  tlies(f  birds  at  work  on  the  nest  eai'ly  in  .March;  it 
was  ail  old  one  remodeleil,   and  was  placeil    in    tlie    crotch    ot'   a  ;;ood    sizeil 


i-;;'s  m    it   much    .soom 


than    1    did.      lncnl><;tion 


pine.      I    expected    to    lind 

had  just  commenced.     The    ej^n's  were  of    the    usual    >i/,e,   witiiout    any  ] 


per- 


ce|)tM)li'  sanation  either  in  shape  or  size.      I  here  wa 


collsi(|eral)le   ditferelici 


11  their  markings,  howe\-er,  hut  no  j-reater  than  sometimes  occurs  in  sets  ot' 


tl 


iree, 


The   lied-shonldcreil   Hawk  is  far  moi-(!  common  in  tiu'  lowlands  tiian  in 


til 


moiintam  rc^'ious,  m   ] 


larts  ot'  wliich    it 


•ems   to    lie     elltireh-   alisellt.       It 


pret'ers  the   l)or(lers  of  sti'eams,  lakes  or  swampv   woods   tor  a   permanent  ri 


ideiice.      Its  tliiilit  is 


ea>\-  and  L;racet'ul,   and  it   is  seen  on  tlm  wiii"-  m.istl\-  in 


till!  early  and  late  iioiirs  of  tiie  day.  Like  the  lied-tail,  each  of  these  hirds 
has  its  fav(»rite  perch  mi  a  <lead  liml>  ot  some  tall  tree  on  ilie  outskirts  of  a 
piec(!  of  woods,  from  which  it  can  oliiain  a  L;ood  \iew  of  the  surroundiii>j' 
counti'N';   this  it    occiiiiies   for   hours  at   a   time   wlieii    not   disiiirlied. 


Accordiii;4'    to    Dr.    lialpli    "its  call    not 
sound,  which 


es     consist     ot     a    iolld     will 

1. 


ale-lik 


rescmhles  the  s\-|lal)les  'wilee-ee-e,  With  once  III  awhile  a  'ca-ac 
added  t(»  or  rather  mixed  with  it."  'i'iie  fiill-iirown  yoim;.;'  after  haviii;;-  left 
the  iiest,  ami  wIumi  still  depeiidiuLi'  on  the  parents  for  food,  utter  frecpiently, 
iiccordiii;^'  to  m\-  olisersatioiis,  a  call  soumlinL:',  as  near  as  I  can  interpret  it, 
lik 


e    "yeeii-ack,    yi'eji-iiacK,     rapiilty    icpeateil,      .\    note    ntti-red   in   the  early 
spriiiji',  especially  during  the  matiiii;'  season,  sounds  like  "ki'i'-yooh,  ki'('-yooli," 
tho  last,  syllalile  draw  n  out. 
uliat 


nciiiiation  soineimies  hen'ins  wi 


ith  the  tiist  {■ir''-  laid,  n'oiiiil:'  liirds  ot'  dit'- 


ferellt  sizes  lieilii;'  t'reiplelltlv  foUIld  ill  tile  same  llest,  and  this  dillerelice  is 
too  ;^reat  to  attrihute  to  sex  alone.  .Mr.  .\u>tin  V.  Park,  ot'  Troy,  New  York, 
writes  me  on  this  snliject  as  follows;  '-(hi  .lime  4  and  .liiiie  II,  isss,  j  re- 
ceived three  yoniiLi'  lied-shoiildered  Hawks  in  tiie  down,  all  taken  from  the 
same  nest.  These  liirds  varie(l  j;reatl\'  ill  si/e.  I  ke|it  the  three  chicks,  ted 
them    well,   and    iioteil    t\n'.    rates  ot'   ;>i'owth    ot'   the   wim:'  and    tail   (piills.      I 


estimated   Iroin   the   length  of  these  that    there   w 


as  a'loiit   tour  da\s"  ditfereiu'c 


in    the    stages    of  ^^idwtli.      Fin'ther    experiments    with    others'  contirined    tli 
opinion." 


IS 


TiiK  1!i;i)-siioi;li)i:iji;i)  jiavvk. 


223 


lii('iili!itii>ii  liists  iilxiiif  Ciiiir  weeks,  mihI  tlie  cji'^s  iir(!  (le|)(isit(Ml  jit  iiiterviils 
dl'  two  ami  sKiiietimes  iliree  dnys.  As  snid  hel'ure,  tlie  minilier  laid  l)\-  tliis 
speeies  varies  t'niiii  tni»  to  six.  Sets  of  liiree  are  most  tre([iieiitly  loiiiid,  and 
are  a  lair  avenij"'!!  imiidier.     iVltoiit  one  set  in  tiiree  coiitaiiis  t'oiir  ejj'^s. 

Ill  sliai>e  tliese  raii^ic  t'roiii  ovate  to  sliort  and  rounded  ovate,  and  a  few 
ai'e  perfect  oval.  Tlie  j;roiind  color  \aries  from  a  didl  white  to  a  pale  \v]- 
liiwisli,  and  a^^ain  a  pale  Mnisli  wliite.  Unspotted  ej;L;s  are  verv  rare,  and 
even  faintlv  markeil  ones  are  not  common,  'i'lie  majority  are  all  more  or 
less  lieaviK'  smeai'eil,  lilotclieil  and  spotted,  witii  diil'erent  sliailes  of  reddish 
Urown,  fawn  color,  ('crn-ilral),  vinaceons  ImU',  anil  pearl  ;ira\.  Sonic  of  the 
iJLiliter  tints  are  shell-marUinjis.  In  some  r'^>^s.  tlie  niarkin^is  arc^  few,  i)nt 
lar;:('  and  hold;  in  others  tlie\'  are  finer,  of  sm;i.'li'r  si/f,  and  iiioi'c"  profuse, 
liidinj;-  tlu'  ground  color  to  a  considerahle  extent.  They  are  jjcnerally  irie;^- 
nlarlv  blotcluMl,  and  in  a  limited  niimlier  nt'  specimens  these  nui  lonj;itudiiiall\ , 
as  in  the  ('nn' of  Swaiiison's  Hawk  (li.unred  on  I'l.  s,  l^'i^.  d).  'j'hey  show  an 
almost  c'lidles.s  variety  of  patterns,  ami  there  is  practically  no  dilVerencc^  in 
this  respect  Ix'tween  tlu!  ei;'}i's  of  this  species  ami  its  two  jieo;^ra|)liical  races, 
exce|)tin;;"  that  those  of  txpical  llnlm  liiniihis  iilh  ni  from  l'"lorida  are  c(»nsid- 
craliK"  smaller,  as  will  lie  seen  herealter.  The  shells  of  these  e;i!is  are  close 
grained,   linelv  ^^raniilated,  and   wilhoiit   luster. 

The  averay'iMiieasnreiiient  of  a  series  n,'  one  hundred  and  se\-enteeii  eji'i^s 
Mj'  this  specii's,  from  various  jioints  of  eastern.  North  .Vm<-iica,  is  .")4.r>  In  l;5 
millimetres.  The  larji'est  e^iji' measures  oil  Ity  47,  the  smallest  oi  l»\-  -II  mil- 
limetres. The  latter  is  from  Locu>t  (iroxe,  Xew  York,  the  former  from  Kast 
Hampton.  ( 'onnecticuf,  lioth   from    I  )r.  ( '.  Hart    Mei-riani"s  collection. 

Ten  specimens,  collected  l>y  .Mr.  .1.  .\.  Siiiiiley,  mar  ( !idiliiiL:s,  Lee  ( "ount\', 
in  central  Texas,  i;ive  an  averau'i'  measurement  ot'ol  by  4 !.."(  milliinetres,  JMiii'^- 
fiilK'as  lar;4'(3  as  eastei-n  specimens.  I  am  incliiieil  to  think  that  fhoii;^h  |ierliaps 
Hot  referalilo  to  typical  />.  liiiiatiis,  they  reseinide  more  (dosely  the  (■•j.-'j.s  of  this 
>ul)species  than  those  of  the  Florida  |{ed-shoulderei|  Hawk. 

The  tvjie  specimens  selected  to  show  some  ot' tlie  \arious  patterns  ot'  color- 
ation, are  as  folloxvs:  Nu.  li'sT;!  (I'l.  7,  l'"i,L;'.  1),  a  sin;:le  \ci-y  dark  ccdoicd  com.-, 
w.is  eollected  l»v  .Mr.  Ivoliert  lkiil;;\vay,  of  the  SmitliMiiiian  institution,  near 
Mount  (Jarmel,  Illinois,  .Vjiril  I,  ls(i7;  No.  -ildss  (I'l.  7.  Vl^.  ■_'),  from  a  set  ot 
liiiir  cullccteil  1>\-  i  >r.  ( '.  Il.irt  Merriam,  near  Locust  (Jro\e.  New  ^'ork.  .\pril 
-  I.  1><7>>;  No. 'J.'V.i  12  (IM.  7,  l-'iys.  ;»  mid  I),  two  e^tis  from  a  set  of  torn',  were 
cciUecteil  near  (■iddinii's,  Lee  ('niintN,  Texas,  Ity  ,1,  .V.  SiiiLi'lev ,  on  April  11, 
is.S.H;  Nil.  "-'.'ilM.'i  (I'l.  7,  l*'i,u'.  o),  from  the  same  smu'ce  and  locality,  from  a  set 
of  tiu'ee,  and  taken  April  111,  ISSS. 


■ill! 


|¥  '.W 


III' 


n    f)  i 


II     %% 


m 


f  ^ 


■I 

I 


^ 


i    ^ 


:■   1 


\: 


224  LIFIi!  HISTOlilliS  OP  NOKTII  AMKIMCAN  JilUDS. 

77.     Buteo  lineatus  alleni  IviixiWAY. 

FU)KinA  Ki;i)-sii(ui,i)i:i;i;i»  hawk. 

Bufeo  lineal Hs  nUrni  RiOdWAY.  Pt'Dcci'irmifs  11.  S.  Xatioiial  Musouni,  vii,  Jiimun'V  V-K 

issi.  .'•.n. 
(B—  C— ,  R-,  C— .  U  :v.VMi.) 

OKOdRAPIIICAL  KASOK:  Sijutli  At  lilllt  ic  illliH  Jul  f  roa.sts;  soiitli  IVoiii  middlp  South 
Carolina  (iiloiiii' I  lie  coast  only':')  to  Floriila:  wrst  to  soutlicaslcrn  Tc.vas. 

Tlio  I''l(»ri(lii  lird-slimildcrcd  ilinvk  is  a  .smiillcr  bird  tlian  tlu^  juvccdiiij;' 
sul)s]KM'ii's,  iiiid  as  far  as  yet  known  its  hrccdin^i^  ran^o  is  contini'd  to  Florida 
and  tlii^  c.xtrcnn'  .sontlicrn  ImmmUts  ot"  tlio  (iidt"  coast  Statt-s,  wi'st  to  .southern 
and  (oi'casitinally)  central  'l\'xas. 

Anionj;'  an  intcn-stiu';'  collcctioii  of  liirds,  made  i-cccntly  l>y  Mr.  .1.  Iv 
litMicilict,  alonji'  the  South  Atlantit-  coast  in  tlu^  vicinity  of  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,  is  a  typical  specimen  of  this  form,  shot  near  Oeor^ictowu,  on  AVinyah 
Bay,  South  Carolina,  in  ahoiit  latitude  .'5.'5^  2.")',  on  .fainiary  4,  ls;tl,  extendiu};' 
its  ranji'e  considerahlv  to  the  northward,  and  prol)al)!v  flu!  I»ree(lini^  ran;;-e  also. 

I  am  indehted  to  I  >r.  William  L.  Kalph  for  th(i  foKowinj''  notes  on  this  .-iuh- 
sjiecies:  "Heforu  tho  commencement  of  the  disjiraceful  liusiness  of  plumo  hunt- 
ing; wliich  liids  fair  to  exterminate  many  of  the  Moi'ida  liirds,  the  little  Sparrow 
Hawk  was  the  connnonest  liird  of  prey  in  that  State,  lint  sinc(!  tiien  its  num- 
liers  liav(i  lieen  ffrowin;r  rapidly  less,  and  now  this  position  is  held  l»y  the  suli- 
jeet  of  this  article. 

"The  followinii-  notes  were  taken  in  St.  Johns  and  Putnam  Counties,  where, 
exceptinj;  that  part  of  tlm  former  wiiicli  liordeis  on  the  Atlantic  ( >ceaii,  the 
Florida  IJed-shoidderiMl  Hawk  is  veiy  common.  In  I'act,  1  lia\(f  seen  xcry  few 
of  these  liirds — and  none  during'  the  lireedinu'  season — in  the  innnediate  vicinitv 
of  citliei*  the  east  or  west  coast  of  this  State.  It  is  a  resident  species,  and  so  far 
as  I  can  learn,  if  not  molested,  it  seldom  ^nes  \'ery  far  from  tluf  place  where  it 
nests.  There  has  liceii  no  apjtarent  diminution  in  their  nnndiers  durin;f  tli(i  last 
fifteen  \cai's,  as  they  are  seldom  disturiied  except  in  tin-  vicinity  of  tiie  main 
routes  of  travel,  whfi'e  tliev  are  nior(i  or  le-.s  shot  at  li\'  tourists,  who,  li\'  the 
wa\',  seem  to  lie  their  onl\'  enemies.  llowcNcr,  thev  will  proiialih'  liefore  nianv 
Ncars  have  to  succumli  to  tiie  fate  that  is  fast  overtaking:'  nearK"  all  I'Morida 
Itirds. 

"The  localities  where  they  are  most  conHuonly  found  ai'e  the  Hat  ])ine 
woods,  ,'ini|  (hiring'  the  iircedinn'  season  tiiev  frecpient  tlies(!  most  of  the  time, 
nestinn'  in  or  near  the  small  express  swamps  wliich  are  ver\'  numerous  in 
these  forests,  liuiiilinn-  nearly  always  in  pine  and  I'arely  in  cypress  trees. 
At  other  seasons  the\-  wander  more,  and  art^  ot'teii  seen  in  the  vicinitv  ot' 
houses,  lint  i-arely  far  fmm  their  nestiuij  places.  Dminif  the  tinat  they  are 
sitting:',  these  liinls  nio\((  aroinid  lint  little,  when  not  in  seai-ch  of  food,  and 
thoso  not  on  their  nests  will  usually  lie  found  perche(|  sleepily  on  a  hranch 


TUB  FLORIDA  liliD-idllOULDKUEU  HAWK. 


225 


of  Koiuo  sliiiily  trocf.  Oiio  can  at  tlii«  time  often  apjn'oat'li  within  a  few  feet 
lit'  tlicin  Ix't'oro  tlii'V  will  fly. 

"Tliis  variety  of  tlio  HtMl-sliouMercd  Hawk  siu-nis  to  Ik;  niiuli  more 
sttcial)l(3  than  tho  iioithcrn  species.  I  liav(f  ottcii  dnrin^'  the  matin;;'  sea.son 
seen  flocks,  ('(insisting  of  from  two  to  four  jiairs  of  hinls,  playing'  to^jcthei'. 
'I'hey  chased  «inu  another  around  in  apparent  sport,  cii-cliny  tlu'onyh  tlm  air 
ami  ntterinif  their  shrill  calls  after  the  manner  of  the  Swallow-taile.l  Kit(!. 

"Their  food  consists  ]»rincipal]y  of  mice,  Florida  rats,  yonn;^  ial»l)its,  the 
small  ^^ray  scjnirrel  foimd  in  tliis  State,  and  prohaltly  an  occasional  fro;^  or 
small  snake.  A  very  few  of  tlu»  inhaliitants  of  this  locality — chiefly  thosit 
liiat  formerly  lived  in  tho  North — informed  mo  that  theso  Ilawks  would  catch 
domestic  fowls.  I  liavo  never  seen  an  occurn-nce  of  tho  kind,  although  I 
hM\(!  lived  for  twelve  winters  and  s[)rin;is  where  l)oth  tiiese  birds  and  poidtry 
were  ciunmoii. 

"'I'he  cf^'^s  of  this  bird  avi'raji'e  consideraltly  smaller  than  those  of  the 
northern  sul>species,  hein^  Itut  littli^  larger  than  those  of  the  Uroad-win^i'cd 
Hawk,  rndoultteilly  in  tlut  majority  of  cases  two  is  the  nmiil)er  laid,  as  all 
their  nests,  and  I  have  examined  a  dozen  or  more,  contained  either  tw(»  e^-^s  or 
two  youn;.^  birds,  and  most  of  tlm  e;;;iiS  found  were  partly  incul)ated.  Where 
the  same  species  of  bird  nests  lioth  in  Florida  and  in  the  North,  or  where  a- 
northei'n  bird  has  a  Florida  variety,  the  e^'^ys  of  the  southei'u  bird  usually 
a\era^e  fewer  in  luimiier  and  less  in  size,  and  there  is  less  \ariation  in  the 
Humliers  found  in  u  set. 

"1  could  ncNcr  distin^'uish  any  dill'erence  in  tlie  call  notes  of  tiie  Floi-ida 
Ked-shouldered  Hawk  and  tho  northern  bird.  Moth  use  th(f  .same  whi.>«th! — 
like  'whee-ee-e,'  and  the  mated  birds  also  assi.st  each  otiier  in  inculiation. 
Thi'y  make  nuich  ado  when  disturbed  at  their  nests,  but  generally  take  ^doil 
care  not  to  come  too  near  while  these  are  beini;'  examine(|.  I  lielievc  l)ut  a 
siu;^le  brood  is  raised  in  a  seasiai.  I  first  noticed  these  Itirds  mating-  dmMn;^' 
tlie  present  season,  aliout  February  I,  iSlll.  'I'lm  earliest  date  of  nesting- 
was  F(!l)ruary  20,  ami  youn^-  birds  just  hatched  were  foinid  by  me  on 
March  2(). 

"Tli(!  following  descrij)tion  of  several  nests  will  ^ive  a  fair  idea  of  their 
mode  of  buililin^.  1  found  one  on  March  H,  |sss,  four  miles  east  of  San 
.Mateo,  I"'lorida,  in  a  small  cypress  swamp.  It  was  situated  in  a  pine  tree,  in 
a  crotch  f)?  feet  from  the  liround,  and  was  composed  of  sticks  and  linecl  with 
pine  needles,  bits  of  piutf  and  cyi)ress  bark,  Si)auish  ami  ^•reen  moss,  and  a 
tew  feathers  from  the  birds  themselves,  it  contained  two  nearly  fresh  •■'.'•^''s. 
.Vnotlier,  found  on  March  2l>,  ISSH,  not  far  from  the  former  locality,  was  jilaced 
in  the  top  of  ii  c\  pres.s  treo  about  (!")  feet  from  tiie  ground,  and  I'esembhd  the 
lirst  (Hie  in  every  respect,  except  that  no  Spaiiish  moss  was  used  in  the  liiiin;:' 
of  the  nest.  It  likewise  couiaiiied  two  I'yus,  which  were  about  oiic-l'ourlli 
incnbate<l.  On  A|iril  2,  ISSS,  1  found  a  third,  altou.  (i  miles  southeast  of 
San  .Mateo,  also  near  the  eil^'o  of  a  small  express  swamp,  'i'his  was  placed 
L'(l!t.->7— Hull.  1 15 


m 


l:ii- 


i! 


If. 

ill' 


n. 


'■■  *  ■' 


'■'  A 


I 


llll] 


226 


LIKE  11ISTOHIE8  OF  NOUTII  AMERICAN  lillJDS 


in  ii  pine  tret'  about  4(1  feet  iiImivi-  tlic  fiTomid  imd  siiiiiliirly  (•oustriictcd 
Anion;;  till'  luiitoriiils  used  tor  lining',  this  nest  containcil,  in  iwldition  to  tliosc 
already  niciitioncil,  somo  dry  ^rass  and  a  picco  of  snake  skin;  it  contained 
hut  two  e^^s,  one  of  thesit  half  incubated,  tlm  other  unfertilized.  Si'veral 
other  nests  were  found,  showin^j^  little  if  any  diH'erence  from  those  already 
described,  so  far  as  locati(»n  and  the  niaterialH  used  in  their  construction  are 
conceriUMl.  All  tlu'se  nests  contained  l»ut  two  e;>'^s,  and  this  seems  to  be  the 
usual  nunilter  laid  by  this  race,  in  that  part  ef  Florida,  at  least." 

Mr.  \V.  K.  I).  Scott  says  that  the  Florida  Red-.shouldere<l  Hawk  is  connnon 
in  the  vicinity  of  Tarpon  Springs,  Hillsborough  County,  Florida,  where  he 
found  them  mating'  and  nc^stiu;;'  generally  in  March,  frecpieutin;^'  tiat  woous  and 
ponds.  The  e^'^s  are  indistinguishable  from  those  of  llnlm  liiiratiis,  but,  as 
befori'  ineiuioned,  they  average  considerably  smaller.  Their  ground  color  is 
usually  grayish  white,  and  the  markings  appear  to  vary  fully  as  much  as  in  that 
subspecies,  but  are  similar. 

The  average  size  of  si.xteen  e^'^s  from  Florida,  all  collected  by  Dr.  h'alph, 
is  AO.G  by  42.")  millimetres.  The  lar^test  of  these  e^-^^s  measures  f)[\.',i  by  4"_'.r), 
the  smallest  4!)..S  by  40.1  millimetres.  None  are  li^ured,  as  they  ar(!  similar 
to  those  of  liKtco  lincutits  in  every  respect  except  size. 


ii'i 


i 


M 
i .!'! 


1 

1 


78.     Buteo  lineatus  elegans  (('assin). 

KKIi-lil'.l,Ml'.l>    UAWK. 

Riitcn  ' h  i/aiis  Cashis.  Pi'cicci'dinjfs  A<';iili'iiiy  Natiii'iil  Sciences,  Pliila..  \S't^>,  SSI. 
Jiuko  liii'iitiis  v.'ir.  (/<;/(( /(.v  UiDoWAV,  ill   History  (if  North  Aiiieriuaii  Birds,  III,  Jan- 
uary, isn,  -i-ti,  -v'rr. 

(iKoOKAl'HICAL  KANOK:  Pllcilic  Const  i>{  United  Stall's;  north  to  Siiutlieni  Oregon; 
si.iUii  til  Lower  Calil'ciruia;  (and  Mexico":') 

1'lie  i)reedin^  ran^e  of  the  handsome  K'ed-bellied  Hawk,  as  far  as  yet 
known,  is  exclusively  confined  to  the  Facilic  coast  proper,  extending'  into 
northern  Lower  ( 'alifornia,  from  about  latitmle  'iit^  msrth,  through  ("alifornia, 
to  central  Oregon,  where  it  is  a  ran-  sunniier  resident.  While  not  common  in 
any  h»cality,  it  is  perhaps  more  abunihuit  in  the  miildle  counties  of  (California 
than  anywhere  else. 

Mr.  L.  Reldin^',  in  his  "i'aper  on  the  Birds  of  the  Pacific  District,"  makes 
the  followiii^r  remarks  about  this  bird:  "Upper  Sacramento  Valley.  Appar- 
ently rare;  probably  resident,  thou^fh  not  .seen  iiy  me  later  than  ( (ctolu'r  20. 
It  is  very  common  altout  Stockton  in  summer;  nearly  as  common  in  the 
breediii^r  season  as  the  Ued-tailed  Hawk.  1  knew  of  a  pair  nesting-  within  less 
than  200  hundred  yards  of  a  residence  where  poultry  was  i>leiitiful  and  easily 
obtained.  They  nested  tliert^  threi^  consecutive  seasons  mmiolesteil  by  the 
occupants  of  the  dwelling;.     I  shot  the  female  as  she  Hew  from  the  nest,  April 


TIIK  KED-ltLLLIlil)  HAWK. 


227 


I,  1HK0.  Ilcr  stoiiiacli  fontaiiH'd  several  small  lizards,  a  troo  frofj  (^/l;flii), 
jiTiilts,  anil  insects.  May  11,  l.S71>,  there  were  three  yoim},''  in  the  nest  that 
weiffhed  about  a  pound  each.  Mr.  (Jiuirles  Moore,  who  (lindnMl  the  lar<re 
oak  in  which  the  Uft  was  placed,  reported  a  linin<;-  of  fj[reen,  hut  dried  and 
Itroken  leaves  in  the  nest,  ahout  .'5  inches  deep  in  the  center.  On  April  4,  1S80, 
there  were  three  nearly  i'lcsh  e;4'^s  in  tlu;  nest,  whicii  this  year  had  a  liniii;^'  of 
the  Itice-liki'  lichen  {lltiiiKdhttt  ntiformis)  found  on  the  oaks  in  the  vicinity,  a 
sample  of  which  was  brouj^ht  down  from  the  nest  by  Mr.  George  Ashley,  who, 
with  great  dilHcnlty,  seciuH-d  tlie  eggs.' 

"I. saw  one  of  thesis  Hawks  at  Stockton,  .Tamiary  "J"),  IMHA,  re|»airing  an 
old  nest.  'I'his,  too,  was  near  a  farmhouse  where  fowls  were  abundant,  but  I 
doui)t  if  they  often  attack  poultry,  though  1  have  known  them  to  catch  small 
l)n'd.s.  - 

Mr.  A.  M.  Ingersoll  found  it  nesting  near  Los  Angeles,  California,  usually 
ill  large  sycamore  or  cottonwood  trees,  and  siiy.s  tho  ucst  is  generally  placed 
farther  out  on  the  branches  than  is  the  case  with  other  Huteo.s. 

Mr.  F.  Steplieiis  writes  me:  "1  (ind  the  Ked-bellied  Hawk  rather  rare  in 
tile  region  1  have  liveil  in,  in  .southern  California,  but  I  think  it  is  probably 
iiiia'e  comir  -n  in  the  lower  valleys  lU'ar  the  seacoast.  I  found  a  single  nest  on 
.\pril  7,  ISSi'  rhis  was  placed  near  the  end  of  a  large  limb  of  a  cottonwood 
tree,  about  .'So  feet  from  th(i  ground,  in  San  Mateo  (Jarton,  15  miles  east  of 
Colton.  It  was  composed  of  twigs  and  lined  with  the  inner  bark  of  cotton- 
wood and  a  few  feathers;  inside  diameter  (!  inches,  depth  2  inches.  The  nest 
contained  three  eggs,  and  incui)ation  had  i)egini." 

.Mr.  H.  T.  (Jault  found  it  common  among  the  oak  groves  skirting  the  banks 
of  the  San  doaipiin  Kiver.  and  noticecl  several  also  among  the  sycamores  bor- 
dering the  little  stream  running  through  the  Santa  Margarita  Valley,  on  the  road 
iVom  San  Diego  to  San  nernardino,  ( 'alifornia. 

I'rof  M.  W.  Kvermann  reports  it  not  uncoinmon  in  tho  vicinity  of  Santa 
i'aula,  Ventura  County,  California,  where  he  fomid  their  nests  in  sycamores, 
Iiv(!  oaks,  cottonwoods,  and  willows,  near  the  borders  of  streams.  He  says 
that  he  foiuid  as  many  as  iive  eggs  in  a  nest,  and  gives  four  as  the  tiverage 
number  laid  to  a  set. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  sends  me  the  following  notes  on  this  sul)species:  "The 
licd-bellied  Hawk  is  not  uncommon  along  the  coast  ranges  of  liower  (Jalitor- 
iiia,  nesting  as  far  south  at  least  as  latitude  21t^,  and  reaching  here  an  elevation 
of  about  2,0(10  feet.  Nests  were  frecpiently  seen  in  giant  cactus  and  candle- 
woods,  near  San  Fernando,  i>ower  (California.  The  only  one  I  took  was  built 
in  a  small  sumac  scrub,  10  f(H(t  from  the  ground,  near  San  Quintin,  Fiower 
.California.  It  was  simply  a  platform  of  small  sticks  and  twigs,  12  or  II 
inches  in  diameter  and  al»out  ;$  inches  in  depth,  lined  with  a  few  dried  loaves 

'  Tlii'w  I'CKH  (No.  IHdSS)  lire  now  in  tlm  I'.  S.  Niitional  Muhi'iiim  col  lection,  li.tvinK  lii'i'n  liiiiilly  prewMilod 
liy  Mr.  I..  Ilcliliii);,  with  nnnioniiiH  ollioi  valualilu  HpuciniuUH,  and  inua.'tiirc  as  follows:  54  by  111,  iV,..',  Iiy  4:1, 
r,;i  liy  i:i  niillimctrcH. 

'Uccusiunal  l'a|iciH  of  California  Academy  of  Scienc^es,  II,  ISIH),  |i|i.  :il,  Xi, 


I 


I 


'   i 

1 

4\ 

if 

■  ■[ 

jM 

228 


LIKK  IIIHTOItlKa  OK  NOUTH  AMKKU^AN  HIIIDS. 


1. 

1'=': 

\ ' ' 

i 

Ir 

i    i 

}     ■ 

i 

i 

ili 

■JM-' 

i^HiSl.; 


of  the  suiiiar.     Tlu*  t'ffj,'n,   whicli  wtsro   tiikoii  on  April  'M),   tlirco   in  immlHT, 
(•()ntiiiii('(l  liir;;*'  miliryos." 

1  met  with  tlic  iH'st  ot"  tins  Iliiwk  on  two  occnsions  only  ilm'in;;'  tlic 
s|»nn<;'  ot"  1S7S,  in  the  vicinity  of  ('ani|i  lliirncy,  On';;on,  wImtc  it  is  ii  snnnncr 
visitor.  1  found  \\w  (irst  one  on  April  17,  1H7H,  tinil  ns  the  Idnl  was  unknown 
to  inc.  shot   the   fcniahs  whose  lower   i)arts   were  of   a   unifonn  chestnut   red 


tl 


u'ou<;'liout,  and  | 


1  proviMl  to  he  of  this  raci 


Tl 


e    nest  was  p 


laced 


ni  a   vounii- 


pine  on  some  liinl)s  close  to  the  top  and  the  truidi  of  the  tree,  near  the  sources 
of  Archies  (Ireek  in  the  foothills  of  the  lUne  Mountains  and  on  the  outskirts 
of  the  heavy  tinilter.  It  was  principally  composed  of  sa}iel)rush  twiji's,  lined 
with  pine  needles,  tht*  inner  hark  of  juniper  trees,  and  a  few  j>Teen  willow 
twijfs  with  the  leaves  on.  It  measured  aliout  IS  inches  in  outer  diameter  and 
ahout  (I  inches  in  depth.  Inside  it  was  al)out  S  inches  in  diameter  hy  '1  inches 
dec^p.  It  contained  two  handsonu?  tVesh  e;i;;s,  and  another  Mould  have  lieen 
laid,  as  I  found  on  skinning;-  the  parent. 


On   May  (I,  durinj;  another  visit,   to  this    locality,   I  discovered  a 


secon( 


nr 


st  of  this  race  still  farther  up  this  creek.  This  was  placed  in  a  tall  jtniiper 
tree,  likewis(i  neai-  the  trunk  and  aliout  I'O  feet  from  the  j;round,  composed 
of  similar  materials,  and  contained  a  siu;;le  ei^ji'. 

The  principal  call  note  when  disturlied  aliout  its  nest  is  a  .shrill  "ye((-ak, 
ycc-ak,"  uttered  rapidly  and  in  a  hij;li  key. 

The  numlier  of  ejj"fi's  to  a  set  varies  from  two  to  five;  sets  of  three  seem 
to  lie  most  fre(piently  found.  .lud^iiiiv  from  the  limited  innnher  of  these 
(•irjrs  setMi  liy  nie,  they  appear  to  lie  not  as  heavily  lilotched  and  spotted  as 
are  thost^  of  //.  lUiciitiis,  and  the  neutral  tinted  shell  markinjis,  such  as  pearl 
jrray  and    liivender,  pre(|omiuate    in    them   over   the  holder  lirown  aiul  russet 


inarkm".s. 


Oth 


lerwise  they  do  not  dilier  materially  ni  size,  shape,  or  jj^eneral 
appearance  from  the  e^ijis  (»f  the    Ived-shotddered    Hawk. 

The  avera^i'e  measurenuuit  of  si.\  e^;;s  in  the  l'.  S.  National  Museum 
collection  is  ."il  liy  h'J.'i  millimetres.  The  largest  of  these  ejijjs  moasun-s  .55.5 
by  44..'),  the  smallest  ").'{  hy  I.'}  millimetres.  The  type  .sjiecimeii,  No.  2(>74(!, 
from  a  set  of  two,  Mendire  collection  (IM  (i,  Ki<;-.  !l),  was  taken  by  the  writer, 
on  April   17,   1878,  near  Camp  Harney,  Oregon. 

79.     Buteo  abbreviatus  Cabanis. 

zom:-taii.kii  hawk. 

Ruto)  (ihliri  I'inhis  Cahanis.  in  Schdiiihurtjk,  lleisc  in  British  firuiana,  in,  1SI8,  *.'tO. 

(H  —  C  :i.5:t,  R  4 to.  C  .V.'-^,  U  34(1.) 

rjEooRAPniCAL  l{AN(iK:  Middle  America  ;  nortli  to  Lower  and  smitlieni  Califoiiiia, 
Arizona,  Te.\as,  etc.  ;  .«outli  tn  nurtlicrii  S(juth  Aineiica. 

The  breodiuff  ranjie  of  the  Zone-tailed  Hawk  is  rather  a  restricted  one 
within  our  borders.  As  far  as  is  yet  known  it  is  coidined  to  the  southwestern 
portions  of  the  United  States,  from  Comal    and  Presidio  Counties  in  central 


Till-;  ZONli-TAlLHI)  HAWK. 


230 


and  soiitliwcsttTii  Tcx-Jis,  tlirmijili  soiitlicni  Ncxr  Mexico,  mul  cciitriil  iiiid  Sdiitli- 
cin  Ari/.niiii.  It  proliiilily  lincils  (iiciisioiiiilly  in  soiitlicrii  ( 'alit'uniiii,  wlicrt' 
Dr.  .1.  (i.  ('(lopn'  olitiiiiicil  tli<>  first  .HpiM-iiiicii  tjikni  witliiii  tli<>  liiiiit.s  itt'  tlu- 
I'liitcd  States.  It  was  sliot  .'50  miles  north  of  San  Diejio  ami  ft  miles  IVom 
the  eoast,  on   Kehniarv  '2',\,  iHd'i. 

It  lias  lieen  noted  iiy  .Mr.  L.  Meidinj'-  at  the  Cape  St.  Luras  refrion  of 
Lower  Calit'oniia;  and  Mr.  A.  \V.  Anthony  writes  me  that  he  fonnd  it  not 
mii'onnnon  on  tlie  San   I'edro  Martir  Monntains  in  latitntle  .'51°,  at  an  eleva- 


tion   of  alioMt  7,(I(M)    t'eet.     Two  pairs  of  tliese    bird 
April  24,    lioth    nesting;'    in  tall    )iines.      lie  states: 


s  were    seen 


l.y  I 


hii'd 


s  were 


nm   on 
•i'reatlv 


worried  at  oin-  presence,  tlyin^'  alioiit  overliead  and  constantly  utterinj^'  a 
lond  (piernlons  cr\',  not  unlike  that  ol  liiilm  liiifidl'is.  i)w  of  the  nests,  exam- 
ined from  the  ;;Toimd,  was  rather  a  itulky  allair  of  sticks,  and  placed  in  the 
\(r\  fop  of  a  pine  altont  70  feet  up.  Several  shots  fnan  (»!»•  rifles  failed  to 
drive  the  liirds  away.      Shortly   afterward  a  second  pair  were  seen,   and  one 

of  til 


esc  was  secured 


They  are  a  <'onuuon   Mexican  and  ( 'entral  American  bird,  and  omI\' sum 
th 


mer  visitors  witfi  ns. 

The  first  descrijition  of  the  supposed  nest  ,iii(l  o<;<;s  (»f  the  Zone-tailed 
Hawk,  pnhlished  in  any  of  our  ornitliolojiu-al  papers,  is  that  of  Mr.  William 
lirewster  in  the  Miilletin  of  the  Nutlall  (  h'iiitliolu;-ical  ( 'liih  (\'ol.  iv,  Ajtril, 
J.sTll,  J).  S(t),  from  sjx'cimeiis  collected  Ity  Mr.  William  II.  Werner  in  Comal 
( 'oiiiitv,  Texas,  on  May  17,  1.S7S.  Mr.  Ih-ewster,  in  speakin;>'  of  this  find, 
savs:  "The  nest,  a  larji'e  hiilky  structure,  composed  of  coarse  sticks,  with  rather 
a  smooth  liniii};' of  Spanish  moss,  was  iaiilt  in  a  cypress  tree  on  the  hank  of 
the  (luadalupe  River.  It  was  placed  on  a  lar<i'e  and  nearly  horizontal 
la-anch,  ahout  1,"»  feet  out  from  the  main  stem,  and  at  least  40  feet  aiiove 
the  {frounil.  It  measured  as  follows:  Kxterual  diameter  "JO  inches;  external 
(le|)tli  (>  inches;  internal  diameter  7  inches;  internal  de|)th  4  inches.  The 
two  ('•.'••i's  which  it  contained  were  slightly  incul»aled.  One  is  still  ]ireserved 
with  the  nest,  the  other  is  in  Mr.  liicksecker's  collection.  The  latter  meas- 
ures 2.0!t  hy  l.^r)  inches  (ahout  n.'J.l  hy  ;{!>.4  millimetres).  It  is  marked  with 
lilotches  of  reddish  lirown  upon  a  dull  white  j>'ronnd.  These  lilotidies  occur 
most  thicklv  ahout  the  lar^icr  end,  where  they  teiul  ti>  form  a  nearly  con- 
tinent rin<^.  In  Mr.  Werner's  specimen,  which  is  similar  in  color,  the  markiiiffs 
are  most  numerous  around  tlu*  smaller  extremity.  Its  dimensions  are  2.0<! 
Iiy  l.o.'i  inches  (ahout  U'l.'i  hy  3H.1(  millimetres).  Althoujih  the  parent  hirds 
lieloii^iinj;'  t(»  this  nest  successfully  eluded  all  attempts  at  capture,  their  iden- 
tity can  scarcely  he  donhted.  As  Mr.  Werner  was  (diniliiiij;'  to  their  eyrie, 
tliey  swept  (h)wn  ahout  his  head,  repeatedly  passiii;^'  within  a  few  feet  of  him 
As  hut  a  few  days  previously  he  had  shot  the  specimen  ahovc  referred  to 
[which  is  (|in»ted  in  the  hej;iniiin<i-  of  this  artiide  and  not  <opied  l)y  me] 
it  is  not  likely  that  he  «'oiild  have  mistaken  a  species  .so  distimtly   inarkeil." 


•Ml';? 


^1 

■ 

! 

1 ' 

M 


t;:ii 


m 


!«i 


5.1  ;  V 


230  lAVK  IIISTOIMKH  Ol'  NOUTIl  AMKItlCAN   lilltMH. 

Mr.  Sfcplit'iiH   |iiililislifil  siiliH('<|iiciitly  tlic  tnllowiiiy-  nccoiiiit:    "May  2H, 
1S7(!,  I    I'niiiiil  ji   iicst  III'  Hiilrn   •iiiKiriniis  ill  ii   very  liir^^c  ('iittniiwouil   tret',  i:i 


il    j;T(1\('    II 


f  til 


iiiM',  ill    till*   Miiiiitli  <it   II   ciiMoii  lit'  till'  (iiiii    HiviT,  ill   N 


I'W 


.Mt'xirii,  nliiiiit  •_'•>  mill's  iiliiiM-   tin-   A: 


;..   I::;..     I   saw  tlic  piiri'iit  lly   IViiin 
till'   lU'Ht    tiiiil    with    its    iiiiitc   circle   iirniiiiil    nvcrlicail,     One   iili<;'liti'il    mi    tlic 


tl 


clili   ovcrhiiiitiin^-   the   j;riivi',  winch    I   siiccci'ili'il    in   kiMiii 


till'  iiiiili'. 


Illlll    IMI    I 


linil 


It     |M 


IIVI'I 


I    to    II 


UTS    jllll 


1  ciiIlM  IKit   tlli'll   urt   til  till'  Ili'St,  lillt  till'  Ili'Xt 


ri'tiinii'il  with  a  r. 


ami    siicci'cili'il   III   "I'ttiii"'  near  I'liniij'li  tii  wml 


•lay  1  . 

my  liaiiil  u|)  thriuinh  the  mst  ami  naili  mii'  i"^'^,  which  was  all  tlicri'  was. 
'I'hi'  iicst  WiiH  qiiiti'  hiilky,  i'iiiii|iii.si'il  nl'  twi<fs  liiicil  with  stri|>s  nl'  llic  imiir 
hark  ul'  the  cDttiiiiwuiiil. 

"'I'lie  eji't"'  was  very  near  hatdiiii;;',  ami  in  atteinptiii}''  tn  extract  the 
eml»r\ii  I  lirnke  it,  anil  it  has  since  heeii  lii'iikeii  iiitii  small  pieces.  It  was 
iiiarkeil  with  larji'e  reililish  limwii  lilntches,  irri'iiiilarly  ilistriliiiteil  on  a  ilirty 
white  ;;i'iiniiil.  1  still  have  the  male  parent."'  .Mr.  Stephens  .sent  me  the 
pieces  iif  this  ey;;-,  which  «i  re  all  small,  hut  as  ilesi  rilied  ahiive. 

The  next  piililisheil  acciumt  nt'  the  iiestiii;;-  haiiits  ut'  the  Ziiue-tailed  Hawk, 
anil  l>y  I'ar  the  must  cmiiplete,  is  one  l»y  Asst.  Siir;;.  Kd^jar  A.  Meariis,  I'.  S. 
Army.  It  is  tmi  lon^i'  tn  ijimte  I'lilly,  ami  1  extract  uiily  such  |Mirtiiiiis  as  are  of 
special  interest. 

I>r.  .Mearns  rmiml  his  first  nest  ut'  this  s|iecies  while  campeil  in  a  fjrnve 
of  ciittiinwooil  trees  n|iiin  the  hanks  of  New  h'iver,  Arizona,  May  1(1,  IKSfi. 
While  he  was  resting,''  in  the  shade,  a  shrill  whistle  drew  his  attention  to  a 
ilawk  that  came  ^liiliiiu'  toward  him  throiinh  the  dark  shadows  of  the  dense 
foliaj^e.  A  ipiick  shot  iirou^ht  the  liird  to  his  feet,  (hi  seai'chin;;'  the  viciiiitv 
s  not   lon;^'  in   disci iverinji'  a    hiilky   nest    tixed    in   the  forks  of  a    lar;;e 


ne  wa 


Cottonwood   lirani 


'h  across  the  stream,   at  an   elexation  of  alimit  '2'>  feet. 


am 


I 

the  female  parent  standing''  upon  it.  She  ;iave  a  loud  whistle  and  came 
skiminin;;'  toward  him,  and  was  also  shot,  '{"he  nest  was  coarsel\'  hnilt  of 
rather  larj^c   sticks,  with  considerahle  concavitv,  lined  with  a   i\'\v  cottonwood 

-htly 


f   a   ronmled    oval    sliai 


Sll 


leaves  only,    and  contained   a    single    e;;;;i'  o 

smaller  at  one  end,  in  color  clear  hliiish  white,  immaciilate,  iind   measiiriiij;'  "i.'i 

1)\'  4.'$  millimetres.     On   ilissectiii;i'   the   female  he  ilisco\ered  that  two  would 


nave    lieell 


the   fi 


ciiiniitemi'iit   for  this  pair 


The  doctor  encamped  the  next  day  at  the  Aipia  Frio.      He  says:   "Here  I 


H 


ew  screainni"' 


a<fain  foimd  the  Zone-tailed  Ilawk.      A  feinale  was  shot  as 

at  me,  and  the  nest  was  soon  foimd  in  a  cottonwood  tree  near  liy.     TIh'  m  ile 

parent  sat  upon  the  ej;irs  and  Hew  away  when   I  fi'ot  close  up  to  tin 

shouted.      It  disappeared  after  cirtliii;^'  over  the  canon  a  few  • 

return  while  I   was   there,   although    I    spent   several   liiini>  I 

climlied  with  vast  exertion  to  the  ne.<t,  which  was  luiilt  in  a  alioiii         icet 

from  the  <>'round  and  was  exacfU'  like  the  lirst  one.      It  was  compnMud  of  sticks, 

'Kiilloliii  of  till'  Niittall  Uriiitliiil<iK><!ul  t'liili.  Vol.  iv,  .Inly,  IS?'.),  p.  IS'.i. 


TIIK  /ONK-TAILKI)  IIAWK. 


2:(1 


lined  i)iil\'    with   m-ci'ii    Iciivcs  of   cottDii 


i|    iiltiiilMil   tit  tilt'  twiijrs.      It 


WIIH 


imIIk'I' roiiDiVf,  anil  runttiiiiril  twu  <-<;';>'s  whirli  (lil)i-i°  niii'iiiii'riiltU'  in  si/r,  Hliapi', 
:iiii|  iiiiirkiii;>s  rniin  tlinsr  tii'Ht  roiiiul,  lnil  tlifi'r  ran  hi  inri'ly  lir  any  ilmilit  iilioiit 
llir  iili'iitiiiratinii,  I'lir  till'  t'cniali-  was  slmt  rlosr  tn  till'  nest,  wliili'  till'  otliiT  liini 
was  iliHtiiii'tly  hi'cii  wIicii  tlyiii;>'  tVnin  it,  anil  wax  lilai'k,  liavin^  its  tail  liarri'il 
witli  white  liclow.  I'l'iliaps,  hinvi'vcr,  it  is  sal'i'st  tn  say  llial  llii'sr  cfi'^s  an-  imt 
alisilnti'ly  iVi'i'  trniii  the  siis|)ii'iiiii  nl'  iiciii};-  tlmsr  nt'  I'nthiliiifiii  (iiillinicUiii,  as 
till'  parent  si-i-ii  tn  li-ave  the  nest  was  not  slmt.     'I'liey  are  oval,  eonsiileralily 

I'ith  yelluwish  weather  stains  in  spots. 


■iiiialler  at  one  eiiil,  "roniiil  roiur  w 


hiti 


One  iiieasines  (1,'J  iiy  4'i   niilliiiietres.     It  is  liiiely  spriiikleil  witli  liiirk  sep 


la- 


l»io\Mi  spi'iks,  ami  a    lew   p 
^ii-aniiliir  appearance.     All  tl 


ili-r   I 


a-own   ami 


asemier 


le  marks  are  most  nnmeroiis  i 


Its,  h 

It    till! 


IVIIIH' 


sniearv 


ar^i'e  extremity. 

The  other  measures  (II  liy  \'.\  millimetres.  It  is  evenly  hloteheil  with  very 
pale  N'ellowish  liriiwii  ami  lavender.  Itntli  eniitained  lar;^'e  enilir\'os  and  were 
iiiiutied  lit'  their  contents  with  dilliinllx ,"' 


on 


Several  years  prexioiis  to  these  accounts  I  met  with  the  Zoiie-tailed  Hawk 
K'illitto  ( 'reek,  Arizoiiii,  and  t'oumi  my  lii'st  nest  ol'  this  species  on  Ajiril  "i'J, 


isT'J,   lint  as  neither  of  the  parent^ 


procured  with   the  I'ji'^is  I  did  not  at 


the  time  descrilie  them 


Tl 


lev  wi 


re  Slimmer  residents  oiilv,  and  I  saw  the  lirst 


pair  of  "hlack  Hawks"  on  April    I,  1S7_'.     On  the  (itii  I  noticed  another  pair, 
w  liicli  were  just   conimeiiciii^'  to  Itiiild  a   nest   in  a   tali 


Cottonwood   tree,  in  a 


liiro'c  ji'rove  aliniit  a  mile  aliove  m\'  camp.     Neither  pair  oi   these  hirils  showed 
aii\    shyness,  allowin;^'  me  to  approach  doselv   to  them;    <mil,   with   the  assist- 


ance of  an  excellent  lield  "lass,  I  took  careful  oliservat 


oils  o 


f  tl 


lem 


It  dill 


ereiit 


times  while  thev  sat  at   rest 


on 


some  dead  liinli  wli 


tl 


ere  fliey  colllil    lie    plailUV 


I    li 


seen. 


On 


April 


iliile  ridinii'  alon;^-  the  Itaiiks  of  liillitto  Creek,  wiiicli   even 


It    that   early   date   had    dried    up,   leavinji'   only   a    staji'uaiit    water   hole   here 
mil  there,   I   noticed  one  of  these   Mlack   Hawks  llyinji'  up  the  creek  lied,  and 


lieiiiN-  at    leisure   I    ) 
entrance  to  Sahiiaritto  1' 


ollowed    It.      Some    "»    miles 


iss,  it  perched  on  a  il"ad 


Inn 


ve    my  camii,   near    the 
1»  of  a  larji'e  cottoiiwood 


tree  on  the  west  sido  of  the  creek.  On  iiearin;^'  this,  I  saw  an  old  and  liiilky 
nest  placed  in  a  fork  close  to  the  main  trunk  of  the  tree,  about  10  feet  u|),  and 
the  mate  of  the  liird  I  had  lieeii  followiii;i-  sittinji'  on  the  nest.  As  my  principal 
nlijeit  was  to  study  the  nestinii'  liahits  of  our  liirds,  as  well  as  to  collect  their 
,.MM.s,  i  refrained  I'roiii  shooting;'  either  of  them,  which  I  miji'lit  easily  have  done 
at  the  time.  On  climhiiie'  to  the  nest  I  foiinil  it  contained  hut  a  siiii>le  pale 
l)liiisli  white    uu.s])i)ttcd   v\^'^.      The  old    liirds  iliiriiii;-   this  time  were   circlinji' 


iioinid  almvo  tlui   tree 


^••iviii};'  vent  to  shrill   screams.      lieiufi'   some  distanci 


liom  <'amp  I  took  this  ('<iji',  and  had  not  moved  more  than  a  hiindred  yards 
away  from  the  tree  liefoi'e  one  of  tlu^  birds,  presinnalily  the  female,  settled 
oil  the  nest  ajjaiii  as  if  iiothiiif;'  had   liap])eiieil.     As  the  .set  was  certainly  not 


'  Aiik,  Viii.  Ill,  .liniiiaiy,  li.sii,  |i[i.  liMil). 


I 


Vm 


v!f 


232 


LIFK  IllSTOHIHS  OF  NOIITR  AMURICAX  BIHDS. 


ilW.\ 


■:•  ■)■ 


in 


n. 


1 


, 

) 

a 

V- 

'   li 

1 

1 

■ 

, 

• 

.'. 

J. 

I 

5  ' 

! 

.■ 

I 

1 

t 

\ 
J 

compU'tf,  I  cnmliiilt'il  to  ])iiy  tlicni  a  sim-iukI  visit  and  st'ciiro  tlio  otluT  cjjfffs 
iiiiil  out'  of  tilt'  jiiiri'iit  l»inls  nlso.  On  rt'acliiiijj-  tanip  and  blowinji'  tlit'  t-;;-;;-,  1 
ttiniid  it  tpiitt'  tVt'sli. 

On  May  ',\,  I  ]taid  a  second  visit  to  this  lot-ality  and  found  one  of  the  hirils 
on  the  nt'st.  wht'it'  it  n-niaint'tl  until  I  rotle  up  tt)  the  tree  and  ra]»ped  on  it  with 
the  butt  of  my  slitit;;un.  This  caust'tl  it  to  tly  olf  alxMU  AO  yanls  farther  up.  i>n 
the  t>p]iosite  siile  lA'  the  ilry  t-reek  lieil,  where  it  alijihtetl  in  a  smaller  tree.  As 
the  Itiril  aiiiteart'il  s  >  verx  tame  I  etinelutletl  to  examine  the  nest  iu'fore  attemiit- 


inji'  ti»  seeure  the  parent,  ami  it  was  well  I  tliil  st).     ('limiting  ti>  the  nest  1  ftunitl 
antither  t"^ix,  antl  at  the  same  instant  saw  from  my  elevatetl  positittn  stin\ethi-i<i' 


else  w 


hiel 


I    eon 


111   nt>t  have   l)een  tihserveil  from  the  "itMinil,  namelv.  several 


Apaeht'  Intlians  (•rt)uehetl  dtiwn  tin  the  siile  of  a  little  eaniin  whieh  o|)enetl  into 
the  ereek  lieil  about  S(»  yartls  farther  up.  They  were  eviilently  Wiiteliinji'  me, 
their  heatls  beinji'  raiseil  jusi  to  a  level  with  the  top  tif  the  lafitin 


In   tl 
dh 


lose   tlavs 


pat-lic 


In.l 


lans   were   ni> 


t    tl 


le   mt>st  tli'su'alile   nernhbors 


•hb 


esiMM'iallv   when  one   was   u 


]i  a  tree  ami  unarmeil;  1  theretbre  ileseenileil  as 
leisurely  as  ptissible,  knowinji'  that  if  I  showed  any  espeeial  haste  in  }it'ttin;i' 
dtiwn  they  wtmld  suspeet  me  of  havinji'  seen  them;  the  eji<;-  1  hati  plaeeil  in  my 
nituith  as  the  tpiiekest  anil  safest  way  that  I  eouM  think  of  tt»  ilis]»ose  t>f  it — 
anil  rather  an  uinomfbrtal)ly  larjit-  mouthful  it  was.  too — nevertheless  1  reaehetl 
the  <;ri)untl  safely,  and,  with  my  horse  and  sliot<;un.  lost  no  time  in  fit'ttin;;  to 
hi^h  and  open  jiround.  1  returned  to  tiie  place  ajiain  within  an  hour  antl  a  halt 
lookiufi'  for  the  Intlians,  but  what  followeil  has  no  beaiinji'  tipon  my  subjeet.  1 
only  mention  the  episode  tt>  aeeonnt  for  not  ha\iii^'  seeured  one  of  the  pai-ents 
of  these  e;ij;s.  1  found  if  no  easy  matter  to  remove  the  e^ji'  from  my  mouth 
without  injury,  but  1  hnally  suffeedtd.  thon;;h  my  jaws  ached  for  .some  time 
afterwartl.  On  lilowin^-  it  the  next  day  1  foiuitl  it  slij;htly  incnliated.  It  was 
unspotted  like  the  lirst  The  nest  was  evidently  an  old  one  which  h.-id  been 
usetl  for  many  ye.irs.  It  was  tjuite  flat  on  tip  and  sparingly  linetl  with  cotton- 
wood  bark. 


<  Ml    Ma\'  17,  a  set  of  three  t'trirs  were  brouyht  to  me  bv  two  of  mv 


men 


who  were  familiar  with  the  appearance  of  lliese  iiirtls.     The  nest  was  in  ii  simi- 

il  tree  near  the  sink  of  the  Santa  ( "ruz  l{iv«'r, 
These  also  were   unspotted  and  neaily 


Ii 


\r  situation  in  a  iarji'e  cot'oiiwoi 
theast  of  T 


licsoii. 


about    l<)  miles  nor 
fresh. 

At  that  tini"  I  was  ict  aware  that  the  Mexican  lUack  Hawk  was  found 
in  Arizona,  but  on  a  siii»seipieiit  visit  to  \Vashinj;ton,  District  of  ( "ohmiliia, 
in  the  fall  ol"  1^71,  while  t'xamiiiin<.>'  specimens  of  bntli  lliidn  (ililnrritiliis  and 
I'ndilliiii/ii  iiiillniii  inn,  I  saw  plainly  that  I  had  accurately  ilescriltetl  a  peculiar 
pluma'i'e  of  the  latter  species  which  is  not  foinitl  in  lli(tift  aUlm rintiis,  and  on 
showing-  my  original  notes  to  Mr.  Utdiert  Kidjiway,  of  the  Smithsi»nian  Insti- 
tution, he  fully  aiiifed  with  me  that  my  ilesiripfioii  of  a  bird  seen  on  .Vpril  I. 
I s7-_',  plainly  refi'iTed  to  the  .Mexican  IJlack  Hawk.  On  the  streii^ith  of  this, 
as  Well   as   ot'  the   description   of  tlit^   e^H's  of  Itiilin  dliliii  riiihi\   bein^'  spotted. 


TIIK  ZONK-TAILKl)  HAWK. 


233 


l)as(Ml  on  Stcplii'Us's  ami  Wcnicr's  iilfiitiliciifion.  I  iiiitunilly  cjiinc  to  the  coii- 
clusioii  tliiit  tilt'  cji'^s  tiikt'ii  liy  inc  in  Ari/nna  wcrt-  clrarly  rcti'ralilc  to  tin- 
.Mfxican  lilack  Hawk  and  none  otlicr. 

Kvt'n  hr.  Mcanis's  snhsciiucnt  article  on  these  two  species  ptiMislieil  in 
the  Ank  (Vol.  ill,  .Faiuiarv.  issd,  pp.  (lO-T.'i),  did  not  shake  my  taith  in  my  cor- 
rect identilication  of  these  ejifis  after  iiaviii';  examined  specimens  of  the  two 
species.  This  was  further  stren;;tiiened  l»y  a  letter  from  .Mr.  William  l.loyd. 
who  wrote  me  that  he  had  fonnd  a  nest  of  I'tiiliil'iufid  tiiilliniciiin  on  .\pril  1.!, 
I  SIM),  in  IVesidio  County,  Texas,  and  liavin;f  shot  the  female,  he  found  a  fully 
developed  efi}>'  in  her  oviduct.  This  was  hadly  Iiroken;  he  sent  me  the  pieces, 
however,  and  Mr.  1"'.  A.  Lucas  kindly  restored  the  fpecimen  very  skillfully. 
This  v<x'^  was  likewise  l)luish  white  in  color,  unspotted,  and  measured  .'i  I  liy  li* 
millimetres;  it  was  in  fact  an  exact  counterpart  of  Dr.  Meams's  e<>'i>-  of  /liilm 
iililirrridhis,  and  of  my  suppo.sed  e^'^-s  of  I'niliifiiiiiu  iiiilliniclim.     I  was  naturally 


ived  to  he  a  Zone-tailed 


anxious  to  see  the  parent,  aixl  tins,  <>n  examination,  pro 
Hawk. 

I  am  .satisfied  now  that  Dr.  Mearns  was  perfer-tly  rijilit  in  his  surmise, 
that  the  birds  t'oniid  liy  me  lireedin;>-  in  Arizona  in  '|S72  were  really  Hitfni 
iililitiriiifiis  as  I  ori^rinally  supposed,  and  I  am  eipially  certain  that  siane  of 
the  iiot(>s  taken  iiy  me  at  the  time,  and  which  will  lie  ipmted  in  their  proper 
place,  .are  positively  referalile  to  ('nihitliifiii  iiiitlirid  iiia,  and  show  charh  that  1 
met.  with  liotli  species. 


'i'hn  Zoiu'-tailed  llav\k  is  pretty  jreiierally  distrihnted  over  the  j;reater  | 


•or- 


tioii  of  Ari/.ona  durin<:'  the  hreedin^  season,  ami  is  imt  especialK  rare.     A  pair 


ir  twojiiav  I M(  found  inhahitiiiLj'  a 


ti>r\-   ■•1111 


I  in 


Heems 


to  li 


11  the  l.ii'ji'i'r  cottonwooil  jiToves  in 

th 


the  T 


erri- 


especially  partial  to  such  trees  to  nest  in,  tlie\'  nsiialh 


lieinn  found  oiilv  aloii;^'  the  hanks  of  the  few  streams  in  this  jioorK  watered 
iduntry.  According;"  to  I)r.  Mi-arns,  its  food  consists  of  li/.arils,  fro<is,  and  fishes, 
liiit  small  mammals  lire  nndoiilitedly  also  incliideil  in  its  hill  of  tare. 

It  usually  makes  its  ai»iie,irance  fmm  the  south  in  the  hej;iniiini;'  of  April, 
and  lint,  ti  siiioh-  Imiod  is  raised  in  a  season.  Moth  sexes  assist  in  incnliatioii, 
which,  as  with  our  lar;;'er  Kaptons.  lasts  alioiit  four  weeks.  The  i'<f>ss  varv 
from  one  to  three  in  iiiimlier,  usnalls'  t\\o,  and  seem  to  he  for  the  most  part 
unspotted.     They  are  oMon;;  oval  in  sh,i|ic,  pale  Idiiish  white  in  color,  and  the 


is  rather  smooth  and  liiieK   <:i'aiiiilat( 


•rdiuu'  to    .Messrs.    Stepli 


ell- 


W 


iriier  the    t'<sixx  are   occasioiiallN 


spotted,   and    I    have    no    reason    to    doiiht    tli<-ir    identilication.     Nidificati) 
coimiieiices  in  the  hitter  part  of  April  and  lasts  thidiiuh   .May. 


Ill 


The    I'^ij;-  'akeii    liy    hr.   .Me 


inis  near 


U'ivcr,   .\ri/.oiia,  on  Ma\'  1(> 


,|HS,"i,  alioiit  which  there  can  he  no  po.ssihle  doiilit  as  tti  its  identilication, 
hoth  parents  liein^  shot  at  tlit^  same  time,  and  which  is  now  liefore  me, 
measures   ;'il    l»y    4.'5    niilliiiH-lres,    and    is    tiji'iired    on    IM.    7.    Kij;.    (!,  as    the 


typ 


if   tl 


us    siiecie 


a  VI I 


leeli 


kiiidK'   loaneil    t<i    me    hv   the   .\merican 


M 


useiim   tif    Natural    llistoi\,    New    N'oik    ("it\.    New    ^'ork,   to   which    colh 


iL 


\:i 


V 


I 


! 


i  i 

* 

4 


^^ 


i\ 


■J     •■ 


\} 


i"^ 


w 


23i 


LIKK  IllSTOUIKS  OF  NORTH  AMKUKAN  lUHDS. 


tiiui  it  hclonjfs.  'I'lic  »'<i;rs  of  this  species  from  lufiir  Tiicsun,  Arizona,  mensiire 
iis  follows:  First  set.  A.'?  I»y  1.5  jiikI  ."tl.f)  Ity  t'J.f*  millimetres;  s(>coii(l  set,  r».'i.'>  Ity 
4"J,  riM.')  hy  I'J,  ami  ;"»."»  hy  41  millimetres.  Mr.  Williiim  IJoyil's  speeimeii, 
from  I'residio  (Jouiity,  Texas,  measures  'tA  ity  42  millimetn'S.  On  nune  of 
these  e^«>s  are  any  markinf>s  visihle. 

8o.     Buteo  albicaudatus  Vieillot. 

WMrrK-TAii.i'.i)  HAWK. 

Hiitcn  alhirnudnfiis  VtElT.l.oT,   Nuuveaii   Diitioiiiiire.  iv.  IStC,  477. 

(H— .  ('-.  U  111.  Cr.i:!.  V  .141.) 


OEor.KAI'HICAI,    KANOK:     \V 


>r   Middle  Ainerlca:   iiortli  to  .soutlu-rn  Te.xas ; 


soiitli  til  |tin'tiuiis  of  castci'ii  Sniitli  Aiiierira. 

This  common  Mexican  aiei  South  American  species,  easily  recoffiiized 
l»y  its  pure  white  UM(ler|iarts,  is  an  iilmiidaut  resident  of  the  (Julf  coast  of 
Texas  anil  the  lower  Kio  (Irande  N'alley,  the  only  localities  within  the 
I'nited  States   wheri'  it  has  Ikh'II  found  to  ImuhmI,  as  far  as  known  at  present. 


1    lielieve   that    mv  friends.    Dr.  .lames  ( '.   Merrill,    V.  S.   .\rm\, 


and 


Ml 


(leor^je  li.  Sennett,  who  have  lioth  contriliiited  .so  much  to  oui*  kiiowled;i'e  of 
the  ornitholo;;\-  ot'  the  Lower  Uio  (irande,  ot'  Texas,  were  tiie  tii'st  naturalists 
who  obtained   tlie  nest  and   eji^s  o 


f  this  handsome   lla\<k  within 


oin- 


Itord 


ers. 


The   f 


ormer,  m  sMeakmi;'  ' 


>{■  tl 


us   species,   sa\s: 


riiis  tine   Hawk    is   rather  a 


common  resident  on  tlie  extensive  prairies  near  tiie  coast,  especially  about  the 


sand   riiljics   covered   with   yuccas   and   cactus.      Its   haliits   ap| 


liitj^ 


n-   to    lie    lik( 


those  of    the  allied    species  of    Prairie   Hawks.     On   the  -Jd  of   .May,    1S7S,   1 
found   two  uest->,   each    place(|   in    the  top  of   a  yucca    jirowin;;   in    I'.do    Alto 


airie  about   7   miles  from  the  fort.     The  nests  were    not    more    than  s  teet 


Iroiu   the  "Tound 


.and   were  "ood  sized   ojatforms  of  twins    wi 


th 


Imiiii'' 


Whil 


e   exammiU"'   these   lies 


th 


st.s,  tl 


u-  parents   sai 


led 


111    circles  over 


carceh   an\ 
liea.i. 


constantly  utterinj>'  a  cry  much  like  the  bleatinj;'  of  a  <.;(iat.  Kadi  nest  <oii- 
taiiied  one  ey;'-.  The  first  was  ipiite  fresh  and  measures  •J..'{.'i  by  l.Ill  inches 
(aiioiit    "lit. 7    liy    4x.."i    miHimetres).      1     is   of  a   dirty   white   color   with  a   few 


It 


•ddish    blotches   at    the 
lid 


ill 


sinalle!'  end 


le  second  e^iy  wiis  partly   iiicu 


th 


ibated. 


reseiiiides  the  first  one,    but   the  reddi>li   lilotches  are  rather  spariu^^ly  ilis- 

ll    ineasures    ■J.,'5">    by    l.SA  inches  (alioiit  .''itl.7 


'( .     ( .no' 


tribiited  i»\<'r   the    eiitir 
by   17   milliniefres)."' 

Ill    the   sjiriu^'   of   iss-J,    while    on    a    collectiiifi'    tri)t   on    the   (iiilf   coast. 
near  Corjius   t'liristi.    Texas,    ('apt.    I?.    I*".    <  ioss    found    this   speiies    liri-ediii;'- 


ibimdaiitiv  in  that  vi<'iiiitv 


U 


e   writes  liie 


We  loiiiid  the  favorite  breediiiuf 


places  of  till'  While-tailed  Hawks  to  be  a  strip  ot  open  bushy  l.ind  Kinj;- 
between  the  thick  line  of  timlier  and  chaparral  aloiio  the  coast  and  tin-  open 
prairie.     .\iiy  bush  risinji  a  little  abo\c  the  sin'roiindiiif;  level  seemed  a  siiit- 

'  I'mi iliiiKH  U.  H.  Nulii>ii;il  .Mnwiiiii,  Vul.  l,  IH*s,  pp.  I.'iti,  l.'>7. 


Tin:  WIIITK-TAILEl)  IIAWK. 


235 


alilo  iicstin;;  sit**,  ami  no  attempt  was  made  to  conceal  tlu^  nest.  In  most 
cases  it  was  very  prominent,  and  cimlil  be  seen  for  a  lon<f  distance.  I  ex- 
amined iit'teen;  they  were  all  |ilac(Ml  in  low  hushes,  jjeneraliy  not  liiiiher 
than  (I  feet.  In  a  tew  cases  I  iiad  to  stand  n|>on  the  wa^^on  to  reach  them 
ThcN'  were  composed  ot'  sticks,  dry  wee(|s,  and  ^i'rasses.  A  coarse  dry  j^'rass 
entered  lar^itd}'  into  the  composition  of  most  of  them,  'i'hey  were  poorly 
constructed,  l)nt  moderately  hollowed,  and  usually  lined  with  a  tew  ^^reen 
twi^s  and  leaves.     Taken  as  a  whole,  the  nests  lookeil   rajijjcd   in  outline  and 


slo\enlv  finished.     .Miout  one  nest  in  four  containeil  ti 


U'ee  e^i'ji's,  the   I'es 


two. 
woul 


TI 


IIS 


IWI 


IS     w 


ary    aii<l    difliciilt    of   approach    at    all    tin 


les. 


cave  tiieir  nests    as   soon    as  we  came    m  siyiit,   sometimes   when  s 


'<t   iiiit 
'hey 
till 


half  a  mile  away,  ami  jiciierally  they  kept  cntindy  out  of  si;;lit.  .Vn  occa- 
sional pair  sailed  hi}!-!!  over  oiu"  heads,  utteriii^r  a  faint  <'ry  while  we  were 
at  tiieir  nest.  ()iily  a  sinj^le  one  came  wiiiiin  raiiji'e  of  our  jiUiis.  'I'he 
earliest  date  on   which  ejjj^s  were    found   was    .March   o;    the    latest   .Vjiril  "Jo." 


Kiiriii^"  the  sjiriiij;'  of  l.S,S4  ('a|>tain  (i 


ciillector  took   e^i'Ji's   of  this   specie; 


oil   Keltriiary   1,  and  in   l.SS.'i  as  late  as  July  4.     Only  one  nest  was   11   feet 
from  the  jiround;   the  others  were  all   lower,  ^i'enerally  from  4  to  S  feet  up. 


N..tl 


im<r     IS      I 


iieiitioued    alioiit    the   food    of   this    species    hy   any    of   < 


>ur 


iiiiitliolo^'ists  who  have  met  with  it  in  southern  Texas.  .Mr.  W.  II.  Hudson 
^ays,  in  speakinji'  of  the  haiiits  of  the  White-tailed  Hawk  in  the  Ar^i-eiitine 
lte|iiililic:    "I   have  dissected   a    ;^reat   many  and   t'oiiiid    notliin;^'   liiit  ( 'oleop- 

ild    not   l)e  al)l(-  to  keep   in 


tcroiis  insects  in 


tl 


leir 


ritomachs;    indeed  tliev 


woi 


>iicli  lar^'e  companies  when  travidiii;;'  if  they  retpiireil  a  iiohler  prey.  .\t 
tile  end  of  one  summer,  a  tlock  numlierin<;-  about  one  hundred  birds  appeared 
at  an  'estancia'  near  my  home,  and  thoiijih  very  frecpieiitly  distiirlied  they 
remained   for  alioiit   three   months   roosting-   at   nijilit   on   the   plantation   trees 


am 


1    passinj;-  the   day,  scattered  about   the   adjacent    plain,   feedinj''  on   <jr 


ISS- 


liiip|iers   and    beetles, 
another    'estancia'    a 


This  tlock   hit   when   the  weather  turned  cold:    but   at 


ipiieareil 


w 


inter.      The  iiirds 


M'l 


lat, 


m 


tl 


le    season    ami    remaiiiei 


oecaine   so 


reduced   in   llesli  that  after  ever\'  cold   rain 


severe   frost    liumiiers    were   found    dead    under   the    trees   where   they    roosted; 


im 


I  ill  that   way   most  of  them   perished   iicfore  the  reliini  of  spr 


I'l 


le  Usual   iiumi>er  ot   eL;< 


lai.l 


liV  this   species    is   two; 


not  micomiiio 


iowe\er,  and  occasinnalb,'    iiiit 


sini>-|e   (•■«•"•   sei 


•ts   ot    tiiree   are 
MIS  to  b(-  laid. 


The  e^t'jis  are  \:\V'^t'  for  the  size  ot'  tlie  bird.  Nidilicatioii,  some  seasons  at 
least,  bejiins  very  early,  full  sets  of  ciius  haviiiji'  iteeii  taken  on  February  1, 
bss4,  and  a^iain  it  is  protracted  •.veil  into  ,luly,  as  several  fresh  sets  of  r>s<xs 
lection    here    attest.     This    may    have    been    caused    by    repeatedly 


III 


th 
.bb 


I'nillim 


th 


.f  tl 


ii'ir  e<jii-.s,  or  pel 


n 


they  raise  tvvi 


ii'ooits  III  a  sea.son 


e  eiius  o 


f  the  White-tailed    Hawk  are  dull  dirtv  white  in  color,  faintly 


and  sparingly  marked  with  irre^ulai'  small   Itlotches  of  pale  iiiown  and  diali 


.\ 


.\n    occasion 


specimen    sliows 


tew    sill! 


h 


VflHler 


nai'l<in"s    also 


ArutMilihr  Oniillm  ii^y.  \<il.  n,  I-m;i,  |i.  i;i 


I 


236 


LIFR  [!ISTO?vIK8  OF  NORTH  AMKKIdAN  BIKDS. 


Ahttnt  oiuvthinl  of  tluf  c^jis  arc  uiispotfcil.  In  sliiijMf  tlioy  vary  fnim  an 
('lli|itical  oval  to  an  oval.  Xow  anil  tlicn  one  occurs  tliat  may  lie  dcsijiiiatcd 
as  elliptical  ovate.     The  shell  is  t'aiily  smooth  and  dose  <rraine<l. 

'Vhi'  axerajfe  measurement  of  fifteen  eji'^^s  of  this  species  in  the  l'.  S. 
National  iMusenm  collection  is  (iO  iiy  47.")  millimetres;  the  larfjfcst  ejfg  nieiis- 
iMMnjjf  (if)  by  ,")(>,  tlwf  smallest  f)')  liy  44  millimetres. 

'I'he  type  specimen  No.  "i'iASl,  .selected  from  a  set  of  three,  taken  March  S, 
ISSii  (I'l.  7,  Ki;,'.  S),  is  ihe  heaviest  marked  ej>j'-  of  the  series,  hut  in  another 
».jr<r  of  this  set  the  s|»ot^,  while  fewer,  are  darker  colored,  and  Xo.  'J'-'AS-J,  from 
,1  .set  of  two,  taken  April  4,  ISS.')  (|M.  7,  Ki;;-.  !•),  shows  hut  a  trace  of  a  faint 
spot  here  and  tliere,  and  resendiles  an  unspotted  eji-;"-.  Moth  these  sets  were 
olitained  in  <'xclianjre  from  ('apt.  \i.  F.  (Sos.s,  and  were  taken  near  Corpus 
( 'hristi,  Texas. 

8i.     Buteo  swainsoni  HoNAi-Aini:. 
sw.mnson's  hawk. 
liiilio  sirniiifioiii  Hox.vrAKTR.  (li'iijjrapliical  iiiid  (loiiiiianitivi'  Li.sf,  ls;f.s,  :t. 

(B  IS.  lit.  n,  -is.  c  ;!54.  K  44v'.  C  .v.'U,  U  :u-v'.) 


(iKO(;i!ArHi(Al,  KANdK:  Wi'stcrii  Xortli  Aiiii'iica:  iiortli  tn  .Maskiiiiml  western  sidi 


.f  111 


111   l'>.iv:  east  til  Wis 


II 


ni(ii>.  am 


I  Aik 


msas  (I'asii.i 


llv  to  .M, 


tssaihusi 


-): 


anil   suiitli   ilinuif^li  Central  Aiiieiiea  auil  ),'i eater  part  nf  Si.alii  Anieriia  to  the  Argen- 


tine 


K 


elMllilie 


i  ■  J    *  * 


(Swainson's    Hawk    has  a   wide   distrilaition   dnriny    the  breed 


mu  season. 


< 'onnnencinjn'  with  the  southern  portion  of  its  raii^e  «'ast  of  the  Wocky  Moim- 
tains — this  includes  poi'tions  of  the  less  densely  timliere<l  and  prairie  rej;ions 
of  'i'exas  and  Arkansas — thence  northeastward   in  similar  localities  to   Illinois 


and  Wisconsin;  north  and  westward  throuiiii  tiic  mlervemn;;'  .States  and    I  erri 
tories  into  the   Dominion  of   Canada    tVoin    .Manitoba,   westward  and    north  to 
the  Arctic  ren-ions  in  abont   latitude  <!">  .     Wi-st  of  the   b'oeky    .Mountains  it 

1  oscr  tlu^  entire    I'acilic  coast   reyion 


is  found  in   New   .Mexico  and  Arizona,  am 
north  into  Ihitish  Colnmliia  and  .Maska. 

( >n  the  arid  \\astes  and  talde  lands  of  southern  Arizona,  a 


s  w< 


as  ni 


th 


saj.re  and  bunch  jjrass  districts  of  Nevada,  ( h'eji'on,  Washinjitou,  and  blaho, 
Swainson's  Hawk  is  especially  abundant,  oiitnimiberin;;',  pei-haps,  all  the  other 
Uaptoics  of  these  ref^ions  comliined.  It  is  eminently  a  prairie  bird,  shuimin;; 
the  densely  tiuil)ered  mountain  re;i-ions,  .and  lieinj;  more  at  home  in  the 
sparin;;ly  \vooded  localities  Usually  foinid  alon;;  the  \\ater  courses  of  the  low- 
lands. 

(/'ompared  with  the  majoritv  <>f  our  ;     wks  it  is  n(.|itle  and  imsus|(icions  in 
■rfect   harmonv    with   its   smaller  nei^hliors.     It   is   no 


disposition 


livinir  in 


unusual  sij;ht  to  lind  other  birds,  Mich  iis  the  .\rk.insas  Kinjiliinl,  Ti/niiiinis  n r- 
liiiilis,  and  Ihillock's  ( Iriole,  Iitmis  hiilloi l,i,  iiestiiijr  in  the  same  tree;  and  the 
liist-meiilioned  species  yoes  even  further  lliaii  this,  sometimes  consliuctiny  its 


SVVAINSON'S  HAWK. 


237 


Inmir  iiniiu'ilijitcly  umlcr  tlic  lu'st  of  tlicsc  Tlawks  or  in  the  sides  of  it.  Two 
^iicli  iiistiiiiccs  ciiiiu'  iiiidfr  my  iK-rsonal  oh.Hfrvittioii. 

'V\u'  food  of  SwiiiiiHon's  Iliiwk  consists  almost  eiitircly  of  tlie  smidlcr 
rodents,  principally  striped  "gophers  and  mice,  as  well  as  f^rassiiopperH  and  the 
larji'i!  Idack  cricket,  which  is  very  connnon  as  well  as  destructive  in  certain  sea- 
sons, and  tile  l)anu  of  the  fanners  in  eastern  Orej-on,  Washiiif^ton,  Idaho, 
Nevada,  and  other  localities  in  tho  Great  iiasin,  destroyinir  and  eatinj;  ii|)  every 
i;icen  thin;;'  as  they  move  alon^.  i'lven  the  l)itter  leaves  of  the  .sa^'e  hnsh, 
Artciiiisiii,  ar(!  not  despised  hy  these  pests,  and  while  these  last  they  constitnte 
their  principal  food.  l"'ri>m  almost  daily  opjxirtnnities  enjoyed  liy  me  for 
xcars  of  ol)servin^  this  bird,  I  do  not  lu'sitate  to  say  that  aside  from  an 
occasional  half-^rown  ]\;iw.  or  ralihit,  which  from  their  ahnndance  in  sonut 
of  the  re^fions  n-ferred  to  are  themselves  considered  as  (piite  a  miisance,  its 
daily  fare  consists  almost  exchisively  of  such  food  as  1  hav»»  mentioned. 

I  caiuiot  recall  a  sin;,de  instance  where  one  of  tlu'se  hirds  visited  a  ponltry 
varil;  and  if  otiier  food  is  procnralile  it  will  seldom  molest  a  bird  of  any  kind. 
KroiM  an  economic  point  of  view  I  consider  it  by  far  the  most  n.sefid  and 
lienelicial  of  all  oin'  Hawks.  It  is  foniid  in  a  ^i'eat  variety  of  jdmna^es  and  in 
some  sta^'cs  it  is  an  exceiMlin^flv  handsome  bird. 

In  tluf  more  northern  jioitions  of  its  ran^c  it  is  only  a  smmiier  resident, 
iiiiliratin"-  reinilarlv  in  lar'^e  strayylint;'  Hocks.  In  the  fall  of  ISSI,  wliiie 
encamped  near  the  rmatilla  Indian  .Vyeiicy,  ii;  ( ►re^on,  I  noticed  innnliers 
of  tiiese  birds  passin;f;  I  should  think  that  not  less  than  two  tlionsand  of  them 
tiew  by  in  stra^';.;;lin;''  Itands  and  settled  down  on  th"  foothills  a  few  miles  south 
of  the  agency.  They  were  evidently  retnrnin^  from  their  breediiifj  ^'romids  in 
the  North,  and  as  they  tIew  rather  low  conld  lie  readily  identified,  althoii^rh 
tliey  varied  ^M-eatly  in  plnma;;e.  .\s  near  as  I  conlil  tell  this  iiody  of  Hawks 
seemed  to  be'  almost  exchisively  composed  ot'  this  spt-cies.    . 

On  the  eastern  slujies  of  tln^  K'ocky  Monntaiiis  it  winters  from  about  lati- 
tude ;{H^  southward,  a  few  remaining'  in  favorable  localities  still  fartlier  north. 
(Ml  the  Pacific  coast  I  have  oliserved  a  few  wintering;'  in  sontlieastein  ( )re;4on  in 
about  latitnihi  42'',  the  majority  passing;  southward,  and  the  birds  remaining''  are 
probably  such  as  breed  much  farther  north,  replacing-  llie  regular  summer  r(<si- 
deiits,  which  in  turn  niovcf  south  on  the  approach  of  cold  iveutln.)-. 

Swainson's  Hawk,  as  a  rule,  nests  lati-  in  the  sci^soii,  even  in  some  of  tiie 
southern  portions  of  its  ran^e.  This.  howi'\er,  does  noi  seem  to  Imld  ^mid 
everywhere,  as  Mr.  William  Lloyd  ini'orms  me  that  on  the  prairies  west  of 
<  "hihuahua,  .Mexico,  he  took  e^i^s  of  this  species  on  March  <1;  .Mr.  William 
Cobb  took  .some  in  central  New  Mexico,  .March  Jit,  and  .Mr.  F.  Stiphens  in 
southern  California  on  April   Ifl. 

In  the  lar^c  series  of  t'ixiX<*  of  this  species  in  the  I'.  S.  Nation.il  Museum 
collection,  consisfin;  of  one  humlred  aiicl  sixt\-six  specimens,  which  represent 
ne;"ly  every  State  and  Territory  west  of  the  .Mississippi  River,  from  .\ri/,ona 
to  Alaska   and  the  Arctic  re^nons,  there  is  but  a  sin^de  set  taken  as  early  as 


It 


r 


ri 

h 


I>'-H 


*•; 


«j'; 


i:: 


I;" 


:    W 
5  it 


iliil 


J    ii 


ii 


238 


LIFK  IIISTOIMKS  OF  NOKTII  AMKIMCAN  HIHDS. 


April  U),  this  l)ciii<;-  iVoni  soiitlicni  CiilHaniia.  Even  tlio  numeioiis  records 
from  soiitlicni  Arizoiin  tail  to  sliuw  ii  siiijjilc  dato  t-arlicr  than  May  12,  by  far 
the  j,frfatt'r  portion  falhn<f  in  the  hist  ton  days  of  this  month  and  tho  first  week 
in  June.  These  same  (hites  correspond  ecpially  well  with  the  connnencenicnt 
of  the  hreeilinj"-  season  in  Oregon,  Wa.shinj^ton,  and  Idaho,  where  I  took  a  num- 
lier  of  their  nests. 

In  Wyominji',  Montana,  the  Dakotas,  Manitolta,  and  farther  northward, 
most  of  the  records  are  in  Jnne,  a  few  in  .Inly,  and  a  sin<ile  specimen  was 
taken  by  Dr.  Elliott  Cones  on  St.  Marys  Hiver,  Montana,  on  Angnst  17, 
1K74,  bnt  this  was  probably  an  addled  enj;'. 

Swainson's  Hawk  arrives  in  its  suiniiier  home  fully  a  month  before  nidifi- 
catioii  commences,  and  dnrinj;  this  period  tliese  biivls  spend  considerable  time 
on  the  winji',  sailinjf  and  circling  around  higli  in  the  air,  uttering  tiieir  not  unmu- 
sical notes;  at  other  times  they  are  much  more  sluggish  and  are  fond  of  sitting 
on  a  dead  limb  of  a  tree;  a  telegraph  poll'  on  the  plains  is  a  particularly 
favorite  perch  of  theirs,  or  a  sage  bush  or  some  hillock  on  the  prairie,  from 
whence  they  watch  the  surromidings  for  their  hnmbh>  fare.  This  latter  habit 
of  sitting  nil  the  ground  is  rather  chai'acteristii'  of  this  species. 

They  rarely  build  a  new  nest,  the  oia^  used  tlie  previous  year,  if  not 
alrea<ly  occupied  by  some  of  the  earlier  lireeders,  like  the  American  Long- 
eared  Owl,  Asiti  iri/.soiiidinis,  is  slightly  repaired  by  the  addition  of  a  i\'\v 
sticks  and  a  little  lining,  or  an  old  (.'row's  nest  is  taken  possession  of  and 
reconstructed  to  suit;  these  repairs  seldom  take  more  than  a  day  or  so,  and  the 
nest  is  then  ready  for  the  I'ggs.  The  nesting  sites  of  tliis  species  vary  greatly 
according  to  circumstances  and  locality.  In  soiitiierii  Arizona,  especially  in 
the  vicinity  of  Eoit  lluachuca,  where  tiiis  Hawk  is  a  resident  and  exceedingly 
common,  Ijcut.  11.  ( '.  Hen.son,  Fourth  Cavalry,  ['.  S.  Army,  found  forty-one 
of  their  nests  lietweeii  May  12  and  June  \x,  1SS7.  All  of  these  were  jtlaced  in 
low  mesipiite  trees,  from  ,'{  to  l,'i  feet  from  the  ground.  A  few  found  by  me 
near  Tucson,  in  the  spring  ttf  1S72,  were  located  in  similar  tn-es  from  1(1  to  IH 
feet  iroiii  flic  ground. 

Ill  southeastern  Oregon,  as  well  as  in  Washington,  Idaho,  and  Montana, 
I  fre(|Uently  found  nests  of  this  species  placed  ill  some  small  bunch  of  willows 
growing  here  and  there  in  marshy  places  nr  along  the  banks  of  streams,  and 
again  in  isolated  jiine  trees,  straggling  patchi's  of  junipers,  and  now  anil  then 
in  mere  laishes  on  sicle  hills  of  canons,  or  near  the  rims  or  eilges  of  the 
sagebru>h-co\ereil  talile  lands  making  out  tVom  the  mountains  jiroper;  never 
in  what  might  Ite  called  a  forest  country.  Solitary  trees,  no  matter  how 
small  in  size,  giving  a  good  outlook  oxer  the  siinoiindiiig  coiiiitr\',  are,  in 
those  regions  at  least,  their  favorite  nesting  sites.  With  bnt  few  excep- 
tions the  nests  were  easil\-  reached  and  usually  placed  in  a  fork  close  to  the 
main  stein,  seldom  out  on  one  of  the  larger  limits.  Their  average  height 
from  the  ground  was  not  over  "Jn  feet.  Ihit  a  single  nest,  placed  on  a  large 
limb  of  a  good  sized  cottonwood  on  the  I'lnatilla  Uiver,  Oregon,  of  all  those 


SWAINSON'S  HAWK. 


235) 


I'oninl  1)V  nio,  nioro  tluni  thirty  in  luimlH'r,  wiis  difliciilt  to  jrct  at  iiiul  niiicli 
lii^jluT  t'niiii  the  <jTnuii(l  tliiin  iisiiiil.  It  was  fully  aO  tW-t  ii|»,  iiiiil  t-oiitniiicd 
hut  a  sinj^h'  trcsli  {•>x<<;  on  May  2S,  iHSii.  'I'hc  lu-sts  varied  ('(Hisidcrahly  in 
si/,(>  and  l)ulk,  l)Ut  rarely  avera<jfeil  more  than  a  toot  and  a  halt'  wide  by  a 
loot  in  depth.  The  top  of  the  nest  was  usually  rather  flat,  and  in  most 
instances  fairly  well  lined  with  either  dry  ;;rass,  weed  stalks,  dry  eotttmwood, 
or  juniper  hark.  A  few  were  lined  with  <ireen  willow  tops,  and  now  and 
then  I  found  one  with  searcely  any  linin}"-.  They  are  not  neatly  (MULstructed 
and  have  a  raj^f^ed  looking;'  appearance  from  the  outside;  fre(iuently  a  streamer 
or  two  of  juni|)er  hark  hanjis  down  from  the  sides  of  the  nest,  fiivinji'  it  a 
very  dilapidated  appearance,  and  many  limes,  had  I  not  li<'en  aide  to  .see 
the  hird  on  the  nest,  1  should  certainly  have  taken  it  for  an  ahandoiuMl  one. 
('apt.  H.  R  (Joss  says:  "1  found  this  species  iireedin;;  in  North  Dakota 
in  tin's  hi^fh  timher  alon^'  the  streams,  from  40  to  l>0  t'eet  up,  and  in  low 
l)rush  jiatches  on  the  prairies  in  the  lake  rejjioii,  where  the  nests  weie  lint 
1  to  4  feet  from  the  jiidund;   1   idso  found  nests  on  the  ;:idund  in  the  open 


irauMc. 


I  think    ih 


■om    apjH'arances  tlieru 


as    i)ei 


Ml      I 


)rush   <;rowin}jr  when 


1 


I'oMud  these  nests,  and  the    Itirds   hecame    attached  to  the  locality,   and  con- 


tinued to  use  it  after    the    Itu.shes  hail   lieeii    hiu'ned    oil'  liy  the    pra 
so  common  in  those  re^iions.      1   also   found  it  lireedinji   in  the  heavy 


ira- 


<ir. 
tind 


)er 


don"'  the  Nueces  l{i\er  in  southern  'I'exas 


Mr.   V.  Stephens   sav; 


tl 


m 


to   hreei 


le  early  spi'iny,  m 


".s«amsons   lia 
flocks,  many  remaiiiin;;'  in 


arrives  in  soutliern 


Calif. 


irnii 


the  h 


•ttl 


r"er  unsettleil  valleys 


Ih 


1.      I   1 


lave  seen  hundreds  in  sijilit  at  once,  scattered  over  the  plain, 
on  the  {frfiund,  where  they  sit  most  of  the  day,  alter  jiorjiin^'  themselves  on 
licetles  and  especially  <.>rasslio]ipers.  .\t  nij^lil  they  roost  in  the  nearest  trees 
or  on  rocky  hillsides.  ( )n  one  occasion  I  took  a  set  of  ej;';;s  of  this  species, 
and  a  set  of  Ictiinis  iiiciilliitiis  ticlsaiii  from  a  nest  pendant  from  some  of  the 
twin's  composin<;'  the  Hawk's  nest;  another  time  I  found  nests  uf  Tiitdiniiis 
iirtintlii  and  ('((riiniltiriis  nui  ii  nuns  fnnihili-i  laiilt  in  the  mass  of  the  Hawk's 
nest,  all  occupied  at  the  same  time." 


M 
Mr.   L\  nds  .loi 


les    stale; 


that 


III 


>wa    this 


11; 


usually  constructs  its 


nest  in  modei'ately  tiiiiliered  tracts,  iisiuilly  in  oiik  or  elm  trees,  from  ,'((•  to 
NO  t'eet  up,  the  nestiii;^'  season  hejiiiiniiij:'  in  the  lirst  half  of  .May,  their  nests 
liein<;'    often  lined  with    leaves.     'I'lieir  call    note,  aside  from  a  peculiar  ;;ur- 


in^  sound  mai 


de  wl 


ile  diviii'i'  ihroiinh  the  air.  reseinliles  the  won 


'1' 


-tick, 


pi-tick,"    freipieiitly  repeated. 

In  Montana,  accordiii;^'  to  Mr.  U.  S.  Williams,  fresh  e; 
lor  in   the   last   week 


nia\'  lie  looked 


.M; 


r 


le    lie 


sts     1 


lere 


ire     llsll 


lll> 


lilaceil     III 


.cdftoiiwoods  from   \'2  to  la  feet   from  th 
tree. 


una 


md  and  near  the  center  of  the 


Mr.  .1.  W.  IVeston  found  a  pair  of  these  hinls  nestinp-  in  ,n  ]\\no  Tien 


on  .s 


deserted   nest,  near 


Maxt 


er. 


II. 


ays: 


,\lllnai"h    a    liir.l    of   "ra.'.'I'iil 


orm   am 


1    oft< 


ell    .it    pieasin;;-   movement,   it    is   the   most    careless   in 


th 


'I. 


ha 


Itits 


if 


im 


'.fiiiiii 


Mu' 


U\l.<i 


f  1 


I- 


^ 


240 


LIFK  IIISTOKIKS  OF  NOUTII  AMliUICAN   I'.IUDH. 


jiiiy  of  our  Hawks.  'Tamo'  is  an  appropriate  y|)itlH't.  A  pair  spent  many 
ilays  ill  re1mil(tiii;>-  an  old  nest  of  tiie  common  Crow  lo  feet  up  in  a  small 
tree,  clircctly  over  ii  roail  in  a  wood  and  in  plain  si^ilit,  yet  the  liirds  eviiieed 
uo  more  couceni  altout  the  passers-hy  than  a  liantam  hen  would  do.  It  is 
popularly  known  as  the  l'raii'i<-  Hawk  here,  and  so  it  i.s,  liut  it  often  nests 
in  the  lionlerinjf  proves."  Aceordinji'  to  Mr.  W.  H.  ('ol)l),  in  New  Mexico 
they  occasionally  nest  in  canons  or  the  sides  ot'  (dill's  under  an  overliaii<;iii;4' 
rock.  H»'re  they  feeil  principally  on  hares  and  wood  rats,  and  remains  of 
snakes  have  lieeii  toimd  in  one  of  their  nests. 

A  nest  whose   contents   are   now  in    the   l'.  S.   National    .Miisemn   collec- 


tion,   taken    at    the    forks    of   Milk    Kivcr,    Montana, 


on 


.lulv    17.    1S71,    l.v 


l>r.  Klliott  Cones,  was  placed  a;iainst  the  face  of  a  perpemlicnlar  earth  Itank 
|(KI  feet  hiffh,  on  a  sli^^ht  projection  of  the  j;round  about  half  way  up.  It 
(•ontained  two  ('^.'^^s  in  which  iiiculiation  was  far  advanced.     Nests  have  also 


heen  found  in  live  oak 


s,  s\camores,  and  as])ens 


Lieutenant    iienson    found    Swainson's    Hawk    living    in    harmony    with 
•tiler  liirds  and  writes  me  tiiaf  after  the  Arkansas  Kiu;,d(irds  l»e<j:an  to  hnild 


he  invarialilv  lonnd  one  of  their  nests  in  each  tree  that  contained  o 


lie 


>f  th 


former.     In    one    case    a    pair    of   these    Flycatchers    liad    jilaced    their    nest 


direcllv  under  and   hut   H   or  !t   inciies   from   that   of  the    Hawk. 


iir  of 


White-riinined  Shrikes  nested  also  directiv  under  one  of  these   Hawk's  nests. 


On   anothei 


asioii   he   foiiml   rather  a    straiu 


fe  occu|taut    in   a 


St   of  this 


«liecies,  and  it  is  (piestioiialile  if,  in  this  instance  at  least,  tiie  usually  f^ood- 


uatiired    Swainson's    Hawk    would    not    have    resented    tin-    intrnsioii.     'I'll 

vi-itor  was  a  i^ l-si/,e(l  rattlesnake  which  had  manajfed  to  climli  up  the  lo 

l»usli\    tree  and  coiled  itself  comfortaith    in  the  nest. 


IS 


Milt  one  lirood  is  raised  in  a 


.season 


If  the  lirst  .set  is  taken  tliev 


wil 


fret|Ueiitly   lay   a    .second    one  consistiii^i'  of  one,   seldom   two   f^'/s,   and    use 
the  same   nest   a-rain   as  a  rule.     Inciiiiatiou   lasts    alioiit    twentv-eij"ht    davs, 


1)otl 
day: 


I   .sexes   assistin;^',   am 


I   th 


ire  deposited   at    intervals   of  altoiit   two 


The  niimlier  of  ('"•'is  to  a  set  varies  from  two  to  four. 


Iccori 


linjr  t 


o  my 


own  experience,  and  that  of  Lieutenant  |{ens(»ii 


•11,  the  niimlfer  most  often 


found  is  two.     Alioiit  one  nest  in  four  contains  three  eji';is,  and  a  .set  of  four  is 


rarely  met  with.     I  found  but 
tl 


one  such  m  o\cr 


ihirt 


rt\  nests 


and 


he  only  < 


.til 


er 


set  in  the  collection  was  taken  liy  .Mr.  Krnest  Iv  Thompson,  near  Carlterry, 
Manitoha,  .lune  S,  lss,'{.  My  .set  of  tour  was  taken  near  Kort  Lapwai,  Idaho, 
May  2K,   ISTL 

In  shape  these  v^'/s  \ary  from  a  short  ovate  to  an  o\al,  and  their  shells  are 


rather  smooth  and  eh 


uni'< 


1.     Their  "round  color  when  fresh  i 


s  a  ver\'  I 


lis- 


linct  j^reeiiish  white  which  in  course  of  time  fades  into  a  dull  yellow  white. 
When  n.it  clos(dy  looked  at  many  of  the  v/'/s  of  Swainson's  Hawk  appear  to 
lie  iins|iotted,  liiit  on  caretnl  examination  there  are  in  reality  very  few  that  are 
immaculate.      Tin-  majority  are  more  or  less  distinctly  spotted   and   blotched 


!1 


SWAINSON'H  HAWK. 


241 


uitli  (liircreiit  sliiulcs  nf  liruwii,  siitli  as  Imiiit  uiiilicr,  liver  Imiwii,  liiizcl,  iiiul 
liiwiiy,  iiml  iif  cliiy  rolur,  Kiciicli  ;;iiiy,  iiml  dnil)  ^i'niy.  Witli  lint  very  tew 
(■\(('|itions  Mdiic  tit'  tlic  ('j;)fs  art'  licavily  iiiaikftl;  alitnit  tnu-lialt'  arc,  ImwcNcr, 
iiKiderati'ly  well  s)ii>tt('il. 

'Plu*  av('ra;;('  size  nt'  tnif  limulrt-tl  anil  sixty-six  s|u'»iiiu'ns  in  tlif  I'.  S. 
Niitiiinal  Miisciun  ('iillfctiiin  is  'id.,')  liy  II  iiiilliniftrcs.  TIh'  larjicst  v<i<^  nl' 
llic  st-rit's,  ont-  taken  liy  niyseit'  at  l""iirt  l.apwai,  Itlaliti,  nieastnt-s  (i2  liy  Ki.'i 
iiiillinietres,  tlie  smallest,  taken  liy  Lient.  11.  ('.  Meiistm,  at  Ktirt  Iluaelinca, 
.\ri/.iina.  measures  imf  rid.'i  liy  lO.'i  inillinietit's.  As  is  usually  the  ease,  tla^ 
,.Mus  tViim  tlie  ndrtliern  lireedinji'  ranges  average  larger  in  si/e  t'.ian  tlittse  tVum 
liie  siiutliern. 

Tlie  ty|ie  specimens  selecteil  tii  slitiw  tlie  principal  \ariatiiins  ftiund  in 
llicse  eggs  are:  Nti.  "-'OTI.'S  (IM.  H,  Kig.  I),  rrum  a  set  til'  twn  taken  near  Camp 
ilaniey,  Oregtm,  .May  I'J,  IST.'i;  N.i.  -JOT.'};}  (IM.  S,  Kig.  •_'),  a  very  peculiarly 
iiiarkeil  egg  tVtiui  a  set  tif  tour,  taken  near  Ktnt  Lapwai,  Idaliti,  .May  2^,  1X7;  ; 
Nil.  I'nT  |()  (IM.  H,  l''ig.  ,'i),  a  single  i-i^ix,  and  very  tlistinctly  markeil,  was  taken 
near  file  I'matilla  Intlian  .\gency,  Oregtm,  May  '2X,  i.SH2;  tlie.se  are  f'rtim  tlie 
Meiitlire  ciillectiim.  Nil.  L'.'U.T.t,  twii  eggs  t'rtim  same  set,  vei'v  liantlsumelv 
iiiarketl  (IM.  S,  Fig.s.  1  and  fi),  taken  near  Kurt  Iluacliuea,  Ariztma,  May  '21, 
ISST,  autl  Nil.  -.'.'Uril*  (IM.  s,  Fig.  C),  frtim  the  same  Iticality,  taken  .Fune  IS, 
|SS7,  were  cidlettetl  hy  Lieut.  II.  ('.  Menstm,  Ftiurtli  Cavalry,  V.  S.  Army, 
wliii  maile  an  exeeetlingly  inleifstiiig  ctdlectinn  nt'  Imtli  liird.s  and  eggs  «it'  that 
liiiii  slightly  expliireil  regitiu;  anil  he  genernusly  prescutud  them  all  tti  the 
r.  S.   Natitinal    Museum. 

82.     Buteo  latissimus  (Wilson). 

IU{()Ali-\VIN(ii;il    U.WVK. 

h'lilni  hitisslttui.s  Wii.SdX,  .Viiici'icaii  <  liiiilli'ildijy.  VI.  IS]-.'.  :i-.>.  PI.  ,M,  Fiir.  ). 
/;///. o /ii//.s.v/;»/(.s- SuAiii'i;,  ('.il.-ilo^'iie  iif  Hirils  ill  Hritisli  Miiscmii.  r,  Accip.,  isM,  I'.i.'J. 

(M  •.>:.  C.l.V^  U  li;t.  V  .-.••I.  f  :;i:!.) 

(iKiMiK.viMIIc.M,  llAXtiK:  Eastern  N'orlli  Aiiiei'ifa:  imrtli  tu  Ni'W  tirunswick  ami 
S.iskati'lii'Wan;  west  to  edu;!' of  (}rcat  I^laiiis;  soiitli  (in  wiiilcr  oidy  ?)  throii^ii  (.'t-iitial 
.\iii('i'ic;i  anil  West  Iiiilics  to  norllirni  South  America. 

'I'he  lireeiling  range  of  the  Hroatl-wiiigeij  Hawk  inclniles  the  whule  tit' 
iIm'  eastern  rnitetl  States,  t'r< mi  tlie  .Mississippi  liiver  to  the  Atlantic  ( (eean. 
Wesi  lit"  the  .Mississippi  Neiirliiig  t'tiuntl  it  lireetling  near  lltuistun,  in  e.isterii 
I'lxas.  ('ill.  N.  S.  (itiss  gi\cs  it  as  rare  in  Kansas,  Itut  pmlialily  lireetling, 
Mini  it  is  known  to  lie  etimnion  in  portioiis  ot'  lowii  ami  Minnestitii.  It  ranges 
lie\dii(l  iiiir  iiordcr  into  soiitiiei'ii  ("aiiaila,  and  lireeds  from  Nova  Scotia  and 
New  Mriuiswick  west  to  the  province  of  Assiniiioia  and  noitli  to  the  Saskatch- 
iwan  plains. 

In   I'Moriila,  Soiitii  ( 'arolina,  ami  the  (iiilf  coast  generally,  it  seems  to  he 
a  rare  resilient,   lint    it    has    iiten    rcjiortetl    as    hn-eiling    near    Lake    Harney, 
l.'(i!».57_|tull.  1 Hi 


m. 


IH,s 'T''  B 


I 


!■■ 


h). 


■  r ' 

i 


1 

■ti  ■ 

1 

'i  ' 

* 

r 

li 

■ilH 

i 

;  '•'    ' 

V 

l^i' 

\ 

'1-1 

\ 

',<    ' 

1 

242 


LlFli  IliSTOlUKS  OF  NOUTII  AJIKUICAN  liUlUH. 


Kloritlii,  jiihI  (III  ('"rj,'  ••ul1('ct«'(l  liy  Mr.  II.  H.  ^[(>o^^  near  Miiiiiitcc,  Floridii,  in  tlic 
s|»riii;if  of  1H72,  iiml  now  in  llic  ['.  S.  Niitioiuil  .Mii.>i('inn  cHllcclinn,  ciitcnM] 
lis  tine  tit"  Hiitro  Ihiiiidis,  is  so  snuill  tliat  it  woiijil  hcctn  niiuli  more  likely 
rert'rai>lc  to  tliis  .iiiccics.  Mr.  \V.  Iv  D.  Scott  ami  otlier  well  kntiwii  ornitliol- 
ofjists  wlio  liave  collected  extensively  in  Florida  dnrinj^'  llie  past  ten  years, 
do  not  appear  to  liave  met  witli  it  dnrin;.''  the  lireedin^-  sea.son,  lint  as  it  is 
reported  to  lireed  in  ("ulia  it  is  reasonalile  to  suppose  that  tho  same  is  true  of 
our  southern  liorder.  Dr.  A.  K.  Fisher  tells  me  that  he  saw  a  pair  near 
Moliile,  Alabama,  in  May,  isst;,  which  acted  as  if  they  had  a  nest  in  the 
vicinity. 

'rhron;;hont  the  Central  and  Xorthern  States  it  is  somewhat  irregularly 
di:  triliuted.  liein;;-  coimnon  in  some  sections  ami  rare  in  others.  As  it  is  emi- 
nently a  liird  of  the  lar;jcr  forests,  and  seldom  seen  in  the  more  open  and 
cultivated  country,  its  abundance  in  certain  rej;ions  and  scarcity  in  others  can 
lie  I'eadily  accounted  for. 

hr.  William  L.  Ifalph,  of  I'tica,  New  York,  writes  me  as  follows:  "The 
Uroad-wiuficil  is  the  Hawk  of  the  .\dirondack  wilderness,  and  it  replace-  in 
this  locality  the  Hed-tailed  and  |{ed-shouldere(l  Huteos  which  are  .so  common 
in  the  smaller  woods  of  the  more  settled  parts  of  this  State.  I  think  that 
^vith  tho  exception  of  tiie  l'i;;eon  Hawk  and  (ioshawk,  which  prolialily  lireeil 
here  rilso  lint  are  ver\-  I'are,  tlie\  are  the  unl\    Hawks  that  nest  in  the  interior' 


if  tl 


lese  Wool 


Is,   lint  alou"    the   liordei's  tlie\   are  sometimes  foinid   lireediim-  in 


th 


le  same  Mtiiations  as  the   more  common   species. 

rhe\    are  to  lie  found  in  consideialile  numliers  in  this  wilderi 


less,  or  at 


least  that  ]iart  ot'  it  lyin;:'  within  the  counties  of  Hamilton,  Herkimer,  and 
( )neida,  hut  they  are  evidently  rare  in  the  more  o|ien  country. 

"I  never  met  with  them  diiriiiii'  tlie  lircediii<i'  season  in  any  other  locality, 
with  the  ex<-eiition  of  :i  small  illstiict  a  few  miles  south  of  Ftica.  where  three 
or  four  nests  have  lieeii  taken  duiin;;'  the  last  lifteen  years.  They  are  very 
fond  of  living  near  water,  and  their  nests  are  always  to  lie  found  in  clo>e 
pro.ximity  to  the  lakes  and  streams  which  are  so  numerous  in  the  .\dirondack 
re;;iou  The  smaller  lakes  especially  are  fa\orite  places  of  resort,  and  when 
a  pair  takes  ]iossession  of  one  they  apjiarently  hold  it  against  all  intruders  of 
their  kind. 

"I  have  never  seen  more  than  a  single  pair  in  close  proximitv  to  one  ol 
these  small  lakes.  They  fi'eipieiit  them  on  account  of  the  mice,  chipmunks, 
.shrews,  and  frogs  that  usually  live  in  large  niimliers  along  the  shores,  and 
which  seem  to  form  thei;'  principal  food. 

".Most  writers  on  this  s]ii'cies  say  that  it  is  a  very  fpiiet  liird,  and  sliouM 
one  of  their  nests  lie  disturlied.  it  will  lly  silently  away  and  make  no  proic.-i 
whatever.  Now,  while  the  statement  that  it  is  a  (piiet  liii'd  evideulK  hold> 
good  for  the  greater  part  of  the  year,  my  ex|)erieiu'e  shows  that  it  is  just 
tho  opposite  during  the  lireeding  season;  then  it  is  as  noisy  as  anv  Hawk 
I  know  of.      When  one  is  driven  from  its  nest  it  at  once  utters  a  shrill  call, 


TlIK  ItKOAlJ-VVlNOEl)  HAWK. 


243 


Nvliii-li  soon  liriii^s  its  matt*  to  t1i<-  spot,  tiixl  to;r)>tlitr  tlicy  will  kt'cp  up  tlit'ir 
noise  IIS  Ion;;  as  anyont'  remains  in  tint  vicinity.  Tliey  are  very  tame  in 
this  locality,  and  tVeipiently  wlieii  one  is  started  tVom  its  n*-st  it  will  not  even 
leave  the  tree,  Imt  ali^^-'lit  on  a  liinl»  near  l»y.  'I'liey  are  ;;entle  in  disposition 
and  nevHT  attempt  to  strike  at  a  pers«in,  altliouyli  tliey  are  very  solicitous 
altoiit  their  e^j'^s  and  yonn;;.  For  days  at'tei'  they  have  lieeii  rol)lied  the«t» 
liirds  will  utter  their  complaints  when  anyone  approaches  their  homes. 

"The  only  note  1  have  heai'd  them  utter  is  a  whistle  which  Miunds  almost 
exactly  like  that  ^iiveii  l»y  the  Killdi'er  I'lovcr  (.I'Ji/iiililis  rmijini).  I'liey  do 
ia>t  seem  to  decrease  in  nundters,  prolialdy  itecausi-  they  do  no  harm  and  con- 


d)it 


s   also  render 


MMpu-ntly  an*   not   nnich  hunteil;   and   tl 

them  rather  inconspicuous,      lioth  parents  assist  in  inculiation  and  seem  to  I) 


air  nsuallv  (piiet 


iiiallv  solicitous 


for  ti 


leir  e^iji's  and   v  oiin;;'. 


"I  took  two  nests  with  i'}i'^>*  diirin;;'  the  season  ot'  IHftO.  Tiie  liist  was 
tiiimd  .May  '2X,  alioiit  halt'  a  mile  south  of  W'ilmurf,  Xew  York  It  was  situ- 
ated in  a  crotch  tit'  ii  liirch  tree,  oO  feet  alxive  the  ;.;rouiid,  which  was  ;;row- 
iii^  on  a  wooded  hillside  sloping;'  hack  from  a  small  stream.  The  materials 
t'oiiiposin;;'  it  consisted  of  sticks  and  hemlock  twi;;s,  and  it  was  liiad  with 
hemlock  and  liircli  hark.  It  measured  (>  hy  !l  inches  in  (h'pth,  1')  Ity  21 
inches  in  iliameter,  and  contained  two  nearly   fresh  e;i);s. 

"The  second  nest  was  found  on  .May  ',U\  ami  contaired  three  ejr<i:s  almut 
three-fonrths  incuhated.  It  was  situated  'i(i  feet  above  the  ^rouiul,  also  in  a 
iiotcii  of  a   liirch   tree  ;;ro\vinji-  near  the   hank  nf  West  Canada  ( 'reek,  alioiit 


1    mile   north  of  Wilmurt,   New   York.      It   wa.« 


miiosed  of  stick 


s  ami 


lined 


\\  I 


til    liirdi    liark,   hemlock   twi^^-s,   and    feathers   from   the   sittin;;'    hird,   and   it 


was  a   trifle  smaller  than  the  othei'  iiest." 

Mr.  .1.  \V.  I'restoii,   who  has  taken  a   nui 


niier  of  the  nests  of  the   Mroal- 


Ti 


IIS 


wine;ed  lla\\k  in  Becker  County,  Minnesota,  writes  me  as  follows: 
Hawk  is  a  common  summer  resident  here,  and  nests  t'roni  May  I'J  to  May 
20.  I  have  found  a  nest  and  eji;;s,  however,  as  late  as  dune  ]X,  prohalily 
a    second    laying-    after   losing-   the   lirst    set.     Tlieir   nests    are   usually    ]ilaced 


ill   the  crotch   of  a   tree,  such 


lasswotid,  elr.i,  o 


ik,  or  larch,  from    l.'i  to  4." 


feet    from     the     t;l 


ound 


Oc, 


lar^-e 
iiactl' 


iraiicli 


casioually    it    is   p 


ieneiallv   in   < 


lark 


Woods    near 


laced 
lakes 


on   a    leaniii<i'   truni' 


or  a 


It    IS  a   close  and   coin- 


liiiilt  stru<ture,  composed  of  small  sticks  <iathert'd  from  the  ^imiiiid 
near  liy,  no  lonji'  pieces  lieiii;;'  used.  It  is  lined  with  small  shreds  of  hark, 
liiit   as  inculiation   advances,  downy  t'eathers  dropped   from   the  la-east  of  the 


liinl    liet'ome 


factor   in    the    liniii";    a    lireeii,    leafv    twi"'    of   lia.sswood 


or 


poplar  IS  also  added  occasiona 


•».>• 


Tl 


leir 


ill    note    is    a    iieevis 


h    'cl 


lee-c-c-c 


iroloiiirei 


I    at    p] 


leasure    aia 


littered  in  a  hi;^h  key.  They  will  sit  for  hours  in  lii;jli  dead  trees  callinj^- 
to  each  other  ilnrin^r  the  lireediii;^  .sea.son,  ami  they  are  certain  to  lie  heard 
Iroin  should  anyone  come  near  the  nest.  In  this  locality  their  food  consists 
mostly  of  the  red  .sijiiirrel. 


^i, 


■(    1    ;* 


'?';^:^.. 


M 


m 


{f 


j 


w 


r 


* 


'■;''; 


»44  I'll''!-;  IIIHTOIMK.S  t)K  NOUTII  AMKUICAN    IIIUIKS. 

"'riiiMi;;li   iisiiallv  ii  tliij^-^fisli   liiril,  tluty   will  at   tiiiirs  hIhhv   ndisidcriilili' 


n)tirii;!:c  aiil  ilasli  ut  lUi 


iiitriuliT.      I  liiivn  iiotifi'il  two  Hiifli  iiistaiUTs.     <  hie 


while  I  was  in  a  ti'mi  wati'liiii;''  ii  Swalluw-tailtMl  Kite,  a  male  Uniail-wiii;ii'(l 
Hawk  wliitli  will  jfiianiiiiu'  a  iii-nt  ri>ii;;lit  aimllirr  itinl  of  this  .spcfics,  ilriv- 
iiiy  aii'l  |iiir.Hiiiii;^-  it  a  ;iriMt  distaiiic.  Tlicii  sinMciily  it  tiinifil  liack  aixl 
aliiio.Ht  >lriick   lilt'  ill  tln'  lace  a-t  it   (mmic  uii   with  aiTow-likc  swiftiM'ss." 

Mr  11.  II.  ISriiiilcy,  of  ltali-i;;'li,  Nmili  Carolina,  foiitid  a  iicst  of  tliin 
s|ii'rit's,  coiitaiiiiti^'  two  tVi'sli  f;i';rs,  ami  .M'lit  nir  an  accnratc  ilcsi'i'iption  of  it, 
inailc  licforc  it  wa-.  icinovcil  iVoni  tin-  tn-c.  It  wa*  lakiii  on  .\|M'il  '_'.'),  1S!M», 
ami  is  tlni>  clcscrihi'il:  "It  was  [ilaci'il  in  a  small  |>im'  in  ori;;'inal  woo(|s, 
aliont  ,'!><  ft'i't  from  tlir  ;:'i'onml.  .Mtoiit  li  fcrt  from  llic  loji  of  tlic  tree  tlir  main 
trunk  rmlril  in  \\\r  wicti-  spn-ailiii;;'  limits.  At  llic  jnni'tion  of  tlicsr  limlis 
llic  lU'st  was  Imilt  in  llic  i  rotdi.  Tlu'  nest  itself  was  the  ron^i'liest  kin<l  of 
platt'oi'm,  made  entirely  of'  oak  sticks,  not  a  single  stick  of  any  other  kind 
hein^r  n>e  I  It  was  lined  with  a  ;i'ood  si/.cd  dmilile  handful  of  |iieces  of  liark 
from  lar;,''e  vellow  |»iiies.  Hat,  thin,  and  smooth  scales,  not  the  roit;;lier,  thicker 
Itark  t'onnd  on  \onn;,''er  trees.  This  hark  lining'  was  [  i>v  '>  inches  deep  in 
the  center  of  the  nest;  a  Very  few  twi;:s  with  ;;reell  lea\■e^'  of  liotll  pilie 
and  oak  were  scattered  ihron;;li  the  stnictnre  a|iparenlly  accidentally.  The 
hark  center  of  the  nest  went  ri;:hl  down  in  the  linil)s  of  the  crotch  siipport- 
iiiy  it.  The  de|»th  of  the  depression  \v,is  moi'e  than  that  in  a  nest  of  Unlni 
liiiriitiis,  and  the  whole  nest  was  much  roiiL'lier  and  looser  than  any  of  those 
of  the  latter    1    have  ever    seen.      N'o    attempt    at    nsiii;^'  any  soft    liniiiji'   had 


teen   niaile. 


\V 


I  ill   liie  tn-e  takin''   the  e:>'Lis  and  makini''  these 


imtes  the  old   liirds- >oarin;i'  liii;!!   aliosc   u-a-.e   \ent   to    notes  much    like  those 
of  the    Killdeer." 

Mr.  .1.  ( '.  ('aims,  of  Weavcrv  ille,  N'ortii  Carolina,  took  a  set  of  three 
eu'^rs  iif  this  species  on  .\pril  •_'.'»,  JXlio,  ami  kindly  sent  me  the  nest,  which 
was  placed  in  the  forks  of  a  lar;.;e  oak  tree  altoiil  .")ti  feet  from  the  ^iionml. 
Considerin;;-  the  size  of  the  hird  the  nest  is  larj;e  and  a  >omewliat  lonseK- 
litiilt  structure.  Its  outer  diameter  is  1!)  liy  1,'!  inches;  depth,  H  inches;  the 
inner  cavity  appears  to  have  heeii  shallow  and  not  over  .t  ii>ches  deep,  if 
so  much.  It  is  principally  com|»osed  of  small  oak  twi;4's,  and  amoii<>'  these 
a  lew  slender  pine  tips  art*  mixed.  The  lininj;-  consists  of  thin  pieces  of 
pine  hark  scales.  Mr.  ( "airns  says:  "In  this  portion  of  Xortli  Carolina  tlie\' 
nsiiallv  nest  on  a  womled  rid^'i'  or  at  the  toot  of"  a  momit.iin,  iiescr  on  or 
near  the  top  of  these,  and  they  return  each  year  to  the  same  localities  to 
hreed,   nearlv    alwa\s    linildin;^-   a    lU'W    iiest    eacii    season.     ( (ccasioualh'   thev 


mal\e    use   o 


f  an 


.Id    ( 


row 


nest,    or    one 


aliandoned    li\    some  other    lla\ 


.Vs  a   rule  tlie\-   nest   in   snniewhat    lower  situations  than   the   majoi-itv  uf  U'ap- 
fores,  and    now    ami    then    so    low    that    the    nest    can   he   reached   from   the 


''rouiiU 


Mr.  (Jeorji-e   (j.   (^intwell,  of   Lake    .Mills,  Wisconsin,  writes   nie   that   !i 
found  one  of  their  iii'sts  in  the  crotch  of  a   larye  |i-ee,  onl\-  .'{  feet  from  th 


irrcaiiu 


I.     I' 


loin  J.) 


to   ;{0    t'eet    III)    is    lierl 


p  IS  perhaps  a   tair  averaj^-e. 


TIIH  IUt()AI>-WIK(lKI)  HAWK, 


245 


lifHidi's  till'  ililFiTi'iit  spccii's  of  tri'i's  iiln-iiily  iiii'iitioiicil,  tliry  iii-st  in 
iiijipli's,  |Mi|(ltirM,  lilat-k  wiiliiiil.  lii'iM'li,  rlii-stniit,  luiiiluik,  ililVi-mit  kiinln  nl' 
|iliii-i,  Kiikn,  iiitil  Itii'i'lii'H.  Ill  tilt'  iiurtiii'ii^tcni  |i;irts  ul'  flu'ir  Id-i-i'iliii;;-  riiiijii- 
lilrrjicn,  i'H|ii)riiilly  ihr  yi'lliiw  l»inli,  mitiii  t<>  lir  iiiuhI  uttrii  ni'liTtnl  lnf  lu-st- 
Iii;,i'  |iiir|n>si'M. 

( )r<liii;irily  tlii'  \\i>>*\  is  liiinl  mily  with  tliiii  snili's  of  Imrk,  tliiit  of  tlii' 
vflliiw  piiii'  piM-|i;i|ts  pri'iliiiiiiiiiitiii^'.  Snnu'tiiiii-s  ^ii'i-ii  lir  iiml  ntliiT  li'tit'\' 
tNvi;,''H  mill    till'    liiii*    iiiiii'i-   Imrk    ul'   tin-    wiiitr  ri-iliir   is    mlili'il    to    tin*    liiiiii;;'. 

'riii'ir  iii'sts   ill'!'    must    iirtcii    riMiiiil    in    tin'   iiinrr   fXtriisiM-    w is    lU'iir  wiiti-r 

iiiiil  in  swMiiips,  iiinl  niiii'li  Irss  IVi'iini'iitly  in  tin-  ninri'  <>pi-ii  iiml  riilti- 
\;iti'il  si'i'tiiHis.  'Pill'  |{rniiil-\viii;iril  Ihiwk  is  only  ii  sinnnirr  irsiilciit  iiorili  ol' 
;iiiniit  liititmli'  ;{<I"',  iniffnitinji'  in  strii^ijilin;:-  hoilii-s  diirin;'-  Si'pti'inln'r  iiml 
Ortolmr  to  tlii'ir  wintiT   lioiin-s    in   rriitnil  iiml    nortlii'iii  South  AniiTirii,  iiio\- 


Mi 


iii<;'  soiiii'tinii's  to^Ttlii'i-  III  ipiitr  liir^^'c  iiiiiiiliiTs  iimt   n 'til  I'll  in;;'  north  in  .tliirrl 
iiiid    April. 

'I'lirir   I'ooil    consists   to   n    j^ri'iit    rxtriit    ot'   sniiill    roihnts,    siirli    iis   mice 


••ophci's,    iiiiil    siiiiirri' 


liri'ws.   siiii 


<\y,\ 


kis.    li 


;r;i>siioi)iicrs, 


lii'i'tli 


l:ir\;c  ot"  insects,  iiml  scry  riircly  sniiill  liinls.  It  is  one  ul'  ilie  most  liiinn- 
less  of  our  Uilptores  iiinl  of  ;ire;it  iii'lielit  to  the  fiirmer.  It  is  ii  kite  lireeilcr; 
in  the  more  soiitheni  portions  of  its  niii^e  niililiciitioii  lie^^ins  iilioiit  the 
secomi  week  ill  Ajiiil  Iiml  correspoiulin^ily  Inter  iiorthwiiiil.  In  the  New 
I'ln^liiml  Stiiti's,  northern  New  ^'o|•k,  l'ciiiisyl\iiiiiii,  lo\\;i,  iiinl  .Mimiesotii, 
liciieriilly  in  the  hitter  hull'  of  Mny.  iiml  in  New  Uniiisw  ick  iiml  the  soiitli- 
orii  portions  of  ('iiniiilii  iilioiit  the  lie^'innin;;'  of  .lime  nml  sometimes  hiter. 
Ini'iiitiition  iiists  from  twenty-one  to  t>Miity-li\e  ihiys,  iiml  the  e;.';}>s  nre 
ilcpositcil  lit  iiiterviils  of  one  or  two  ihiys.      liotli   piireiiis  nssist  in  incnliiitioii 


tl 


mil    III   the   ciire   o 


f    the    vollli;;-.      A 


SIlll-IC 


lirooil    is   riiiseil    in   ii  seiison 


'I'lie  mimlicr  of  i';i';is  hiiil  liy  tiie  l?roiiil-\\  iii;ic(l  llnwk  is  iisiinlly  twn  or 
liii'ee,  very  I'iirely  four.  .Mr.  t  >.  ( '.  I'oliii;:'  infoi'ms  me,  lio\M-\ei',  tliiit  in  the 
vicinity  of  Qiiincy,  Illinois,  .sets  of  four  nre  not  especinlly  iiMcommon,  nml 
tliiit  he  foumi  ii  nest  of  this  species  coiitiiiniii;;'  live  e;;|;s.  'I'liesc  Niirv  consiiler- 
iilily  liotli  in  slitipe  iiml  niiirkin^i's,  sometimis  cM'Ii  when  tnkeii  from  the  siiine 
nest. 

The  iiverii^fe  meiisiii'emeiit  of  forty-live  specimens  I  fiml  to  lie  ■l.*^.")  liy  .'{It 
iiiillimetres.  The  liiri;'est  i'lX'^^.  three  in  niimlier.  one  from  New  .lersev,  iiiiother 
from  New  Uriiiiswick,  tiii<l  ii  third  from  I'eimsyKiiiiiii,  ineiisiire  ciicli  fi'J  hv  40 
iiiilliiiietres.  The  smidlest,  from  Miiiiie,  meiisiires  \'>  liy  lis.'t  iiiillimetres.  In 
sliiipe  they  riin^i'i'  from  short  mid  rounded  to  cllipticid  oviite,  the  ^renter  numlier 
liein^-  short  oviite. 

The  ^•I'oiiml  color  of  the  mnjoritv  of  tliose  I'^^'jj's  is  dull  ;i'riivish  wliito;   in  ti 


•w  ii  fiiiiit  truce  of  null'  "'niv   lireeii 


perceptilile,  iiml  in  nire  instiinces  tl 


H'rcel 


lisli  tint  is  riither  |iroiiouiici'd  mid  n-iidily  noticed,  in  some  of  the  e^i'^^s 
I'iiinl  hiveiidei",  pciirl  j^i'iiy,  or  ('cru-driili  shell  mnrkin^is  predomiiiiite,  sciittered 
either  in  tine  dots  or  iri'e;;'uliirlv  shiiped  lilotches  mid  in  \'iiriiilile  mnoiints  over 


« 


m 


I.  in 


im 


.'.Uf^ 


24() 


LITK  IIISTOItlKS  OF  SOUTH  AMKIJICAN  lUIMM. 


the  grciitt'r  or  snuillcr  axis  of  tlic  I'iHH:  <>r  afjiiin  tlu-y  may  lu'  evenly  <listrilmte<l 
over  its  eiitin'  siiHace.  rolieveil  liere  ami  tliere  l»y  an  (iccasiuiial  ilark  lilac  or 
rich  cliuHtimt  eol()r(*il  spot,  lii  otliers,  these  shell  markiii;,rs  are  c'ither  entirely 
absent  or  but  faintly  |ieree|itil»le,  ami  the  ej;;^  is  sitotteij  and  blotched  with 
dilVereiit  shad<  .  of  i»ro\vn,  hazel,  drab,  and  lawn  color.  These  niarkin<fs  aro 
usually  heaviest  on  either  tiie  lar'i'e  or  small  end.  One  sjtecimen  in  Dr. 
William  [i.  Kaljdi's  collection  is  very  iinely  marked  with  small  d«»ts  nut  larjivr 
than  dust  shot,  rather  evenly  distributed  over  nearly  tlie  entire  surface,  <,''ivinf5 
it  a  flea-bitten  appearance' ;  i>''«Msionally  an  e;;^  is  almost  entirely  nnsputted. 

The  type  specimens  selected  to  show  .some  ot'  the  variations  are  as  follows: 
\.».  7271  (I'l.  7  Via  \:\),  a  sin;,'le  e;..;  cllected  by  Mr,  T.  H.  Wichie,  near  Krook- 
line,  Mas.sacluisetts,  May,  l.S(il;  No.  -JIMSl  (I'l.  7,  V\'^.  II),  tiuin  a  set  (.1"  two 
taken  by  Dr.  A.  K.  I'isher,  near  Sandy  Spring',  Maryland,  .May  |(>,  1SS7:  No. 
■2:V2T>  (PI.  7,  Fi^r-  10).  <'■'•'>'  "  ''«'f  of  two  colle.ted  by  Dr.  A.  K.  l-'isiier,  near 
Sinjr  Sinjr,  New  York,  .May  21,  ISS.S;  an-l  No.  •_';{:i7!>  (I'l,  7,  Vh^.  \.i).  from  a  set 
oi  twti  taken  by  Mr.-.Manlv  I  lard  v,  near  lloldeii,  .Maine,  .May  -J  I,  IHIU). 


,    V 


83.     Buteo  brachyurus  Vikillot. 

SllOin-T.\Il.i:i>    HAWK. 

liittfi)  hrarliijiirvs  ViEllJ.oT.   N'ouvaii  Diitiiuiairc;  !V,  ISltl,  4t7. 

(H    -.('-.  K    -,  C— ,  U  -.iU.) 

nROOK.vPniCAl.  RA*'OK:  rni|ii(al  .AiiiiTica  ill  general.  ex('c|if  West  Indies,  iiovtli 
to  eastern  Mi'xicci  and  Florida. 

Within  the  United  States  the  Itreedin^'  ranjre  of  the  Short-tailed  I  lawk,  as 
far  as  is  known  at  present,  is  cunlined  to  the  State  <>f  Khaida  !t  can  no  longer 
be  considered  ivs  oidy  an  accidental  visitoi  to  our  soutlurn  borde'rs,  ha\in;i' 
been  nn^t  with  in  various  portions  of  Florida,  and  is  known  to  bi'eed  there 
reffuln.'ly,  at  least  as  far  north  as  Tar|)on  Sprin;is  and  St.  .Marks  on  the  (Jidf 
coast.  It  may  be  conlideiitly  looked  for  as  a  rare  summer  resident  throujjh- 
ont  that  State,  and  possibly  aNt>  in  the  .southern  portions  of  the  other  Stales 
bordering'  on  ,lie  (Jidf  of  .Mexico, 

Mr.  W.  F.  I »,  Scott  states:  '  i'l:,'  ob;,;  rvations  already  recorded  »  »  • 
ai\d  otiier  lecords  here  ;;iven,  lead  to  the  conclu,^ion  that  tliis  species  is  of  re^i- 
ular  occi'.iTeuce  on  tic  (Jnlf  coast  of  Florida,  ai  least  as  fai'  math  as  the 
vicinity  of  Tarpon  Springs,  and  that  ii   breeds  i-fMulai-l\-,  thou;ih  rarelv,  in  this 

refjioii   there   can    be   no   doultt.      The    birds    that    lia\e    I n    ni<  I    with    in  tlu* 

inunediate  vicinity  01  T.irpon  Sjainjis  ha\-e  usually  been  ^een  in  pairs;  once 
tiu'ee  were  observed  toyctller. 

■'Ifurinji'  .Mai'cli  and  Aprd,  I -(SS,  within  a  radius  of  lo  miles  of  the  iown 
iit  <|Uestion,  there  Were  (dtsi'i  ved  b\-  me  on  .March  17  a  sinji'le  bird,  on  .Vpril  1! 
a  pair,  on  .\)M"il  10  a  jtair,  these  last  tw  •  pairs  licin;;'  pi'olialiU  the  >ami'  indi- 
viduals.   On   two  otiii  r  ilays    laie    in    .March    and    .Vpril,  and    several    limes    in 


Till';  SIIOKT-TAILKI)  IJAWK. 


247 


.Nfiiy,  If^SS,  I  saw  jtiiiiN  of  llinvks  tiiitt  wen*  fcrtiiinly  tlu>  siiini'  liirds.  'IMicy 
xvt'iv  iilwiiys  v»'ry  sliy  .iihI  winy,  iiiid  iliHiciilt  l<>  ii|i|»roiuli  in  imy  wiiy.  Altoiit 
•JOO  yanls  in  tho  opi-n  wa>«  as  near  as  (Hic  ••oiild  ^rnrrallv  a|)|)r<iai-li.  Tlu-v 
tr(M|iicnt(Mi  tlic  vicinity  of  lianinnM-ks,  and  tlii-ir  lialiits,  cxcfitt  tlx*  fxtrnut' 
sliyn«)ss,  a|i|M*aivd   nuicli   like  tliusc  ut'  llit-  cunnnon    Ufd-slioiddcri-d    liawk  nt' 


this  ri-jrnm. 


»     »     » 


"On  tlic  Kitli  i»r  Marcii,  IHKIl,  near  'rarpon  S|irin;rs,  I  t'nund  a  pair  of 
tiic-ir  Ha\vk><  jnst  startin^i'  t<»  linlld  a  nest.  Tlic  linality  was  nn  tlic  a-A'^v  hI' 
a  liannnixk.  and  the  nest,  tlic  inundatinn  at'  which  was  finished,  was  in  a  ;>nni 
tree  sonic  I'l  t'cct  trtini  the  frronml.  Moth  liirds  were  seen  in  t!ie  ait  of  placinf^ 
additional  niati  rial  on  the  strnctnre.  As  the  liirds  were  rare  and  I  conid  not 
v\^k  their  lieinji'  killed  or  driven  away,  with  the  aid  of  a  native  hiintcr  lioth 
were  seemed.  thoii;^h  before  kiHiny;  them  i  was  certain  of  their  identity. 
*  *  *  The  female  (Ni>.  (I;jlt2)  of  this  pair  had  e;;';is  with  the  yolks  almost 
developed  and  woiihl  have  laid  within 
ovarv   and  oviduct,  I  liidieve  that  three 


wet 


k.      I- 


roll!  tile  aiiiie.irance  o 


•I'l" 


f  the 


wonld  have  lieeii  laid. 


I>r  William  L.  Italph  has  also  met  with  this  sjiecies  occasionally  in  the 
vicinitN  of  San  Mateo,  Morida,  and  informs  me  that  he  saw  two  or  three  speci- 
men- dmiii;:'  the  spriii;;'  of  |si»l.     lie  says:   "'l"he  native  hunters  and    cattle- 


men   seem 


to   know   this    iiiid.  and   sav   tliat    it    liiceds   here.      Thev 


It   thi 


'Little    HIack    Hawk,'  and    state    that    it    is    more   common    in    the  sprin;^    and 
summer  than  in  winter" 

.Mr.  ( '.  d  I'eimock,  in  a  short  article  on  th<-  nestiii;^  haliits  of  tliis  spe<-ies 
at  St  Marks,  Florida,  makes  the  followin)i'  statement;  "Kariy  in  .\|»ril,  ISS't, 
while  on  a  lollectin;;-  trip  at  St.  Marks,  Florida,  1  spent  Mveral  days  in  the 
swamps  that  line  the  (inlf  coa>t.  April  .'t  I  noticed  a  small  Itlack  liawk  ll\ 
to  a  next  in  a  pine  tree,  aliont  .'>  niile-i  I'rom  the  coast.  <  >n  climliiii;^'  to  tliu 
llcst,  I  found  that  the  tree  had  formerly  li.cn  occupied  l>y  Herons,  there  heiii;;- 
ihree  old  nests  iiesides  the  one  occupiid  liy  the  Hawk,  which  1  .also  took  for  an 
old  Heron's  nest  It  had  evidently  lieeii  rec(  ntly  repaircil,  and  contained  two 
of  three  t'resh   twills  of  )i-reen   express  on    the   liottotn.       .\t   this   lime    there    Were 


no  .-•. 


liut  I  a;.:ain  vi.sited  the  nest  .\pril  M.     'I'he  old  liird  was  seen 


near,  ami 


(liis  time  showed  mhiic  concern.  Ilsiiii:  aroiinil  u>  aliove  the  tree  tops  as  we 
approached,  and  several  times  ntteriii;:  a  cry  somewhat  reseinhlin^- the  siream 
of  the  U'ed-shoiildered  Hawk,  liut  more  -hrill  and  not  so  pndonpd.  The  nest 
h,id  received  fnrthei  additions  i.f  cy|»ress  twijis.  lint  was  still  empty.  .My  lioat- 
man  wrote  me,  Ma\'  2,  statiiii;  that  after  three  vi-its  he  had  shot  the  liird  on  the 


nest  aiK 


1  lak 


ell  cine  eii'l 


He  >kiiined  her  lait  found  no  inor 


,.    ,.j,j.s. 


^Ii  I'riinock  has  kiiidh  loamd  me  this  e<>';:',  and  I  am  thus  eiialiled  tn 
li'inre  it.  He  de.scrilies  it  as  dull  white,  showiii;;'  liliK'  when  held  a;^aiiist  a 
xtronj>;  lifi'ht  It  is  spotted  on  the  l.ir^'cr  end  with  reildish  lirown  in  small 
spots    ,nid    lilot(dleS    o.er    aiiollt    nuetuUI'th    lit'    the    surface.       .\    few    liner    spots 


exiiiid     to    the    middli'    ol'    the    smaller    ellii,     where,     however. 


th 


hardlv 


'Aiik,  V">l.  VI,  I'S'.,  Nil,  .1,  |i|i.  •.'I.I  '.ur. 


Aiili,  V..i    VII,  Js-H',  \,i    I,  |i|i.  .•itl,  :>7. 


V'-'Ji 


248 


lAVK  IIISTOUIKH  <)!•'  NOKTIl  AMKItlCAN   HIKDS. 


lie  seen  unless  closi'ly  rxiiiiiiiicfl.  'I'lic  i'>r^  iii(>tisiircs  a'l  liy  11  iiiillinictics, 
iiiul  tlif  ;.fii>miil  culin'  is  ji  pale  y:rt'('iiiMli  white.  'I'lie  «•<;}••  is  n\ate  in  sliiipc 
and   '\t  is  lioiin<l  on    I'l.   X,  \"\>i.  7. 

I  have  heen  nna!le  to  •ratlu  r  any  inlonnation  aiMitional  to  tlint  already 
•riven.  I'Voni  llie  l'oi'e>;'oin^r  it  would  a|i|)eai-  that  these  Hawks  eoninienre 
layin;;  iVoni  the  last  halt'  of  .Manh  to  the  iie;;innin;i  •'•  Mny,  and  that  tVoni 
one   to   thlee   e;:;:s   ronstitute   a    set. 

84.     Urubitinga  anthracina  (liicHTKNsTKiN). 


MKXICA.N     III.AI  K    M.WVK. 


Jl  III!  ''" 


,  i' 


I' 


\m\ 


/•'(lira  iinthi-iiiiiiiiM   I.ICUTKNSTKIN.  l*li'is-\'iT/i'iiliiiiss.  ls;io.  :l. 
I'niliiliiiijii  II  III  li  run  III!    Lakkkssavk,  Itevicw  Zcp<"'|ii^iinii'.  I.sis,  \.'H. 

(|{      .  ('      .  1{  HI.  ('  .^is.  V  ill.'i.l 

Oeo(||;aimiI(AI.  UANiik:  'rii>|pical  .VmiTlra  in   ijeaiTal.   ihmIIi   to  I'l'iitral  Aiizona. 
an<l  till'  LuwiT  Kill  ( iiaiuli'  X'alli'y  in  Tfxas. 

As  I'ar  as  is  known  at   |iresent,  the   lireedin;:  ran;;e  ol'  the  .Mexican   l$lark 
Hawk  is  I'ontiiied  to  t'cnttal  and   southern  .\i-i/.ona.  and  the  Lo.xer  itiotirande 


Vail. 


e\    ni   're\a>,   and   it   does  not   aiiiiear 


to    I 


te    a    eoniinon    .".lieeles   an\\\nel'e 


svithni  our 


lion  I 


er? 


While  eneaniped  oil  Killitto  ( 'I'eck,  7  miles  northeast  ot"  'Pui'son.  in  tin' 
^|irin;:  of  isTi',  |  first  iiotieed  this  speeies  on  .Vpril  4.  apparently  just  retiini- 
iii;;   to  their  summer  homes.      Knowinu'  hut   little  ahoiit  oin-  liird.s   I    siippoxiil 


it   at   tirst    to  l(»>    one   of  the   ilark    tonus    of    Itnl^ 

llllllli     ilis'uliii 


I'll  siriiliisiiiii,   then    known    a^ 
iliis,    anil    I    .xiilisciiiieiitlv    wr^.i-iK'    iilentilied    it    as    lliiim   iihlni- 


riiilii^.  .Mv  notes  taken  on  that  da\'  read  as  follows:  "Saw  a  pair  of  Ijawk-; 
to-day  whieh  1  take  to  he  of  this  species  (No.  "Jl,  Hiiliii  iii'<iiiiii;lii'>.  Maird'-. 
( !at..    Is.")'.!).     They    were    ipiite    tame,    and    let    me    come    within    .'M    feel.      I 


slioiiM    not    exactly   c; 


them     lilack.    Imt    rather   a    dark    and    uniform    slat< 


coloi',  with  the  wiuLTs  a  little  darker,  |io-^sil)l\.  The  lere  and  hill  appeared 
to  lie  yellow,  aUo  till'  t'eet,  and  th'"  tail  was  lianded  li\  a  while  stripe  at 
lilt  end.  <  hic  of  tlii'iii  as  ii  flew  oif  appeareil  to  have  evcrx  feather  of  tln' 
iippci-   parts   of    the    lireasi    (■d;.ied   with    ferruginous.      'I'lie    pair    kept    ciidinu' 


arianii 


I  and 


o\er   nil',   nllerum    at    the    >ame   time   repeated    cries,   exact    counlcl 


ia\  e 


feits  of  the  japiny  in  the  ■>priii'4'  of   Xnni'  iiiis  Iniiiiiinilri^i.      I  could  easiK    1 
xlioi    iioth,  hut    they   evideiiiK    meaiii    to    laiild    in    the    iiei^i'hliorhood." 

The  leriuijin.Mis  ed;iin;i-  of  the  leathers  of  the  lacast.  noticed  hy  me, 
clearly  indicate  th.ii  the  >pccimeii  in  ipie>iion  is  rcleraiile  to  this  species, 
heiii;r  ;i  liird  >lill  in  the  immature  pluma;re,  and,  as  far  a^  known,  this  plinua;je 
i>  not    toiind   in    llulm  nliliiiiiiitiis. 

( 'ol.  .\.  .1.  (iiayson,  in  his  "Notes  oii  the  iJirds  of  Northwotern  Mexico," 
says  ot  this  species:  "( 'omiukiii  at  all  seasons.  ii>uall\  loiind  alioiit  the  estel'os 
and  inarslie>  near  tin   seacoa^t,  s  iltsistin;^'  chii'llx   upon  land  crahs." 


i^^ 


TlIK  MKXICAN  lJLA<1v  HAWK. 


249 


Asst.  Siirjr.  Kd^i'fir  A.  Mriinis.  V.  S.  Aniiy,  |)ulillsli((l  tlic  tulldwiiif'-  accoinit, 


coniitrisiiiy  alto 


■!1 


We 


kiiuw  jis  yi't  alxmt  tlic   iicstiiiji'  lialiits  <>{'  lliis  sp'-t' 


u's 


uilliiii  niir  liiinlcrs.  He  says:  "When  Imiitiii;;-  aldiiji'  a  sliiicf  of  tlic  Vcnic 
liivcr,  ln'iicatli  a  dense  f;ru\vtli  iit'  willnws  anil  cuttouwtxMls,  I  first  •liscovfreil 
tlie  Anthracite  or  Mexican  iiiai  k  li.iwk.  |ienlie(l  anmn^-  tlie  tliickest  foliay-e  of 
a  low  willow  overliaiijiiiiji'  llie  sliallow  water.  'I'lie  iiniierl':'ct  ^  lew  ohtainetl  as 
it  tiew  till'  thronjjli  tlie  trees  led  nie  at  tirst  to  sni>|iose  that  it  was  an  innnatnre 
(ioldni   Ivi^^le,  a   species   that    I    had  seseral  times  enconntereil   therealionts  in 


d 


snnilar  snnations.     A  snap  shot  provcil  nnsnccesslni.  as  was  the  case  on  sexcra 
snlise(|Uent  occasions,  and,  altlionjih    I    treipiently  saw  tlieni  alon;:'  the  river,  it 


was  lonj;'  eii-  1  sncceeiled  ni  procnrni^'  a  spccnnen.  Always  extremely  shy,  they 
were  Msnally  I'onnd  liiildeii  in  the  foliage  near  the  water  in  some  low  sitnation, 
whence,  when  snrprise<l,  ihe\-  j;cnerall'.'  mana;^ed  to  escape  thron;;h  the  t'oliajic 
nl  the  cottoiiwoods  without  allorillnu'  a  ^ond  o|ip<irtnnit\'  tor  a  shot.  Their 
lli;;hl  is  swift  and  jiowerfMl.     ( •ccasionally  one  was  seen  eatiiiji  a  lisli  upon  the 


sanilv  margin  of  the  river 


'I'l 


ev    W< 


re  present   throuiihout  th 


e  sunnner 


lint 


dejiarted  in  the  autunni,  my  ahsence  in  the  lield  during'  the  months  of  (>ctolier 
and  Novemlier  haviny  prevented  me  from  di'termininj:'  the  date  of  departure. 

"(»n  the  ■Jiith  of  .March,  ls,s."i,  |  found  one  of  these  Hawks  upon  the  Aj;-tiit 
I'Via,  alioul   ."><•  miles  southwest  of  i''nrt    N'erde,  at  a  consideralih    jiieatei-  alti- 


nii 


le;  and  on  Hak  ('reek,  a  momnain  >tream  .'id  miles  north  of  Kort  N'erde,  in 


the  foothills  of  the  San  Kramisco  .Moun'ains.  I  woiuided  an  immature  example 
on  the  i"_'tli  of  .Vu^iust  of  the  .same  year,  it  having-  proiialily  iieen  reared  on 
that  stream,  which  iilionnds  with  trout  and  other  li>hes, 

•  <  hi  the  i;i|h  of  .'une.  lss."i,  ('apt.  'I".  .\.  Maldwin  and  I  .set  out  to  visit 
Ko^sil  ('reek,  .'{n  miles  east  of  |'"ort  \  erde,  with  an  escort  ot'  two  soldiers.  We 
carried  some  rations  and  mining'  implements  jiacked  upon  a  nude  and  twd 
liurros.  We  found  the  trail  to  the  canon  without  dilliculty,  hut  when  nearly 
at  the  liottoin  took  the  wron;:'  fork  of  the  trail,  which  tinally  led  us  to  the 
sprin;i'  and    forks  of    l-'ossil   ('reek,    lioth    liranches   of   which    we    ex]ilored    for 


1   l> 


several  miles,  lindiu;;  tracks  ot'  wohes,  iieai's,  Meer,  raccoons,  ami  iieavcr 
pair  of  .Mexican  Klad,  Hawks  were  I'onml  at  the  t'orks  of  the  stream  close 
to  the  place  where  We  had  pitchecl  our  i-aiiip.  Their  loudK'  whistled  cr\ 
is  dillereiit  from  that  of  an\  liird  of  pre\  with  which  I  am  acipiainted,  and 
is  diHiciilt   to  descrilie,   alilieu^iii    rendered    with   yi'eat    powe 


Ti 


le\     CHCleil 


alhiul    Us   a    few     times.    llieU    l"tri'ated    to   some    I.ill    pifion 


upon  the  hillside,  where  the\  contimied  to  ci'y  xclieinenlly  until  I  essayed 
lu  force  m\  wa\  thron;:li  the  thick  scruh  oak  towards  them,  when  lioth  liirds 
Hew  with  loud  screams  to  a  tall  pine  tree  down  the  ii-eam,  where  I  suc- 
.reeded  ill  olitainiii;;'  a  lon^'  >hot  at  the  male  hird,  whii'h,  althon;:h  mortallv 
woniide(l,  Mew  lievond  m\  reach  l>el'ore  droppin;^'  to  the  ;j>'round.  His  mate 
llew    to  the    pinoiis  far  up    the    steep    lianks  of   the  carion,   out   of   reach,   and 


iiitumed  screamni' 


foU. 


iwuii;-   me   nil   the   canon. 


lowanls   mull 


tfall 


>  I 


Ul 


i'    ■ 


11^ 


.ii 

.a 


250 


LIFE  IIISTOKIKS  OF  NOltTIf  AMKKICAN  BIRDS. 


up  witli  ('iiptiiin  Ittililwiii,  .iiul  lio  told  iii<-  tliat  lu'  liiid  (liscovcrcil  t)i<'  iit>st 
lit'  my  rani  uris  in  a  tall  ('i>ttiiinvi>in|  down  tlic  canon,  and  said  it'  we 
liastcnt'd   we  nii^lit  procure  tlic  cj-'^is  licl'orc  ilaik  and  scciu-c  tlic  other  parent. 


Tl. 


hliieli 


le  nest  was  huilt  ni  a  cottonwood  tree  ni  the  sanu  jfrove  in  \v 
we  (irst  found  tin*  l»irds.  Tim  nest  had  evidently  Iteeii  the  Itirthphice  of 
many  <;enerations  of  thes((  Hawks,  tor  it  nieasuiHMl  4  feet  in  depth  l»y  "J  feet 
ill  width.  It  was  lined  with  a  layer  of  eottonwood  leaves  several  inches 
ileep,  was  very  slijihtly  concave,  and  composeil  of  lar^^e  sticks,  nnich  decayed 
lielow,  showing  that  they  had  l»eeii  in  position  for  a  numher  of  years.  The 
nest   was  iibout  30  fi'et  from   the  <;round.      The   female   parent    remained  too 


shv  to   return   to   the   nest    until    I    lieuan    to  climii   the  tn 


At   first    I    at- 


tempted  to  ascend    liy   means  of  some  ;rrape\ines,   which   j^ave   way;    then    I 
mana^red  to  reach  the   upper  part  of  the  im;i'e  Itole  l»y  swin;iin;r  from  a  tal 


slender    l)ox-elder    tn 


and    ^craml)led    with    nnich    exertion    to    the    lowest 


l)rancii.      Meanwhile  the   Hawk  had  shown  much  uneasin 


llntt 


ermj^'  ni 


th 


air  and  screaminj''  lustily.      As   I   ai)proache(l  her  treasure  lu-r  partMital  solici- 


tud 


e  oN'ercame    iier  terror,  and   she  sailed   over 


the    t 


ree  ton. 


1 


sa  w 


th 


>'U1I 


at  tl 


le 


captain  >  shoulder  and   teareil    he   would  mi 


lid 


hut  I 


le  wiselv   held   his 


fire  until    the   liird    wIk  eled    and    rnshcd    directly    towanl    me,   when   a    well 
directed   shot   dropped    her    just   at    his    feet.      .V    minute    latt'r   I    reaclieil    th 


nest  am 


w 


1   d 


iscoverecl   ji    sinu' 


I.-   h 


rown    II 


estlin^i',   having-   the   ipii 


«tl 


lers 


fhhed    teriiiinally,  and    leaileii  lu-'iay  ilown    coM-rin;;'   the   ^ireater  part  of  the 
Itoily.      It    fouji'ht    fiercely    and    e\inced    ^ireat    pluck    and    aliilitx     to    defend 


itself     Th 


le  wounded  parent  was  also  sa\ajie 


and  tried  to  reach  its  assailant. 


.Vfter  it   was  dispatched  the  captain   proposed  that  we  should  attempt   to  lind 


Minded    Hawk;    liiit   the  localitN'   was  t(n»  dan^'ertais,  so  wv  a 


my   W( 

it    with   re<iTet."' 

On   .Ma\'  "JD,  1>**^7,  the  doctor  found  a  nest  and  two  ej'iis  o 


hand 


OllC( 


f  tl 


lis  species 


111  Heaver  ('reek,  (!  miles  northeast  of  Kort  X'erde,  in  central  Arizona.  'i"he 
•ii<iA  had  been  inciiltated  when  found,  and  are  now  in  the  .\mericaii  .Mii.seiim 
•f  Natural    History,  New   ^'o|•k  ('ity.     ( )ne  of  these  is  tiirnrcil. 

.Mr.  I  >.  15.  |{nrro\vs  writes  me  that  he  found  a  n"st  of  this  sjiecies  in  Starr 


(] 


iiintv,    1  e\a> 


on 


Ai.ril 


2.'>,  ISHl,  coiitainiii' 


■<ni' 


.■!,.      ,.MU'. 


he  lemale   was 


shot  from  the  nest,  and  lii^.'^ction  showed  that  no  more  ei^irs  would  haxc  lieeii 


laid.     The  nest,  a  iiewlv  constructed 


one,  was  placed  in  a  dense  willow  jiro\( 


in  the  main  forks  of  a  trei'  of  this  species.  al»oiit  .'{il  feet  aliove  the  j^round,  and 
■Mowing-  alioiit  S(l  \ai(ls  from  the  hanks  of  the  Uio  (Irande.      it  wasahont  If* 


inches   w  i< 
twi"'s  and 


Ic   i.y   S  incli 
wa>   well    li 


es  (Iccn  am 


d   rati 


ler 


llled    with    "reell    Willow 


II. 


It   was  composed  of  dry 


ave 


.Mr.  hiirrows  descrilies  the  ejiji'  as  ovate  in  shape,  the  ;;roniid  color  as  dull 

vliite,  with  a  faint  ureenisii  tiiij^'c,  and  as  marked  over  the  entire  surface  with 

mall  and  irre^rular  iilotches,  varyiny  from  reddish  lirown  to  liiirnt  iimlier,  with 

few  spots  of  purplish  drab.     The  markin;^s  aie  heaviest  near  the  lar;;'er  end, 

'Aiik,  Vnl   III.  .I:iiiiiiir\.  I""^!.  I  |i.  Tl-7;l. 


TUH  MEXICAN  BLACK  HAWK. 


251 


wlicn-  siiiiif  of  tlu'iii  ;ir"  ilrawii  out  into  irrcfrular  lines.      Tlic  «'<rfr  nn'iisiu't's 
(;i.r»   liy  47   iiiillinictns. 

An  i'ii'/  sent  l>y  Lieut.  II.  ( '.  Itenson,  Fourtli  ( 'aviilry,  V.  S.  Army, 
from  near  Fort  lliiacliuea,  Arizona,  i<lentili«'(|  as  tliat  of  lliilni  uhhrrridliis, 
anil  so  (leseril»e(|  l»y  me  in  tli<'  l'roeee(lin;;s  of  tlu*  IJ.  S.  National  .Mnseniii 
(\'oI.  X,  1SS7,  |»|».  itf}\-iu)'2),  is,  arronlin^  to  our  present  knowleilife  of  the  ej^'^s 
of  tlie.s(t  two  liinls,  nmcli  more  likelv  to  lieioni^'  to  tlie  .Mexiran  hiaek  tlian 
to  tlio  ZoiU'-taileil  Hawk,  ami  altliou^fli  not  alisoiutely  certain  of  this.  I  lii^ure 
it  under  this  speeies,  especially  as  it  is  somewhat  "litVerent  from  any  Hawk's 
(.o'o  ill  the  r.  .S.  National  .Museum  tolleetioii.  This  nest  was  fouixl  .May  (1, 
ISSti,  in  a  s\'eamore  tree,  in  a  deep  arro\'o  n<-ar  the  liase  of  the  lluaehuea 
Moimtaius.  The  nest  was  a  lar^^c  and  linlky  one,  and  lined  with  a  tew  leaves 
only.  It  contained  l»nt  a  sin;,''le  i'>r>t\  which  was  sli;>lilly  inculiateil.  This  is 
ovate  in  shapi-,  has  a  fjroimd  color  of  pale  ;;reenisli  white,  and  is  spiiriii^^ly 
Mpotteil  and  Motclied,  with  small  irre^^ular  markin<;s,  lines,  and  ti'acin;;s,  vary- 
in;;'  in  color  from  linriit  undiei'  to  tawny  oli\c.  It  measures  ."ill.o  Ity  4<l.r» 
millimetres.  It  is  No.  •J'Jit.'JO,  I'.  S.  National  .Museum  collection,  ami  is  li^rm-ed 
on   I'l.  S,  I'i^r.  !t. 

The  .Mexican  Mlack  Ifawk  is  only  a  sunnner  resident  aloiinr  the  soiitli- 
■stern  itorder  of  the  I'nited  States,  and  nowhen-  connnon.  Nidilication 
lie^iiis  in  the  southern  part  of  .\ri/.oin  in  the  latter  part  of  .Vpril,  and  a  little 
later  northward,  hut  a  siu;;le  l»rood  is  raised  in  a  season,  and  one  or  two 
t'^X"  <'onstitUte  a  set. 

A  tally  identified  e^;r  I'f  ihis  sjiecies,  takiii  l»y  l>r.  Mearns,  on  May  2f>, 
1HK7,  and  alread\'  referred  to,  now  in  tiie  collection  of  the  American  .Museum 
of  Natural  llistorw  is  oval  in  shajie,  didl  white  in  c<ilor,  and  irre^^idai'lv 
lilotched,  |irincipallv  almut  the  lar^^er  end,  with  small  iii:irkiu;:'s  of  dilfereiit 
shades  of  lirown.  This  e;;y  UH'asures  MSt  '^y  Ki  millimetres,  and  is  li^ured 
oil    IM.  H,    |''i.r.  H. 


w< 


n  m 


¥■■.  I: 


85.     Asturina  plagiata  .Scmi.koI':!.. 


MKXlr.W    (iosllAWK. 


A.itiiriiiK  i>liiiii<ilii  (hicnrKNsTi'.iN)  Sciii.koki..  Mii-<''iIi'  I'avs  Mas.  Asturiaa',  isi;-.',  1. 

(H  :i;i.  (■  .i.'.s.  |{  II.-..  V  :,->:.  r  :ii";.) 

(iKooKAfllli'Al,  liANiiK;  MiiMN'  .\ iiii'iiia.  si.tiiji  in  I'un.iiii.i:  nmlli  in  smilhi'iii 
liunli'i- III  I'liiliMl  Slalc-j,  ill  sniitlnin  New  .Mcxicn  .unl   .\ii/.iiiiii 

As  far  as  known  at  present,  the  hreediii;?  raii^e  ot  the  .Mexican  (Josliawk 
inclmle.H  that  portion  of  ,\ri/,oiia  south  of  the  (iila  Uivcr  and  soiitlieiii  New 
Mexico  (l''ort  Havai'il),  and  it  is  unly  a  simimer  visitor  within  the  liiniis  nt' 
the  I'nited  .Sijites,  arriviiii;-  in  the  vicjnitv  ot'  its  Itreediii;;'  ;;rouiids  earlv  in 
.March,  and  in  late  reasons  not   until   the  ite;;iiinin;;'  of  ,\pril.      .\s  it   is  known 

to  lireed  in  the  province  of  Tamanlipas.  Mexiio,  clo>e  1 ir  Mniiheni  iinicjir, 

it   will   prolialdy   yet    lie   found   iiestiii;;   aloii;^    the  Lower  illotiiande  \  alie^   in 


r 


'i 


e.xas  as  we 


11. 


i 


■  iii. 


<'i 


*M 


m 


•i 


i  i: 


11 


Hi 


252  MTK  msTOKIKa  OF  NOIJTll   .^MKIfKAN   IMltDS. 

'riif  first  pair  <il'  tlifsc    liinls    srcii   liy   iiic  wen-    ••iicliii;;'  liii;li  in  tlic  air 

a1)ov«>  the  tinilici'  in  llir   U'illilto  ( 'rok  liott luiir 'riicsoii,  Ari/mia,  on  Ajiril 

!»,  1S7'_*.  At'lrr  sailiiiji'  aiiimid  tor  suinctinic.  liny  (iiiallv  |icnli<'c|  on  a  ilrad 
linili  ot"  a  cottonwooil.  hnrin;;'  tin-  mcM  week  I  noticnl  scvt'ial  otlicr  pairs 
ami  walflicd  tin  in  canlnliy  in  or<lrr  to  locati-  tlifir  ncstin;;'  sitrs;  tlicy  were 
not  at  ail  siiy,  ami,  liail  I  liiiii  so  iiirliniij,  coiilil  Iiav<>  sccnrcil  a  inniilx-r 
of  .spcrinii'iis  witli  l)Mt  little  ti'onlilf.  l''roni  that  time  on  not  a  day  |iasscd 
witliont  my  sccinji'  two  or  tlnTo  pairs  of  these  handsome  little  (Joshawks 
(whirii  were  readilv  lecoyni/.ed  ii\'  their  liyhl  color)  en""i"(Ml  in  sailinn'  <jrare- 
fnlly  over  tlie  tree  lops,  now  sportively  idiasinj;-  eaeh  other,  or  a^iain  eirelinji' 
aroMiid.  the  teniale  elosel\  followed  li\  the  male,  nttei'in^^'  at  the  same  time 
a  very  peeiiliar  pipin;:'  note,  wliieli  reminded  me  of  tliat  ^^ivcn  liy  the  i.onk;- 
liilled  < 'nrlew  in  the  early  sprin;.''  (while  liox'erin;;'  in  the  air  in  tlie  manner  of 
a  Sparrow    Hawk),  rather  than  the  shrill  cries  or  screams  nsnally  nttered   iiy 


liirds  o|    iirev.     To    mv  e.ir,   there 


was   sol 


nelliin"'    decidedK    Ihite-like   aiioiit 


thi'se    notes.     After    tiiey   were    paiicil    they   l>ecame    more    silent. 

When  in  scardi  of  I'ood  their  tli;;hl  is  powerfnl,  actixf,  and  easiK  con- 
trolled. I  iiave  seen  one  o|'  them  dart  to  the  yroniid  with  arrnwdike  swift- 
ne>s  to  pick  np  some  liiril,  li/.anl,  or  rodent,  coiiilnninj:-  its  tlijiht  without  any 
stop  v.  hate\er.  .\  j;ood  proportion  of  their  I'ood  consists  of  lieetles,  lar^i'e 
{."■rasshoppeis  (a  species  of  which  aitoiit  il  incln's  Ion;;-  was  opeciallv  alinndant), 
and  other  insects:  these  are  mostlx  caii;^'lit  on  the  wiii^',  and  I  lielieve  .small 
iiirds  ,'il>o  t'orm  no  incon>iileralile  portion  ot'  their  food,  as  I  ha\<-  seen  them 
chasin;^   siicli. 

.Mr  I'".  Stephens  compares  their  cry  to  a  loiid  "creer,"  repeated  four  or  fi\«« 
times,  and  says  that  at  a  distance  it  sounds  innch  like  the  x-reain  of  a 
peacock.  'I^he  stomachs  of  the  specimens  examined  li\  liiin  contained  lixarils, 
small   s«inirrels,    (ish   scales,    the   wiiiL;'  co\ers   iif  lieetles,  and    fur  and    lioiies  of 


small  nnreco^^n 


h    scales,    tl 
ix.alih'    rodents 


.\liollt     the    last     \Xeek     ill     .\pril      several      pairs     had      selected     their     llesti 


IIL' 


sites  within  a  radiiis  nf  |*i  miles  finin  iii\  camp,  and  cciininnici'd  linildin<>. 
.Ml  the  nests  toiind  iiy  nie,  four  in  nnmlier,  vmic  placed  in  cottonwood  trees, 
Usually  the  lar;jest  to  lie  t'oiind  in  the  \irinity,  and  as  near  their  tops  as  tliev 
could  III'   placed    with   security. 

'The   first    iiest    was  oiitaiiied   on    .\|a\     1  i.   and   the   male,    who   was   sittiny; 
<    1  a   liiiili  dosi'  li\,  was   shot.      'This  iicst  was  Incaled  in  the  topmost  inanclies 

of   a    lar'.^e    cottoiiw I    tne    near    the    la;;nna.    tiie    sink    of    tin'    Santa    ( 'rii/. 

Iti\ei'.  not  less  than  To  leet  from  the  y/roiind,  and  contained  three  fresh 
(.<r»s,  the  only  sit  1  found  which  contained  this  iiiimlier.  The  nest,  not  a 
Mry  siilist  !ii:ial  all'air,  consisted  of  a  shallow  platform,  composeil  principalK- 
of  small   c(>ttoiiwooi|    twius,    a    nnmlier  of    which    were    ;;i-eeii    and    hail    lieeii 


Itrnkeli    li\    tile    II 


Mills    iIuiiisi'In  es.       I    have    seen    tliini    i|ii    tins,  selectlll;;   a    sinl- 
ilile   twiy.    then    tlviiiL;'  at    it    \er\-    swiltiv,    ;;i'aspin;i    it    wilii    tluir    talons,    and 


illy 


llsllalu-    sncceeilllm     III 


lireakiii<>    it    olf  at    llie    first    trial. 


TIIK  MKXllAN  (iOSllAWK. 


253 


Miiiiv  of  tlicsc  twi^r^  liiiil  tlic  Iciivcs  attiiclicil  to  tlic'i  iiinl  mil*  piirtlv 
(Irii'd.  I'lif  iiiM'T  liiiiii^i  (if  the  nest  cniisislcil  ul'  dry  nittniiwiMxl  leaves  and 
tlic  tups  lit  willows,  llic  latter  also  taken  wliile  <:reeii.  No  Itark  nor  material 
otlier  than  that  mentioned  was  used  in  the  ('oM>tni('tion  of  tliis  nest. 

A  second  one.  loinid  .lune  (»,  IS72,  contained  Imt   two  e""s,  on  which  the 


liii'd  had  heen  sitting'  lor  alioiit  a  week.      T 


ns  was  II 


I  a  similar  situation   to  tin 


lirst.  and  reseiiililed  it  in  strnctnre,  lait  was  lined  with  a  lew  strijis  of  the  soft, 
diy  innei'  liark  of  the  cottonwood  and  with  dry  leaves  of  the  same  tice.  A 
third  »•};•{(  was  taken  iVom  this  nest  .Iniie   \x,  lait  whethei-  laid  liy  the  same  liird 


or  IK 


inn  inialile  to  te 


( )n  .lime  l;i  I  took  another  set  ol'  two  e;:;:s,  which  contained  small  emiiryos. 
The  nest,  like  the  tir>t  one,  was  cciiii|insei|  |a°inci|)all V  ot  small  ;i'reen  twiifs, 
many  with  the  leave.-,  still  on  tliem.  and  lined  with  ;^ieeii  willow  tops.  Tin) 
lM>t  nest  was  fonnd  lai  .lime  _'i).  within  a  mile  of  my  camp,  and  thon^^li 
|Misitiv('  that  a  pair  had  a  nest  >omewliei'e  in  this  ;^rov( — a  rather  deii>e  one — 
I  tailed  to  locate  it,  althon<;'h  I  had.  as  I  supposed,  carefully  examined  this 
vcr\  tree  several  time>  previoiislv.  I  aUo  >aw  the  hirds  alioiit,  Imt  the  nest 
was  so  well  hidden  aiiioiii:'  tiie  deii.>e  folia;:')'  of  the  top  that  only  a  small 
portion  was  visiMe  t'roin  lielnw.  and  llii>  oiilv  li'om  ,i  certain  point  of  view. 
It   contained   two  ey;;s   with  ;iood-sized  emhi'vos,   and    the   linin^i'  consisted  of 


irtlv  dried  cottonwood   leaves. 


Tl 


le  nests  are  rather  I'r.iil  stiintiiie^.  and  vvcic  all  appareiitlv  newly 


laiilt. 


The\  weH'  shallow  and  lint  sli;:litlv  hciijuwed,  not  more  than  I  .\  !iiclii>  deep. 
The  la>t  two  Iniiiid  were  very  ililli'  nit  to  ;iet  at,  roiin;:  a-  they  did  on  very 
>lender  limits,  and  from  the  tact  that  ihev  were  composed  priiicijiallv  ol'  ^^reeii 
twi;i'.s  it  was  no  easv  mailer  to  deled  thi'iii.  The  l>ird»  made  liiil  little  demon- 
-iratioii  when  the  f'^'^>  were  takcii.  hevond  cii'clin^'  aliove  the  tree  ttips  and 
iillerinji'  a  few  shrill  screams.  1  lielieve  that  Imt  one  hrood  is  reared  in  a  sea- 
son.    The  male  assists  in  •jetting  the  nesfiny  material    .nid  perhaps  in  iiicnlia- 


llnll    as    We 


Uv    till'   latter  part   ot   I  tctoliei'  mo>|    of  thein   had  di  ii.ii'ti'd   lor 


ilii'ir  winter  home 


Mr.  I''.  Sti'iiheii>  ha--  aUo   t'ouiid    llnir   nests   in  ,\i'i/oiia   and    Miiithern   N 


I'W 


\|c\iio,  and  considers  them  as  common  alioiii  Tiii'miii.  t'>peciallv  in  ^oiiie  ol 
the  lar;;-e  niesi|iiite  ^-loves  on  the  Santa  ( 'rii/.  Uivcr.  Me  fonnd  them  nestinyr 
iii'tween  .May  '2  and  .Iniie  "J.  n>nallv  lindinj:'  two  e^;';;s  to  a  set.  'I'he  nest 
plai  I'd  in  cottonw U  and  lai'i:'e  nie^ipiite  tn 


S    W  ll'l 


1  iiiiisider  ihi'- one  i>l  the  liamUomi'^t  I  law  k-  vve  have;   graceful   .-iiid  ipiiik 


III  a 


II  it. 


miivemenl>,    a     >w  I 


ft    liver,    and    re^i  nililin^    the   (ioshawk    in    nianv 


ts,  lint    it    preler-    more    open  coimtry  than    the  latter.      It    seems  in   lu' 


found  onlv    in   the   vicinitv    of  water  c 


oin'se; 


and   not,  like   inaiiv    of  the  otliei 


liapiores,  on  the  dry  and  comparatively  lianeii  desertdike  plains.  It  nest« 
latei-  than  mo.>t  Il;iwks  found  in  Arizona,  n>iiallv  dnrin^  .May,  and  evi'ii  a- 
latc  UH  the  middle  of  .Inne. 


f^  11' 


254 


IJKK  IIISTOHIKS  OP  NORTH  AMKIMCAN  ItlKOS. 


n 


■!:■ 


^1'  Ifi  ^'^ 


^, 


Mr.  Ollio  ('.  I'liliii^  writes  me  froiii  Kurt  Hiiiit-liiicii,  Arixoiiii,  rcpinliiij;; 
tliis  Hawk,  as  lullows:  "I  lirst  irirl  with  thin  s|»(M'it's  uii  Miircli  3,  IHKO,  wlutii  ii 
iiiair  was  sliiit  ill  a  ili't'|i  wooilcil  cariini  in  tiiis  vicinity,  at  an  rlfvatiuii  of  alioiit 
7,l)(K)  t'cct.  It  hail  a  si|iiirrt'l  in  its  talons  aliiuit  two-thinls  *-atcii.  Diiriii;^  tho 
nioiith  of  .Imic,  1K!MI,  I  was  caiiipcil  in  a  canon  of  the  liiiachiica  Mountains, 
aiiioii^'  sonic  thick  spriK  t-  ami  sycainorc  woods,  ami  had  not  Itci'U  loiij>;  in  cam|i 
when  I  heard  a  taint  s(|iieakin^  noise  overiuad,  and  on  invt'sti^^atiii;;,  fniind  a 
nest  of  yoiiii^''  Kajitores  in  liie  top  of  a  lii^ii  sycaniore,  directly  in  iVoiil  of  my 
tent.  To  my  <rreat  pleiwuro  I  found,  on  waitin;!'  for  the  parent  to  arrive,  that  it 
was  the  Mexican  (Josliawk.  She  made  iialf  a  dozen  or  more  trips  daily  to  the 
nest,  and  whenever  she  arrived  her  presence  was  at  oiu'e  hailed  iiy  tiie  hiin^iiy 
nestlings.  I  watched  her  ilosely;  she  would  make  daily  trips  t<:  the  nie.stpiite 
plains  for  cotton  tails  (/.(y^fv  m'r.diiK'),  some  <i  or  s  miles  mit  in  the  \alley. 
.M'ter  the  lirst  week  a  iiei;fhlior  came  to  my  camp  and  diniii;;-  ni\-  altseiice  shot 
the  female,  and  pn'seiited  it  to  me  on  my  return. 

"I'p  to  this  time  I  had  not  .seen  tiie  male,  or  at  least  had  seen  onl\'  one 
individual  at  a  time,  lutt  noticed  on  the  followin;;'  day  that  another  liird, 
evidently  the  male,  appeared  and  carried  on  the  feediu^'  of  the  faniilv  as 
re;;ularly  as  if  nothing'  had  liappeiieil.  The  yoiui;;'  w<'re  now  ;;Towin;;'  rap- 
idly, and  their  cries  were  iiiiich  louder  while  heiii^  fed.  One  day,  on  ^laiiciii},'' 
up  at  the  iiest,  I  saw  one  of  them  perched  upon  a  limit  l)esi(le  it.  The  parent 
Itird  was  near  liv  with  some  ;.i'aiiie,  and  seeiiuMJ  tn  he  ur;iiu;i'  the  \oiiii<;'  one  to 
tly  to  it,  if  it  would  have  its  meal.  Althou^ih  ii  demanded  its  regular  allow- 
ance loudly,  I  oli.served  it  was  left  out  of  reach  Ity  the  old  liird  until  its  lir.st 
lesson  of  tlyin^  was  learned.  The  youu;^'  were  three  in  mimher,  and  all  were 
out  of  the  nest  the  follnwiu;;'  day,  itut  letnriietl  to  it  at  niji'hl.  Thev  reinaiiu'il 
alioilt  for  several  days  and  finally  disappeareil." 

Inculiatiou  lasts  from  tliref  to  four  weeks.     The  (•"•■'•s  aiv  usiiall\-  two  in 


iiumher,    seldom   more;    aliout     one   set    ill    tour   contains   ihree  e 


Theil 


;;roitiid  coha-  is  a  pale  lilui^li  white;  and  all  the  ej;ns  I  liaM-  taken,  with  a 
sin^i'le  exception,  are  iiiispntteil.  Init  always  more  or  le>s  .staiiud  with  \ellowisIi, 
which  is  dilticiilt   to  remove.     These  stains  are  proiialiK'  cau>e(l   1)\-  the  ;;ret  n 


■iives  on    wiiich  the  e;:^s  are  iisiiallv   laii 


Tl 


le    shell    IS    laill\    smooth,  close 


),n-aiiied,  slightly  pitted,  and  without  luster.      In  two  sets  of  e;;'is  of  this  species 
takiii  l»v  .Mr.  V.  Stephens,  near  Fort  May.ird,  New   .Mexico,  liotli  t'oimd  on  April 


•J.'5,   lx7(!,  and  wl 


iicli  are  now  in  the  collection  i 


A'    the    A 


iiierican    .Museum  of 


n  each  is  marked  with  a   few 


Natural   History,  in  New  York  ("ity,  one  e; 

lailfv   lirowii   spots   aliout    its   larger   end       These,  althoii^ih    few,  are    readily 

noiicealile.  vvliile  the  iiiarkiiius  on  the  .^pi  cimeii  taken  li\   m\selt'  are  scarcely 


k.'d 


e\  e 


Old 


\  a  siiiLfle  hrooil  IS  raised  in  a  season. 


|)erceptilde  to  the  iia 

(.jrjrs  \arv  cousideralilv   in   >liape.   the   majority   are  a    perfect   o\al,   a   lew   are 

elon;iate  ovate,  and  one  may  he  called  o\ate  pyrilorm. 

The  aveia;;-!'  meiisuremeiit  of   the  e;;;<is  of  the   .\|e   ican   (ioshawk    in   the 
II.   S.  Natitnial    Museum    collection    is   ,')!    hy    II    millimetns,  the  laryest    e;;j>" 


luoiisuriug  h\  by  40,  tho  smallest  is  hy  Jl  niillimetrcs. 


n 

'  J) 


Tin;  MliXU'AN  (i08ilAWK. 


255 


'rim  ty|>«t  s|i('ciiii('ii,  No.  Ki.'ti'.j  (I'l.  7,  I'iyf.  7),  V.  S.  Xiitioiml  Museum  rol- 
liitiDU,  tVoMi  !i  set  (it  two,  hfiiiliic  f<tlI»ctii>M,  wjis  tiiki-u  l»y  llu-  writer  <iii 
.luuu  t),   1H72,  *iu   liillittu  (/leek,  near  'rut-Miiu,  Arizttuu. 


86.     Archibuteo  lagopus  (Kki  nmcii). 

KOI'dM-I.Klilir.li    HAWK. 

/•'((/-•()  hiiii>ini.s  Hki'nnii'II,  Oriiitlii)lo>;iii  Hureali.H,  IMI,  I. 
Aiihiliiiliii  liiiiiiini.s  (lic.w.  I.iist  (li'iierii  nl'  Hinls,  eil.  •.'.  lsil,.'|. 

(H- ,(;-,  K-,  (--,  u.iir.) 

(JKCMHIAIMIICAI.   KANdK:    N'ol't  limi  purls  1. 1'   lIlcOl.l  WmiIi!  ;    (Aliiska?) 

'Pile  |{nuyll-Ii';ry'<'<l  Huz/.lU'fl  hits  lieen  iuclllded  iu  tile  ".\.  ( ).  ['.  Ciiile  illld 
Clieek-list  ol  N.  .\.  Uinls,"  liiiseil  iiii  siteciniciis  iVoin  .Maskii,  hut  .Mr.  |{nl»ert 
|{i(l;fway,  in  liis  ".Maiiuiil  of  N'urtli  .Xinericau  hinjs,  lss7,"  p.  •Jt<>,  in  ii  f'oot-Miitct 
III)  this  species,  writes  as  tollnws:  "So  far  as  evideure  to  date  tends  to  sliow,  tlie 
lypieal  tonn  of  this  species,  it'  a  distinctly  .Vnieiican  race  he  recoyiii/.ed,  nui«t 
i»e  expun;;ed  lioni  the  'List  ot    North  .\nierican  Hirds.'" 

Aecordiii;;;  to  .Mr.  II.  Seeliohin,  "the  true  home  ol'  the  l{onph-le;j;;  d  Hu/.- 
/ard  I'la^'le  is  in  the  northern  portions  of  the  I'iuropean  ami  .\siatic  continents. 
It  lireeds  thi'oM^rhout   .\rctic   Kin'ope  and  .\sia,  liein;;'  a  vcrv  common  species  in 

NorwavamI  .Sweijcii,  up  to  the  North  ('a|>e,  li miMi;'  rarei'  in  liussia,  \  et  more 

jilcntit'ul  in  Siiii-ria,  wiiere  it  ranges  as  tar  to  the  east  as  tlie  watei-shed  ot'  the 
Veiiesay  and  JA'tia.  in  the  winter  it  retires  southward  to  various  parts  of  cen- 
tral and  southern  I'-urope  and  the  ste]ipes  of  U'ussian  Turkestan."' 

.Mr.  Ilarvie  Mrown  found  it  lireedin;;'  in  south  Norway  in  \xl\,  the  nests 
Usually  iiein^i'  placeil  in  clet'ls  ot'  more  or  less  inaccessilile  locks.  In  Lapland, 
accordin;;'  to  W'ollev,  thev  ot'ieii  lu'eed  in  lirs.  The  mmdier  ol'  e^iys  \ary  I'i'om 
tiu'ee  to  live.  The  nests  are  lar;;t',  composed  ot'  sticks  and  lined  with  ;irasses; 
when  placed  ou  clilVs,  sticks  are  l'rei|Uentl\'  tlisjieiised  with,  and  it  consists  of  a 
sli;,rht  hollow  lined  with  ^irasses.  In  its  j;eneral  haltits  it  resiinliles  our  .\mer- 
icaii  |{ouyh-le:j;;ed  Hawk  in  e\ery  respe<t,  and  the  diU'ereiico  in  pliimajj^e  are 
hut  ver\-  slijihi  in  the  majoritv   of  specimens. 

.Vccordiiiy  to  .Mr.  Seeli  ihui,  the  ejijis   \:ir\- ;;reatly   in    si/e   and  niarkinjrs, 

souM'   iieiny'   I rly    marked    while  others    are   ver\-    richly  Motclied  with  ilark 

red,  or  clouded  and  mottled  .•..,.!  pi.le  hrown.  In  some  e;;-;^s  the  colorin;^'  is 
coMlined  to  a  few  l.n-^e  rich  iilotch.'s  of  red,  others  are  evcidy  spotted  with 
color  just  .IS  intense  over  the  entire  siirfav-e.  .\  more  niicoimiion  variety  in 
delicately  streaked  and  penciled  with  a  few  irrejiular  da>heN  of  ji.de  hrown, 
somethiiij:- like  the  e^-jf  of  a  Kill'.  ( >ther  varieties  are  seen  in  which  all  the 
colorinji'  is  distriluited  in  pah'  pur|ilish  shell  inarkin;i's,  with  perhaps  a  i'fw 
streaks  of  rich  hrown.  Thev  varv  t'rom  L'. '_*.">  lt\'  'J.l  inches  in  leiiulh.  .mmI  I'lotn 
l.s  to  j.il.'i  inches  in  hreadth  (ecpial  to  ."i7.!."t  to  ;">,■{.;(  I  millimetres  in  len;.'th  and 
4r),7"i  to  II.IM  millimetres  in  hreadth). 


:  I!: 


•*i 


i: 


^: 


I, 


'  IliHtoiy  ,<(  lli'il|..|i  llinis,  S.«.|Hilitii,  IHSil,  Vol.  |,  |i|i.  111-115. 


pi: 


'.  { 


I  ; 


I:; 


!!1^ 


i'^ 


li.l: 


t     '« 

I    3 


V. 
1       !:" 


»l 


25U 


Liri'l  lllrtTOKIKS  OK  NOIMII   AMKHK^AN  IlIUIW. 


TluTi^  si'i'ins  III  111'  Mil  ilillrri'iii'i'  wliiUi'Vi'i"  ill  tlic  f;.'^^  "'  •I''"*  H|H'fi('s 
tind  iiiir  iiwii,  ami  iiniii'  an-  li;;'iii'i>i|  I'm  that  iraHiui.  r<ii  c;;;,^^  in  tlu*  U.  S. 
Natiuiial  Miisi'iiiii  (■nllcctiiiii  rrniii  Laiilainl  aviTa^c  .'i7  l>_v  il.'t  inillina'trcs, 
tlif  laifff.sl   iiuasiiiiiiM    lilt  liy    Hi,   tlic  sinallrst  .'i.'l   liy    l.'i.'i  iiiilliiiiclrfs. 

87.     Archibuteo  lagopus  sancti-johannis  ((imilin). 

AMi.i.'K  \\    i;iiriiii-i,i,inii;ii  hawk, 

Inilri)  ndiirN-iiiliiiiiiiiii  (J.MKI.IN.  Systi'llia  Natillir.  I,  ii.  ITsx, '.'i:i. 

Archihithu  liiiiiijin.s  viH",  miiirli.ioliannis  Ulimw av,  In  Cniii's's  K<'y  In  Nnrlii  Aiiii'i'iraii 
Hiiils.  \H7'i,  -JIH. 

(H  III.  .ii,  (•  .(.•.i;.  I{  11:.  ('  v,':.,  V  :!i;.(.) 

0KU(1KAI>III<  At.   UANiiK:    WliMiinI    Ni.illi    Alinlira. 

Kxccptiiiy  tlic  'rtrritiiiv  nf  Alaska,  tlic  Aim  ritaii  |{iiii;>li-lcyyc(|  Hawk 
cidt's  imi  lirt'fd  «illiiii  tin'  riiilnl  Sialr^,  tlic  varimis  i-ccni'iU  tii  tlic  rniiti-afv 
lliitwillislalidill;;'.  Nut  a  sili;:lc  iilic  (if  tlicsc  is  aiisi>llltcl\'  lllli|llcstii>lialilc.  Its 
imisl  siiiiilicrii  liicciliiit;-  raii;;f,  su  tar  as  I  am  alilc  In  Icai'ii,  is  [icfliaps  tlial 
;fiv('ii  liy  I  h.  ( '.  Ilart  Mciriain,  lia>cil  ii|m>ii  tlic  iiliscivatiniis  nl'  Mf.  N"a|iiilcnii 
A.  CoiHcaii,  iiiailc  ill  tlic  \iiiiiity  nl  i'liiiil  dc  Mniits,  |ir<i\iii»'c  of  (.^iiclicc. 
Canada,  in  almul  latitude  l!i  ,  wlm  >tatcs  that  it  is  rather  luiiiniun,  and 
lirccds  there'  It  is  (|iicsiii>iiali|c  it'  it  lirccds  anywhere  sniith  nl'  the  river 
St.    l.a\Ni'cncc,  and   it    it   dues   -.iicli   iiistaiiecs   iinist    lie  lit'  rare  nceiirrencc. 

Mr.  I,.  .M.  Tiirncr,  uf  the  \'.  .S.  Sij^nal  Sii-viee,  tniiml  it  lirceilin;^  alnm- 
dantly  in  sniitlicrn  Laliradnr  and  at  l'"iirt  ( 'hiinn,  I'nji-ava  Hay,  while  statinncd 
at  the  latter  |iuint,  and  he  emisidcrs  it  one  nl'  the  must  cnniimin  of  all  the 
liirds  111'  |ii"cy   in   that   re<;i<in. 

In  the  intcriiif  it  is  >aid  tn  lie  mit  uncominon.  and  In  have  lieen  tnimd 
lirccdinii'  nil  the  Saskatchewan  jilaiiis,  in  the  similarly  named  district,  alidiit 
latitude  ."i.'t '.  It  is  nin>t  cniiimnii.  Imwexer,  t'ldMi  the  .Viidersiiii  K'ixer  and 
lunde/.viiiis  L;ike  cuuiitry  ii|i  tn  the  .\ietie  enast.  where  that  indetati;.'alile 
natinalist  and  explnrer,  Mr.  I{.  .Mai d'arlaiie.  nl'  the  llndsnn  Hay  ('iim|iany, 
tnnk  lint  less  than  lif"ty-ei;:llt  nests  with  e^ilis  while  iravelin;;  tliriH|;r|l  this 
seareeU  kimwii  and  iee-liniiiid  w  ilderiie->  iiearK  tliirtv  \iars  a;jii.  (^Miite  a 
line  series  nl'  the  ey'iz's  nl  this  sjieeies  enlleited  li\-  this  •jelitlemail  are  in  the 
r.  S,   Natinlial     MM«elllll    enlleetinn. 

•  hi  ilie  West  enast  it  is  lint  iiiiinmiiinn  diiriii;;'  the  lireedin;:'  seasnn  in 
tile  vieiniis  nl'  |''nrt  \  iiknii.  .\laska,  as  several  sets  lit' e^iji's  taken  there  attest. 
.Mr.  v..  \\.  Nil-nli.  Ill' the  r.S.  SiLilial  Ser\ire,  tnnk  their  e;;';js  at  Saint  .Miehael; 
and  .Mr.  ('.  I,.  .MaeKay  mi  the  Niisha^ak  |{i\er,  .\laska:  liiit  it  a|i|iears  In 
lie  rarer  near  the  enast  there  than  in  the  interinr.  It  |ii'nlialil\  lireeds  in  the 
iinrthern  pnrtiniis  III'  ISritish  ('nlninliia  as  well,  Imt  I  lind  im  lelialile  reenrds 
t'rnin  there. 


'liiilletiu  Nuttiill,  Oriiitliiiliigiunl  Cliili,  Vul.  vii,  ldrt!>,  p.  'i.n. 


TiiH  A.Mi:iJi(;.\N  i{()U<in-M;(i(ii;h  hawk. 


257 


III  tile   riiili'il   Stiitis    it    is   oiilv   iiii't   wilii 


iH  II    iMi;.'iiiiil,    arriving;    n-u;. 


iiliirly  t'i'oiii  its  hitTiliii;:'  ;<i'<>iiiiiIm  in  tin-  I'iir  imrtli  in  tlir  I'iill  imkI  I'ltiiriiin;; 
I'lirly  in  tlif  H|inii;:'.  It  wiiiti-iM  iliiclly  in  ilir  iniitillc  iiml  iiiorc  ii|M'n  pniirir 
StiitcH,  lint  iM-iii;:  piirtiiil  tn  lu'iivlly  tiiiilM-ri-<|  i-i}rionM.  In  tin-  Ktist  it  \x  ^'W- 
I  r.'illy  IoiiikI  nliui;:  tin-  li.it,  opm  rmintrv  ii'ljiiriiit  to  tlic  ciijiHt  iiml  tin-  lir^ri  ■' 
livi  rs,  iiMiiilin;:'  tlic  iiiniiiitniiiuiis  iiml   linivily  wiiniliil  ilistrirtn  ul'  tlir  iiiti-rini'. 

.\ltliiiii;r||  ji  |iii';.>'t>  •■>•«]  pnwci-t'iil  liini,  it  is  ul' ji  pi-iiccl'iij  ilir<p<isiiii>n,  iiiid  its 
IikmI  is  iiiiinlilf,  niiisistiii;;  priiiripally  of  incmluw  iniic  iiihI  sniiill  roilmts.  it  is 
.loiilitt'nl  if  it  ever  i  iitt'lu-s  »  Itinl,  its  tli;.r|it  iisiiiijlv  liciii;;'  slow,  ildilicriiti',  jiml 
appiii'i'iitly  lalioi'ioiis. 

I  I'oiiiiil  tliis  spiM'ics  vrry  alMiiuiaiit  ilnriii;:'  tlii'  tall  on  tlic  I'lnatilla  Imliaii 
li'csi  rvatioii,  and  in  llic  lianii-y  N'allcy,  <  Mi';^oii,  «liiic  ilicy  principallv  I'liil 
on  >niall  loilfiits  anil  ;;rasslioppi-i-s  and  onasionaliy  on  raliliits.  1  liaM'  ottm 
wren  a  dozin  or  two  in  a  t'l-w  liiairs'  ride  n>nally  stairliny  sin^dy  on  a  little 
liiilock  on  tin-  opi'ii  prairie,  or  pcrclu-d  u|ion  a  sa^ir  liusli  watcliin;;  lor  pn-y. 
'riicv  air  a  pcrl'iTtly  liarnilrss  liinl  and  distiM-  to  ln'  t'lilK  protfttrd.  Winn 
iiiouiilcd   tlicy  allowed   iiie  to  approacli  closely,   lait   when  on  toot   tliey   kept 


well   out   ol    raime 


Mr.  L.  M.  'rnnier,  in  liis  "N'otes  on  tlie  Uirds  of  Lahrador  and  rnyava," 
sa\s:  "Tlie  Aineiican  i{onyli-]e;.''jied  Hawks  anise  lieie,  at  l''ort  ( 'liimo,  aiioiit 
the  last  week  in  May  and  reiiiain  until  the  tirsf  week  in  Ociolier.  Iiiiine- 
diatelx  on  llieir  arrival  a  site  is  seemed  for  a  ne>t.  as  matin;;'  lias  evi- 
deiillv  onnri'ed  liefore  tiiey  appear  in  tiiis  \  ieinity.  <  M'teiilimes  tlie  same 
plaie  is  resorted   to,  wlieie  tlie  same  paii'liave   reared   tlieir  yoiin;:   lor  many 


seasons. 


All  t1 


le    nests   ilJM'oVel'ed    l»\-    me    Were    p 


ilaced 


on 


leMlJe    or 


I  "•".!• 


linn  ol'  a  'ii;;'li  liliitV.  Slioiild  tliere  lie  several  led;;'es,  appareiitU'  >nilai)le 
in  all  respects  on  tlie  .same  Itliill',  tin-  one  nearest  tlie  top  is  selected.  !  .><ni'- 
mi>e  lliis  is  done  in  order  to  allow  tlie  liinls  a  i^realer  \iew  of  tlie  siirroiiiid- 
iii;^-  country  lor  tlie   pmpo-.es   < 


it'  searcliiii"'    lor   food    and    to  avoid   daii"i' 


Til 


e    nest    IS    comiiosei 


"ra.ss  or  weeii  s 


talk^ 


I  of  sticks  of  various  sizes.  toMcilier  with  a  few 
placeil  irre^idarly  crosswise.  The  particular  location  of 
the  nest  niodilies  tlie  anioimt  of  material  used.  .\  flat  rock  iisiiallv  has  lint 
siiOicieiit   of   tlioe    materials   to   prevent    the  e^'^s   from    lolliuL;   altoiil.     Where 


llic   place  .slopes  the  nest   is  iisiiallv   higher  in   liont,  am 


I    ofti 


n   Willi   iiotliiii' 


at  the  rear  portion  of  it  e\ce|i|  the  .side  of  the  clilf.  Ill  loc.itions  where  the 
iir>i  has  lieeii  iiseil  for  several  Veal's  the  aiiiomit  of  material  accmiinlateil  is 
as|iiiilshiii<!'.      I    have   seen   several    liests   which    woiilil   forir.   a   <:'ooi|    load    fiM'  a 


.heel! 
I 


larrovv 


each    Near,    am 


It  oft 
1    oil 


ell  occurs  that  the  nest  material  is  increased  coiisideralilv 

I.      The 


er    liests    appear    to 


ijepressioli   eolltainili;:'   the  e 


IS  (pll 


t.'   sl 


have     iieeii    oiiiv    reai'r.'in^'ei 
lallovv  ami   in  some  instances  iiearlv 


llal.  The  accmmilations  around  (he  nest,  such  as  refuse  food,  is  also  siir- 
lirisiiifi'  ill  ipianlily,  and  when  this  decomposes  forms  a  .soil  in  which  ^^row 
/lasses  and  other  plants,  which,  from  the  character  of  ilie  soil  and  favorable 
position  (rarely  to  the  northward),  often  attain  a  most  iiiMirioiis  "i-owtii  and 
2(m.-i7— Itiill.  I 17 


lit 


m 


SMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


UA  Ilia 


12.5 


"  IK    M22 


I.I 


m 


2.0 


1.8 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


1.25      1.4 

1.6 

M 6"     

► 

s 


V 


iV 


% 


s 


k 


^^ 


o 


^<, 


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'..(A^ 

sr^ 


4^ 


^9) 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  872-4503 


.<^. 


&p 


■'t^ 

* 


258 


LIFE  HISTORIKS  OF  NORTH  AMKIUCAN  BIRDS. 


I 


I.  »j 


i  1> 


■♦lit    '!v 


1      *C,T     d      .4         « 


thus  iu(li<ate  the  site  of  ii  nest  which  otherwise  iiiifrht  have  been  over- 
looked. *  »  •  The  parent  birds  usually  denote  the  proximity  of  a  nest 
by  siilinff  high  in  the  air  over  the  locality.  Occasionally  a  nest  may  be 
discovered  in  an  unexpected  location.  1  found  one,  some  8  or  4  miles  from 
the  mouth  of  tlu*  Kotsoak  Hiver,  on  a  f^rassy  ledge,  near  the  top  of  the 
side  of  a  sliort  but  deej)  ravine.  The  nesr  was  easily  approached  from  the 
top  without  other  labor  than  that  of  walking  down  to  it.  The  positions 
of  nests  of  various  birds  of  prey  were  often  a  matter  of  wonder  to  me  how 
tlu  y  escaped  the  ravages  of  foxes  and  other  prowlers.  *  *  *  At  other 
times  the  nest  is  placed  in  a  most  iuaccessil)le  spot.  I  thought  these  were 
probably  the  nests  of  birds  which  may  have  been  more  persecuted  than 
others  aiid  iiad  not  profiteil  by  experience.  At  no  time  did  I  observe  any- 
thing like  lierceness  exhibited  by  these  birds,  either  when  w(unided  or  wlieu 
their  nest  was  approached.  T'lu;  maU^  can  seldoni  be  secui'ed  near  the  nest, 
while  the  female  is  sometimes  heedless  of  distance,  although  rarely  approach- 
mg  very  near." 

In  regard  t<i  th(*  nesting  sites  most  frecpiently  made  use  of  in  the  Fur 
Country,  Mr.  R.  MacFarlane's  (experience  was  ([uite  different,  showing  that  tiie 
nesting  habits  of  this,  as  well  as  of  many  other  species,  differ  gre.itly  in 
jdaces,  the  birds  adapting  th(>mselves  to  tlie  immediate  surroundings.  ( )ut  of 
the  fifty-eight  nests  found  l)y  him,  forty-six  were  placed  in  trees,  usually 
janes,  and  at  an  average  lieiglit  of  about  20  feet  from  the  ground.  The 
remaining  twelve  were  built  on  tiie  edges  of  stee|)  (diffs  of  shaly  nmd,  on  tlie 
banks  of  creeks,  rivers,  <ir  lak(3s.  Such  nests  as  were  found  in  trees  were 
usually  placed  in  a  crotch  not  far  from  the  top,  composed  of  sticks  and 
wannly  lined  with  dry  grasses,  down,  and  feathers.  Those  on  (diffs  were 
similarly  constnu  I'd,  but  usually  with  a  smaller  base  of  sticks  and  better  lined. 

The  eggs  vary  from  two  to  tive  in  nund)er,  usually  three  or  four,  and 
are  deposited  at  intervals  of  two  or  three  days,  and  were  often  found  in 
different  stages  of  incubation.  With  but  few  exceptions,  most  of  ^fr.  K. 
MacKarlane's  specimens  were  found  during  the  month  of  .lune.  The  earliest 
date  (Ui  wliich  \w,  took  eggs  of  this  species,  according  to  the  iccords  here, 
was  on  May  '2i).  Afr.  L.  M.  Turner  took  a  .set  on  May  "il,  evidently  not 
complete,  and  the  remainder  in  June.  The  mithlle  of  June  seems  to  be  the 
proper  time  to  look  for  full  sets. 

In(Md)ation  lasts  about  four  weeks,  and  by  the  middle  of  July  most  of 
the  yoinig  are  hatched  and  they  leave  the  nest  alxmt  the  beginning  of  Sej)- 
tendu'r.  According  to  "Sir.  Turner,  the  young  appear  to  be  able  to  take  care 
of  them.selves  as  soon  as  they  leave  the  nest.  He  says  the  Eskimo  ajjply 
the  name  of  "Kin-wi-yuk"  (in  imitation  of  its  notes)  to  this  species,  and  that 
the  people  of  Tiabrador  term  it  the  ".Srjualling  Hawk,"  from  the  noise  it  makes 
when  alarmed. 

Hut  one  brood  is  raised  in  a  sea.son.  The  eggs  of  the  American  Hough- 
legged   Hawk  vary  greatly  in  size   as  well   as  in    shape.     Some  are  ovate, 


THE  AMERICAN  KOUGH-LEGGED  HAWK. 


259 


many  short  ovate,  and  others  rounded  ovate.  Tlie  ground  coU)r  in  tlie  more 
recently  collected  specimens  is  a  pale  greenish  white,  which  appears  to  fade 
out  in  time,  leaving  the  ligf:^  a  dull  dingy  white.  Tlie  shell  is  close  grained 
and  strong.  There  is  an  endless  variety  in  the  markings,  both  in  reganl  to 
size  and  amount,  in  different  specimens.  In  some  they  are  fairly  regular  in 
shape  as  well  as  size,  in  others  exactly  the  reverse.  In  some  they  are  well 
defined,  evenly  colored  throughout;  in  otliers  (juite  d-iuded  and  of  different 
tints.  A  few  specimens  are  »treMke(i  and  tl.-e  markings  run  longitudinally  from 
en<l  to  end.  The  spots  and  blotches  cioiisist  of  various  shades  of  brown,  the 
l)redominating  tints  being  burnt  umber  and  claret  brown,  and  among  tiiese 
are  mixed  lighter  shades  of  ochraceous,  clay,  fawn  coh)r,  and  licru-ilrab.  Quite 
a  number  of  specimens  show  also  handsome  sliell  markings  of  a  rich  helio- 
trope purple  and  pale  lavender,  mixed  in  and  partly  overlaid  with  darker 
tints.  In  many  eggs  the  blotches  are  large  and  irregular  in  outline,  and 
usually  heaviest  on  the  large  end,  but  in  no  case  do  they  hide  the  ground 
color.  Others  are  regularly  and  sparingly  marked  over  the  entire  egg,  with 
fine  dots  of  different  .shades  of  ])rown  and  lavender,  giving  the  egg  a  flea-bitten 
:il»[)earance.  While  .some  eggs  are  but  slightly  mai'ked,  n(me  are  entirely 
iiu.spotted.  To  sun  it  up  in  a  few  words,  they  show  a  great  variety  of  styles. 
('ompared  with  the  egg«  of  other  Raptores,  they  j)erhaps  resemble  those  of 
lliitro  linmtus  in  coloration  more  than  any  other  species. 

The  average  measurement  of  sixty-three  specimens  in  the  U.  S.  National 
.'ii  -eum  collection  is  56.5  by  45  millimetres.  The  largest  egg  of  the  series 
I  .A'a:v.i--: "  '^'^  by  47,  the  smallest  51  by  41.5,  and  a  runt  egg  but  42.5  by  3H 
milhii    "'•  «. 

The  lype  specimens  selected  to  show  some  of  the  different  styles  of  mark- 
ings are  No.  88lc  (PI.  8,  Fig.  10),  from  a  set  of  two,  taken  May  23,  1863,  on 
the  Anderson  Ri\<3r,  Arctic  North  America,  by  Mr.  R.  MacFarlane,  of  the 
Hudson  Bay  (Company;  No.  8831  (PI.  8,  Fig.  li),  from  a  set  of  three,  taken 
June  16,  1863,  on  the  same  river  and  by  the  same  collector,  and  No.  223It.'! 
(PI.  8,  Fig.  12),  from  a  set  of  three,  taken  June  10,  1883,  Ijy  Mr.  L.  M.  Turner, 
U.  S.  Signal  Service,  near  Fort  Chimo,  Labrador. 


?3fr»f!tj!B 

m 


88.    Archibuteo  ferrugineus  (Lichtenstein). 

rKRlU(iI\OfS    KOITOH-LEO. 

F'llrn  ferruqinfitifi  Lichtenstein,   Abhaudhmgen  dor  KoeniglioliGii  Akademie  Berlin, 

.li-fliihiiffo  ffrnirjinens  Gray,  Gouei'a  of  Birds,  fol.  od,,  1849,  13. 

(B  ;tv>,  C  ;}57,  R  448,  C  6v'(),  U  348.) 

Oeooraphical  nAN<(E:    Wostoru  Uiiitud  States;   east  to  and  acros.s  the  Great 
I'liiins  (dcca.-iionally  Id  Illinui.s) ;  north  to  Saskatchewan;  south  into  Mexico, 

The  Ferruginous  Rough-leg,   a  large*  and  handsome  species,  is  an  inhab 
itant  of  the  open  prairie  country  of  the  West,  and  breeds  in  suitabl(>  localities 
Irom  eastern  Colorado   and   Wvoniing,   northern    Utah,   central  and   western 


il 


260 


MFB  HlSTOiilES  OF  NOKTU  AMEKICAN  BIRDS. 


A^' 


i     i 


Kansas  and  Nebraska,  northward  throufrh  the  Dakotas  and  oastern  Montana, 
passing  beyond  our  border  tlu'ough  Manitoba  to  the  Saskatdiewan  plains  in 
about  latitude  55°.  It  possibly  broods  very  rarely  in  northwestern  Texas, 
and  has  been  reported  as  nesting  near  Griunell,  Iowa,  but  this  record  is  not 
fully  verified. 

Dr.  Elliott  Coues  records  it  as  common  and  resident  at  Fort  Whipple, 
Arizona,  and  on  the  Pacific  coast  it  has  tVeciuently  been  taken  in  California, 
but  does  not  seem  to  bree  1  there,  and  I  have  personally  obtained  it  in  the 
vicinity  of  Walli  Walla,  Washington,  in  ISH()-18S2,  apparently  migrating 
southward,  and  /  believe  it  nests  occasionally  in  that  vicinity,  as  well  iis 
farther  north.  It  ;s  .seldom  met  with  east  of  the  Mississippi  River,  and  does 
not  seem  to  breed  in  Minnesota,  as  far  as  known  at  present.  In  tlie  north- 
ern portions  of  its  r-.tngo  it  is  a  summer  resident,  wintering  abundantly  in 
western  Tex.is,  and  many  passing  south  into  Mexi;'o. 

This  handsome  Hawk,  easily  recognized  by  its  large  size,  pale  ashy- 
colored  tail,  and  generally  light  colored  underparts,  .strongly  contrasting  witii 
its  rufous  legs,  seems  to  be  osseutially  a  prairie  bird,  and  while  not  particu- 
larly common  anywhere,  is  perhaps  more  so  on  the  extensive  prairies  of  the 
Dakotas  than  anywhere  else  within  our  limits.  In  the  early  days,  when  Cali- 
fornia was  not  as  thickly  settled  as  it  is  now,  the  Ferrugiu()us  Rough-leg,  or  the 
California  Stpiirrel  Hawk,  as  it  was  then  called,  was  not  unconnnon  on  the 
extensive  Tulare  Plains,  as  well  as  in  the  vicinity  of  Los  Angeles,  but  in 
more  rcent  years  it  seemrs  to  have  ))een  l)ut  rarely  noticed  in  tlu^se  regions. 
I  have  observed  it  in  northern  N(!vada,  southern  Oregon,  and  Washington, 
where  it  is  by  no  means  common.  In  tiie  northern  part  of  the  latter  State, 
1  lielieve,  it  is  a  summer  resident,  shunning  the  settled  regions,  and  |»robal)ly 
breeding  on  the  extensive  dry  plain  in  the  griNit  bend  of  the  (Columbia  River, 
and  the  Okinakane  Valley,  north  of  this  stream.  I  iiave  also  met  with  it  in 
southern  Arizona  hi  winter,  and  it  may  })ossibly  breed  there  in  small  numljers. 

Its  flight  is  rather  slow,  l)ut  graceful  nevertheless;  it  seems  to  take  life 
easy  and  to  l)e  but  seldom  in  a  hurry.  Its  food,  like  tiiat  of  the  Rmigh-legged 
Hawk,  consists  principally  of  rodents  of  ilifi'ereut  species  abounding  in  tiie 
prairie  regions  which  it  inhabits. 

My  friend  Capt.  B.  F.  Goss  writes  me  as  follows:  "The  Ferruginous 
Rough-leg  is  not  uncommon  in  the  liigh  l)rokeii  prairie  and  lake  regions  of 
northwestern  North  Dakota.  In  May,  IHHO,  I  took  four  sets  of  their  eggs, 
the  nests  being  all  placed  on  tlie  ground,  on  rocky  hillside.-.,  generalh'  near 
large  bowlders.  They  were  constructed  of  liones,  turf,  and  dry  gra.sscs, 
usually  (piite  bulky  and  ratlier  poorly  finished.  Bleached  buffalo  skeletons 
were  scattered  over  the  coinitry  in  considcralde  numl)ers,  and  the  ribs  of 
the.se  Iiad  princi|)ally  been  used  by  these;  Hawks  for  the  groundwork  of  their 
nests.  While  traveling  over  the  country,  I  had  several  times  seen  circles 
of  these  ribs,  lying  on  the  ground,  all  pointing  toward  the  center  like  the 
spokes  of  a  wheel,  and  I  wondered  at  their  regular  arrangement.     The  find- 


THE  PERRUGINOtrs  UOUGIl-LEG. 


261 


ing  of  these  nests  solved  the  mystery;  the  iiimiiiil  })riiirie  Hrea  had  burned 
tlio  rest  of  the  nest,  and  k'ft  the  hones  as  placed  l)y  tlu;  bird.  Three  of 
the  sets  found  contained  three  ej^^s  each,  the  other  on(*  four.  From  reli- 
iil)le  information  rcu-eived,  1  think  sets  of  four  e<f;j;s  an*  <'ominou  with  this 
species.  Some  of  thcise  nests,  i)esides  beinj^  liued  with  weed  stalks  au<l  dry 
ji'rasse.s,  contained  also  small  ])ieces  of  dry  turf,  wiiich  the  birds  must  have 
pulled  t)r  duj^  up  with  a  j^reat  deal  of  labor,  as  the  sod  was  very  touj^h. 
The  l)urt'alo  ribs  were  used  lu  lieu  of  sticks,  there  l)ein<f  no  tiiid)er  of  any 
coiisetjuenee  in  the  Coteau  Hills,  where  I  found  tlii'Ui  breediu;^,  within  a  dis- 
tance of  1")  mile.s.  The  only  trees  of  any  size  in  that  country  are  found 
aloufj^  the  borders  of  the  larfj;e  streams,  'l^iie  setthM's  call  this  l)ird  th(*  Eagle 
Hawk;  they  were  so  very  wild,  I  could  not  get  withiu  riHe  shot  of  them  in 
the  open,  and  it  was  oidy  l)y  hidini>-  in  a  washout  tiiat  we  were  able  to  {ret 
specimens  for  identification." 

In  eastern  Colorado,  and  in  other  localities  as  well,  the  Feiruginous  Rough- 
lejf  builds  in  trees,  where  such  are  available.  Mr.  F.  JI.  Dille,  of  Greeley, 
(Colorado,  found  one  of  their  nets  on  Lone  C!reek,  and  describes  it  as  follows: 
"When  we  h)cated  our  ranch  on  this  creek,  we  noticed  in  a  cottonwood  tree 
about  100  yards  from  the  tent  an  immense  nest,  and  in  a  few  days  a  larj^e  pair 
of  these  Hawks  tottk  possession,  riiey  did  not  mind  our  presence  at  all,  and, 
with  the  aid  of  a  <^(>(m1  field  '•lass,  I  watched  the  \r,\\r  pretty  closely.  The  nest 
was  lined  with  immense  tufts  of  dry  jrrass,  roots  and  all,  and  an  e<r<r  was  laid  on 
.Monday,  Ajanl  13.  The  male  bird  never  visit(Ml  the  ne.st  after  this,  but  would 
sit  out  upon  the  prairie  catchiuj;'  j^'ophers,  etc.,  which  were  turned  over  to  tlu* 
female.  I  visited  it  ajj^ain  while  they  were  away,  on  Tuesday,  and  foimd 
threi-  or  four  j^opher  heads  and  tails  in  it,  but  no  more  eg}^s.  This  e<^'<^ 
res('Mil)I('(l  a  Fish  Hawk's  ejjf<;'  very  much,  havin<>'  a  li;iht  I)lue  backjiTound  with 
a  rich  rufous  brown  and  chocolate  uiarkin<>-.s,  blotched  all  over,  aud  uu'asured 
2.,"i(>  by  l.!)."»  inches  (crpial  to  (i3.o  by  49.0  millimetres).  Another  e<>'<jf  was 
laid  on  Wednesday  afteruoou,  and  this  was  considerably  li<rhter  and  less 
uiarkcd  than  the  first.  What  blotches  it  had  were  "fathered  around  the  siualler 
end,  and  ran  back  in  lon<^'  lines. 

"Tiiese  birds  did  not  attempt  to  drive  me  off  while  I  was  up  tla*  tree,  and 
1  waited  till  Monday,  the  "Joth,  for  another  eji'g-,  but  thinkinji'  that  the  set  was 

COl 

tile  20th 


iiplete,  and  wishing  to  obtain  fi-esh  eggs,  I  took  the  set  on  the  afternoon  of 


"I  thought  at  first  that  the  bird  was  a  Fish  Hawk,  so  I  shot  the  female  in 
order  to  make  sure.  In  the  bird's  fall  a  large  i'<x'^  al)out  to  l)e  laid  was  l»roken, 
tiie  shell  of  which  was  clear  sky  Idue,  and  tiiere  were  ten  or  twelve  di.stinct 
eggs  of  all  sizes  in  the  Hawk,  three  of  tluMU  ([iiite  large.  The  nest  was  com- 
posed of  drv  liml)s  and  sticks,  soiiu;  as  h'rge  as  broomsticks.  It  was  3  feet  in 
diameter  and  about  2  feet  deep,  situated  alxuit  12  feet  from  the  ground."' 


;l  9;i 


■m\ 


I; 


•  Vuiiiig  (.K'lloKiHt,  ISd'),  pp.  44,  45. 


^ 


262 


LIFE  UISTOKIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


'   'J 


iil< 


v>v 


.^  i 


This  sppcicH  liiiH  iilsfi  licon  f'ouiul  breed iii<^  in  iinrtli(>rii  Utah  by  Mr.  C.  S. 
McCarthy,  wliih?  attaclusd  as  naturalist  to  (Japt.  .1.  II.  Simpson's  c'xplorinjr 
expedition,  and  tlie  parents  as  well  as  tlie-i^j^ffs  are  now  in  the  U.  S.  National 
Museum  collection.  The  nest  was  found  in  I{ush  Valley,  on  May  3,  IH.')!!, 
and  was  ])laced  in  a  cedar  tree  Ih  iW't  from  the  <>Tound  ;  it  contained  four  eg<fs. 

The  tirst  eggs  of  the  Fc^rruginous  Hough-leg  l)rought  to  scientific  notice 
are  a  .set  of  four,  taken  by  Capt.  T.  Hlakiston,  on  April  30,  IHM,  and  one 
of  these  is  figured.  The  nest  was  placed  in  an  aspen  tree  20  feet  from  the 
ground,  and  was  com])osed  of  sticks,  lined  with  buffalo  wool.  It  was  a  large, 
bulky  affair,  measuring  2^  feet  across.  It  wa.s  found  between  the  north  and 
south  l)ranches  of  the  Saskatchewan  Iliver,  Manitol)a.  Another  set  of  eggs, 
taken  in  the  same  locality,  five  in  numi)er,  came  from  a  ne.st  only  10  feet 
from  th'^  ground.  None  of  the  eggs  of  this  set  are  in  the  U.  S.  National 
Mu.seum  collection. 

Probably  but  one  brood  is  raised  in  a  season;  the  eggs,  from  two  to  five 
in  number,  usually  three  or  four,  are  deposited  about  A|)ril  lo  in  the  more 
southern  ])ortions  of  its  range,  and  from  two  to  four  weeks  later  farther  north- 
ward. Nesting  sites  seem  to  be  as  often  selected  on  the  ground  as  in  trees, 
and  if  in  the  latter  they  are  frequently  (juite  near  the  ground.  Incubation, 
as  with  most  of  the  large  Hawks,  probably  lasts  about  four  weeks.  The  eggs 
are  laid  at  intervals  of  two  or  three  days.  ^I'hey  are  large  and  among  the 
handsomest  of  those  of  the  Raptores,  and  in  shape  usually  ovate,  .seldom 
ellij)tical  ovate.  The  shell  is  close  grained  and  comi)act,  dull  creamy  or  pale- 
greeni.sh  white  in  color,  irregularly  Idotched  and  sjxitted  with  various  shades 
of  brown,  and  a  few  pale  lilac  and  lavender  shell  markings.  In  some  spec- 
imens the  darker  markings  predominate,  and  in  others  the  reverse  is  the  case. 
An  occasional  egg  is  almost  unmarked,  and  the  larger  sets  u.sually  contain 
one  or  two  eggs  much  less  marked  than  the  others,  and  sometimes  almo,st 
entirely  un.spotted. 

The  average  measurement  of  fifteen  specimens  in  the  U.  S.  National 
Museum  collection  is  iiS.fy  l)y  49  millimetres.  The  largest  egg  of  the  series 
measures  Gd  by  50.5,  the  smallest  61  by  48  millimetres. 

Of  the  type  specimens,  No.  '2C)C)2  (IM.  fl,  Fig.  2),  selected  from  a  set  of  foiu', 
was  collected  by  (^apt.  T.  Hlakiston,  April  'M),  IS.'iH,  on  the  Sa.skatchewan 
plains,  British  North  America;  the  other  tw(».  eggs,  ))oth  from  the  same  set.  No. 
22717  (I'l.  !t,  Figs.  1  and  4),  were  collected  by  Capt.  H.  F.  Goss  in  the  Coteau 
Hills,  North  Dakota,  May  12,  1S8(),  ami  (ti)tained  in  exchange.  They  show 
the  different  .styhis  of  colorati(jn  often  found  in  eggs  of  the  same  set. 


'A 


THE  GOLDEN  EAGLE, 


263 


89.     Aquila  chrysafitos  (LiWiEirs)  . 

GOLIJKN   EAOLE. 

Fnlro  chrysaefn.i  LlNN/EUS.  Sy.stoma  Niitune,  od.  10,  i,  irriS,  88. 
A(iiiila  ehnjsiii'lu.s  Uu.MoXT,  Dictioiiairo  Si'imiccs  Niiturnllc,  i,  1810,  339. 

(B  :i!t,  C  :iii!,  K  44!t,  C  M-i,  U  :t4!i.) 

OEOdRAPHiCAL  RANGE:  Northern  portions  of  northorn  liemisphere,  chiefly  in 
nioxDitainous  rcf^iiJiiH. 

It  is  ([lu'stionablo  if  at  the  pn^sont  rlay  tlio  Goldon  Ea<ifle  breeds  to  any 
extent  within  the  more  thiekly  stftth^I  portions  of  tlie  United  States  east  of 
the  Mississippi  River.  An  isohited  j)air,  hen*  and  then^,  may  perliaps  still 
l)e  fonnd  in  tht*  wildest  nionntain  re;;"ons  of  the  New  En<;land  States,  the 
Adirondacks  of  northern  New  York,  the  nioinitains  of  the  two  Virginias,  Ken- 
tneky,  Tennessee,  northern  (j(M>r<^ia,  and  Nortli  Carolina.  In  tlu^  last  nien- 
ti<»ned  State  they  are  to-day  far  more  likely  to  he  fonnd  than  in  the  i)ther 
localities.  It  jn'obaldy  oceurs  in  Minnesota.  In  the  We.st  this  bird,  while 
nowhere  especially  common,  sectnis  nevertheless  to  be  pretty  {generally  <li,s- 
triinited  from  northwestern  Texas,  through  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  and  Cali- 
fornia, northward  to  the  Arctic  (^cean.  In  the  interior  Rocky  Mountain 
regitni  it  is  fairly  connnon;  while  in  portions  of  California  it  may  be  calleil 
connnon,  and  it  is  likewise  so  in  Ala.ska  and  the  adjacent  islands.  In  the 
eastern  part  of  its  ran<>e,  as  well  as  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  neif^h- 
borin}>-  ranj^'es  on  either  side,  the  (Jolden  Kajile  resohs  almost  exidusively 
t(»  tlu*  most  ina(H'essil)le  clitfs  tor  the  purpose  o'.'  nidilication.  in  tlu;  extensive 
prairie  rejiions  of  the  West,  where  there  are  no  such  localities  to  be  found, 
steep  perpendicular  l)lut^'s  on  the  banks  of  streams,  and  occasionally  trees, 
are  utilized.  This  ai)pears  also  to  Ix^  the  case  in  the  fur  countries  in  British 
North  America,  where  Mr.  R.  MacFarlane  took  a  nundjer  of  their  nests  in 
such  situations.  On  the  Pacific-  coast,  especially  in  California  and  Oregon, 
trees  seem  to  be  the  favorite  sites;  usually  largi^  pines  or  oaks  are  pre- 
ferred to  high  clitfs,  which  in  many  instances  are  available,  in  close  proximity 
to  the  trees.  This  applies. more  particularly  to  the  Hlue  Mountain  n^gion  of 
Oregon,  Wa.shington,  and  Idaho,  where  I  have  personally  observed  such  to 
|je  the  fact. 

Notwithstanding  the  many  sensational  stories  of  the  fierceness  and 
prowess  of  tlu!  (Jolden  Kagle,  especially  in  the  (h'fen.se  of  its  eyrie,  fnmi  my 
own  observations  I  nnist  cqnhfss  that  if  not  an  arrant  coward,  it  certainly 
is<the  most  inditt'erent  bird,  in  respect  to  the  care  of  its  eggs  and  young,  I 
have  ever  se<'n.  This  may  possibly  be  due  more  to  utter  parental  indiffer- 
eiuie  than  to  actual  cowardices,  as  three  of  these  birds,  an  adult  mahs  caught 
in  ii  trap,  and  a  pair  of  young,  male  and  femah;,  taken  from  the  nest  when 
about  three  weeks  old  and  raised  by  me,  did  not  setMii  to  Ik-  deficient  in 
Hpirit,  by  any  means,  and  were  always  ready  to  attack  anything  and  every- 
thing, on  the  slightest  provocation. 


■'m 


-■'  \i 


\''' 


is.':- 


264  L1F1<:  IIISTOUIKS  of  north  AMURKl.VN  BIRDS. 

'II10  (ioMeii  or  "Mdiiiitain"  Ka^^lc,  as  it  is  fn'(|iu'iitly  calU'd  in  tlio  West, 
is  a  cloaii,  triiii-Iookirj^-,  liaiulsomc  l)inl,  kcciisifjlitcd.  ratlicr  shy  ami  -.vary  at 
all  tiiiu's,  ovoii  in  thinly  Hottlud  parts  itf  tlio  conntiy,  swil't  of  Hi<^ht,  stronj^  antl 
powiM'fiil  in  Ixxly,  and  ninrc  than  a  niatcli  fur  any  animal  of  similar  size.  In 
tlu(  West,  wlicru  food  is  still  plenty,  their  i)ill  of  fare  is  cpiite  varicMl.  This,  I 
am  informed,  inclnd(\s  oecasionally  yonn}>'  fawns  of  antelope  and  deer,  but 
more  frecpiently  small  mammals  of  different  kinds,  as  the  ycdlow-hellied 
mariniit,  prairie  dof;s,  hares,  wood  rats,  s(inirrels,  and  smaller  rodents,  water- 
fowl, from  Wild  (Jeese  to  the  smaller  Ducks  and  WatU'rs,  (Jronse,  and  Saj^e 
Fowl.  On  the  extensive  sheep  ran<jfes  in  the  West,  they  ans  said  to  he  occa- 
sionally (piite  destructive  to  youn^i'  land»s. 

(!apt.  I'latt  M.  'riiorne.  Twenty-second  Infantry,  IJ.  S.  Army,  writes  nie: 
"On  l)ecend>er  1(1,  I  saw  a  Golden  Ea<fle  l)r(»u<;ht  in  by  an  Indian  who  had 
shot  it  about  20  miles  south  of  Fort  Keoj^h,  .Montana.  lie  tohl  nie,  'I  had 
badly  crippled  a  black-tailed  deer  just  before  dark,  and  as  soon  as  it  was 
li<>ht  the  ne.xt  niorninfi'  I  started  to  look  for  it.  I  saw  this  bird  hoverin<>'  pretty 
hi<jh  nj),  and  all  at  once  drop  down  like  a  stone,  and  I  heard  the  deer  bleat. 
I  was  not  far  off  and  saw  that  it  had  struck  its  talons  in  the  deer's  flanks, 
and  seemed  to  force  it  to  the  {ground.  As  .soon  as  the  deer  was  down  it 
chan^i'ed  its  hold  to  the  throat.  .Iudjiin<jr  by  its  motions  it  was  chokinj;-  and 
teariu}'-  it.  When  I  <;ot  close  uj),  tlu'  deer  was  dead,  and  the  bird  stood  on 
the  {ground  with  head  stretched  out,  wini^s  extended,  the  tips  touchinj^'  the 
"ground.  It  seemed  ready  to  sprinj>'  if  the  deer  moved.  It  appeared  to  have 
little  fear  of  me  and  r.cted  as  if  it  meant  to  fijiht.'  ( )f  coiu'se  I  cannot  vouch 
for  this  story,  i)ut  I  ^cnow  the  Indian  well  and  have  no  reason  to  doubt  it." 

Birds  are  usually  well  plucked,  but  the  smaller  mannnals  are  eaten  hair 
and  all.  They  are  exceedinj^ly  cleanl}'  at  all  times,  and  bathe  fre(piently; 
mine  took  their  bath  daily,  as  soon  as  fresh  water  was  <^iven  them,  but  while 
apparently  fond  of  this  for  batliinji'  j)nrposes,  I  have  seldom  seen  them  drink. 

One  .March  morninjj^  in  the  s])rin<f  of  \H~iH,  I  was  huntinjr  on  a  small  phi- 
teau  in  tlit^  Rattlesnake  Canon,  near  (Jamp  Harney,  Orej^on,  over  which  a 
nnndu  r  of  larii,e  bowlders  were  scattered  (that  had  tumbled  down  from  a  hi}ih, 
l)a.saltic  clirt"  abov(i),  and  in  passinjf  around  one  of -the  larjjfer  one.s,  I  .suddenly 
came  face  to  face  with  one  of  these  l)irds  feastin<>'  on  a  lar^^e  yellow-bellied 
marmot  (Arctoiui/s  flarircntcr),  which  it  had  just  cau})ht.  We  were  within  i5 
feet  of  each  other  before  either  of  us  was  aware  of  it,  and  it  would  be  hard 
to  tell  which  was  the  most  surprised.  As  the  bird  was  one  of  a  pair  that  fur- 
nished me  reffularly  with  a  handsome  set  of  ej^H's*  each  year  I  did  not  further 
disturl)  it.  It  made  no  hostile  demonstrations,  notwithstandin<>'  I  had  spoiled 
its  breakfast,  which  it  left  behind,  and  was  .soon  out  of  si^-ht,  nnich  to  the 
delisrht  of  several  .Ma-ipies  which  had  been  watchin"-  from  a  safe  distance  for 


a  chance   to   jjick  up   such    stray    morsels  as 


lie 


Ka"-1 


e  nnjiht  leave 


ehind. 


.\s  these  birds  are  usually  only  seen  in  jjairs  at  all  times  of  the  year,  1  am 
inclined  to  believe  that  they  remain   mateil  for  life,   notwithstandinjj^  the  fact 


Till'}  (JOLDKN  EAGLK. 


265 


ion  wliicli   I   know  of  were  about 


tliiit  tlif  I'tJfjfs  (liffi'i*  very  j^jroiitly  in   iiiarkinj;s  tVom   year  to   year,   altliouirh 
coming''  from  tlic  same  lU'st  ami  cviflt'iitly  from  the  same  \y,uv  of  l»irtls. 

Ill  Houtln'ru  Ori'ffon  I'acli  pair  of  Ka<>I«'s  seem  to  contiiie  tlicmsclvi's  to 
a  certain  district,  over  wliicli  they  limit,  ami  no  otiiers  are  allowed  to  encroacli 
on  their  ground.  All  the  nests  in  that 
2(1  miles  ajiart. 

Nidification  liegiiis  early.  In  southern  Arizona  Mr.  W.  K.  1).  Scott  saw 
them  carryin«f  nesting  material  on  December  10,  1S84,  and  they  proiiuldy  lay 
ill  Jammry  or  Feliruary.  in  ('alifornia  full  .sets  of  eggs  are  usually  found 
between  the  lotli  and  20th  of  March  and  occasionally  in  the  la.st  week  of  Feb- 
ruary. In  southern  Oregon  they  lay  between  April  1  and  April  10;  in(!olorado 
about  the  middle  of  March  ;  in  the  far  North,  in  tht^  Arctic  regions,  from  about 

but 


iml  in 


tl 


10 


the  1st  of  May  to  tlu;  l»(^gimiing  of  June,  Mr.  1».  MacFarlaiu'  taking  eggs 
slightly  incubated  on  June  23,  1H(!2,  near  Franklin  May,  British  X<irth  America, 
within  the   Arctic  circle.     There  they  are  summer  visitors  onl 
United  States  constant  residents  wherever  found. 

The  nest  of  the  Golden  Eagle  is  a  large  striictiu'e;  one  near  (."amp 
Harney,  Oregon,  situated  in  a  large  pine  tree  close  to  the  trunk  and  about  nO 
feet  from  the  ground,  was  3^  feet  high  \)y  3,  feet  wide.     It  consisted  of  large 


sticks,  some   of  these  over 
with  bits  of  juniper  bark 


mcnes 


111  ( 


line  needles,  aiu 


111 


liameter,  and  it  was  sparingly  lined 
(1  "rtH'ii  iir  tons,  evideiith'  broken 


off  by  the  birds.     This  nest  when  first  found,  on  May  IS,  lS7r»,  coutaiiied  two 
young,   probably  two  weeks  old.     These  I  took  three  weeks  afterwards  and 


kejit    tl 


lem  over  two  years.      'Piie    toj)  of  the  nest  was  nearly  Hat,  and  con- 


tained, l)esi<les  the  birds,  a  me<lium-sized  marmot  (^Antonii/s  Jlarirodcr),  jiartly 
eaten.  The  parents  made  no  resistance!  when  the  young  were  taken,  although 
the  latter  jn-otested  consideraiily  while  being  put  in  a  gunny  bag.  The  male 
Hew  at  once  out   of   sight   and  the   female  circled  around   at  a  great  height, 


Tl 


le   vounji 


uttering  shrill  cries  resembling  tlu^  syllables  "kiah-kiali-kiah 
Fagles  were  very  chianly,  ftul  readily  on  fresh  meat  and  such  birds  and  small 
maiumals  as  I  could  obtain  for  them,  and  they  at  rirst  u.sed  water  freely.  They 
grew  tiiiely,  and  the  dirterence  in  size  iietweeii  these  two  birds,  in  their  second 
year,  and  an  old  male  caught  about  that  time  was  astonishing;  the  latter  looked 
dwarfed  alongside  of  them,  due  possibly  to  their  always  having  an  abunilance 
of  food  and  jtleiity  of  clean  water,  as  well  as  i'  roiimy  stalile  to  exercise  in. 

Mr.  Denis  dale  writes  me:  "Here  in  Oolorado,  in  the  numerous  ghules 
rumiing  from  the  valleys  into  the  foothills,  high  inaccessible  ledges  are  (jiiite 
fi'e(|iiently  met  with  which  afford  tlu^  Ivigles  secure  sites  for  their  enormous 
nests.  I  know  of  oiu^  nest  that  must  contain  two  wagon  loasls  of  material. 
It  is  over  7  feet  high  and  quite  (!  feet  widt!  on  its  u|)per  surface.  In  most 
cases  the  cliff  above  overhangs  tlu^  site.  At  the  end  of  Fidiruary  or  the 
beginning  of  March,  the  iieeiled  ntpairs  to  the  nest  ant  atteiidtMl  to,  and  the 
univ<  rt  al  branch  of  evergreen  is  laid  iipini  the  nest,  seeniingiy  for  any  jnirpose 
save  that  of  utility.     This  feature  has  been    present   in    all  tlie  nests  I   have 


::i|. 


FB 


266 


LIFK  I1I8TOUIE8  OK  NOKTIl  AMKUICAN  BII{I)«. 


55 ,;  <; 


examined  myself  or  have  had  examined  liy  iitiiers;  it  would  seem  to  bo 
employed   as   a   hadj^e  of  oeeupaney. 

"I  am  familiar  with  a  ease  in  which  tlie  female  was  shot  in  \\w  early 
part  of  the  winter.  Wlatn  the  nestinj>'  time  came  around  the  male  was  coii- 
staiitly  aiiout  tiie  ntvst  for  days,  screaminif  in  tiie  most  frantic  manner;  when 
tin;  time  arrived  for  the  ej^'^^s  to  he  there,  as  was  the  case  tin;  previous 
season,  with  the  assistance  of  a  rope  let  down  from  aliove,  1  clindied  to  the 
site  to  find  nothiujf  new  about  tlu'  nest  but  a  small  fresh  branch  of  ever- 
green.    I  afterwards  learned  that  the  female  had  lieen  shot. 

"My  experience  has  iieen  that  the  birds  are  in  no  way  ajrj^ressive  or  <'ven 
demonstrative  while  beiiiff  roi»bed  of  their  egf's;  cinding  round  at  a  j^reat 
height,  from  which  they  watch  the  proceedings  with  seeming  imlifVereuce." 

In  an  interesting  articde  on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  (Jolden  Kagle  in 
Zoe  (Vol.  1,  April,  1S!K),  No.  2,  p|).  4-_»-44),  iMr.  11.  \l  Taylor  makes  the  follow- 
ing statements:  "The  sitting  binl  is  said  to  leave  the  «'ggs  uncovered  for 
.several  hours  after  12  m.  on  suimy  days,  while  it  takes  recreation  in  tlying 
with  its  mate.  *  »  *  After  several  years'  study  of  these  Kagles  the  writer 
feels  that  he  has  formed  the  acquaintance  of  a  number  of  individuals  of  this 
species,  and  this  purely  from  tliu  regularity  of  tlu'ir  habits.  Tlu;  first  Kagle 
J  ever  saw  in  Santa  (Mara  County  was  moving  about  the  gra.ssy  top  of  a 
big  hill,  and  on  nearly  every  (Liy  thereafter  I  observeil  him  at  his  favorite 
jilaygroiuid.  (Jn  my  visit  the  year  following  he  was  still  doing  "lookout" 
duty  at  his  idd  post.  The  nest  of  tiiis  Kagle  had  a  curious  ornament  to  tlu? 
interior  in  the  shape  of  a  large  'soap  root.'  Tiie  new  nest,  l)uilt  the  year 
after,  also  eontaineil  a  soa})  root  (pndiably  ('hinroffdhiiii  jioiiicridi^),  which  fact 
is  of  interest  as  .showing  the  individuality  of  my  feathered  friend.  Another 
Iviji-le  1  know  has  a  sinyrular  ))redilection  when  nest-buildin<>'  for  yraiu 
sacks,  which  it  uses  chiefly  in  the  lining.  When  I  first  discovered  this  Kagle's 
nest  there  was  (me  of  these  large  saiiks  inside.  The  heavy  storms  of  the 
next  winter  dislodged  its  nest  and  in  the  new  one  l)uilt  I  was  surprised  and 
interested  to  ol)serve  a  grain  sac^k.     *     »     * 

"A  curious  circumstance  about  tiie  Kagles  that  make  their  home  near 
Sargents  is  that  several  pairs  always  seen  there  apparently  do  not  nest.  '^Flie 
natiu'e  of  the  country  in  some  of  the  hills  is  such  that  one  accustomed  to 
riding  about  might  actually  know  (;very  tree  where  the  l)irds  could  build, 
so  that  an  undiscovered  nest  would  l)e  an  impossibility.  ^ly  friend  .showed 
me  a  pair  of  Kagles  that  had  lived  in  the  hills  just  l)ack  of  his  house  for 
many  years,  lie  also  pointed  out  to  nu;  tlieir  nest,  wliicli  tlie  Kagles 
repaired  last  ye;u'  but  did  not  use.  He  says  they  liave  not  laid  since  18S4, 
when  they  had  three  eggs.  This  pair  stay  about  the  ])lace  all  the  year, 
living  largely  (like  the  other  Kagles  thereabouts)  on  ground  scpiirrels.  They 
are  accustomed  to  roost  in  one;  particular  tret*.  1  heard  them  uttering  their 
peculiarly    plahitive   whistle   in  tht;   mornings  several   times  during   my   stay. 


TUE  GOLDEN  EAGLE. 


2G7 


Their  nest  was  not  inucli  over  300  yards  from  the  house  and  was  a  lar;;!' 
structure  huilt  on  a  horizontal  liinl>  al)out  40  feet  from  the  <^round." 

Mr.  \V.  Steiuheclt,  of  iloilister,  ('ahfornia,  wrot(^  me  in  April,  18H.'),  as 
follows:  "All  the  (Jolden  Ka<;lcs'  nests  1  found  ahout  hen^  have  always  i)een 
plaeed  in  trees,  and  there  were  plenty  of  elilfs  within  K*  miles  of  these  nests. 
1  liav(*  taken  eif^ht  st^ts  of  ej;n's,  found  two  nests  with  yoinif;,  and  also  cxam- 
iucd  nine  old  nests,  which  I  am  certain  l)('lon<.(e(i  to  this  species.  With  one 
exception  1  found  all  these  ne.sts  on  hillsides,  and  one  of  them  within  2U0 
\iirds  of  a  lur<^e  cliti';  there  were,  howevi-r,  a  nund)er  of  nests  .some  distance 
l)ack  in  the  mountains  amon<^  the  rocks  which  1  have  not  heen  able  to  take, 
'riie  nests,  with  the  sin^^le  exception  of  one  which  was  placed  in  the  liottom 
of  a  small  ravine,  usually  eonunanded  a  j^-ood  view  of  the  entire  valley  before 
them,  and  they  were  {generally  placed  in  oak  trees  from  20  to  M  feet  from 
the  {rrcmnd.  Some  of  the  nests  were  quite  larj^c,  measuriuf,''  'tfi  feet  in  diam- 
et(;r,  and  all  were  nearly  flat  on  top,  with  just  enouj;h  de|)ression  to  l)riiif>-  the 
tup  of  the  e<^}^  on  a  lev(d  with  tlu*  sides.  Sonm  were  lined  with  {.^rass  and 
straw,  others  with  the  hair-like  to\)s  of  the  Spanish  soaj)  root,  one  was  finished 
otf  with  Spanish  moss,  and  in  another  I  found  (juite  a  nundjer  of  feathers, 
evidently  from  the  breast  of  the  |(arent. 

"Those  Ka<^l(fs  nest  where  they  can  most  easily  procure  food.  Each  pair 
has  its  ranife,  and  will  ilrive  any  outsider  away  from  it.  These  ran<;es  are  usu- 
ally from  2  to  (J  miles  wide,  and  the  birds  become  .so  attached  to  them  that  it 
seems  impossible  to  drive  them  away.  In  one  ease,  where  I  took  three  sots  of 
t'uus  in  successive  years  and  killed  the  female,  th(^  mah^  procured  another  mate 
and  <K!cui)ie(l  the  same  nest  a;4'ain  next  season.  In  no  case  was  I  mohisted  by 
one  of  these  birds  when  takiuji'  their  e<,^;;'.s.  Sonu^times  I  sat  for  hours  in  the 
nest  waitiu}''  foi-  one  of  the  birds  to  come  within  ;.;'unshot,  l)ut  with  only  one  or 
two  exceptions  the  birds  left  tlit^  vicinity,  and  I  did  not  even  obtain  a  second 
s\ir\\t  of  them.  Cireiierally  on  approachinj;  a  nest  the  male  will  fly  over,  as  if  he 
iiad  been  watching,  and  come  within  iiOO  or  400  yards  of  it,  he  will  then 
sail  slowly  out  of  sij^'ht.  When  about  half  a  mile  from  the  nest  the  female 
will  also  leave,  come  a  little  closer  to  the  intruder  than  her  mate,  and  then 
disa})pear. 

"On  two  occasions  [  have  flushcMl  the  bird  from  the  ne.st  and  in  both 
cases  found  the  e<'f4s  well  incubated.  Tlie  last  ne.st  I  took  was  from  a  bird 
which  did  not  leave  the  lU'st  until  I  almost  put  my  hand  on  it.  I  think  she 
was  in  the  act  of  hiyin<^,  at  least  the  e<;;f  had  that  aj)pearance.  A  nest  found 
on  March  1,  1HH.">,  contained  a  singhf  ej^;^',  and  on  a  second  visit,  March  4,  I 
foilud  the  set  complete.  Of  courise  the  (ir.st  ej^<j^  may  havt^  been  laid  a  day 
or  two  before  I  foiuid  it.  Hoth  wc^re  perfectly  fresh.  I  am  satisfied  that  iiu'U- 
iiation  (hies  not  i)e<>in  till  the  set  is  complete,  and  I  know  that  both  youn;? 
leavt?  the  nest  at  the  same  time,  and  all  tlu*  ej^j^s  taken  by  mci  which  had 
been  sat  on  were  both  in  the  same  staye  of  incubation. 


r 


m 


I 


II 


2(i8 


LIFK  I1IHTOUIK8  OF  NOIM'll  A.MKUlCAN  lUKDS. 


"  Ilpre  th»\v  t<'<'<l  princiiiiilly  on  jrrouiul  s(|uirr('lH  and  r!il)l)its,  iintl  occn- 
sionally  on  carrion.  In  tlic  winter  wlicn  otiicr  NiinH^  is  scarce  they  hunt 
Wild  Geese  anil  Ducks,  making;  u  kind  of  'swoop'  wlwn  in  chase,  and  should 
their  first  attempt  he  unsuccessful,  they  will  ris(^  in  the  air  ami  make  a  second 
trial.  My  nests  have  all  lieen  foun<l  in  the  southern  exti'emity  of  the  Santa 
(!lara  Valley,  and  were  within  2,  4,  and  (I  miles  of  each  other.  Thero  are 
u  iminher  of  othor  noHts  of  this  species  in  the  niouiitains  ne.ir  hy,  which  I 
hav(f  not  i)een  ahle  to  find,  and  in  one  locality  there  I  have  tVecpiently 
seen  as  many  as  si.x  of  these  Kaj^les  sailin;.;'  aiiout;  possilily  this  may  ho  ii 
hit  of  neutral   jjround,    hut  their  ne.sts  cannot  he   far  away. 

"I  have  a  set  of  (Jolden  Kaiiles'  ej^'^js  taken  March  17,  IHHf),  wliicli  are, 
with  the  exccjition  of  a  few  dirt  stains,  pure  white.  They  are  uncpu'stioiiahly 
identilied.  The  previous  year  I  olitainiMl  a  very  ilark  colored  and  well  marked 
s((t  of  ejfffs  from  the  same  lusst  and  api)arently  the  same  hird.  The  O'^ith 
vary  f^reatly  in  marking's.  I  have  out*  e;fji'  that  is  as  thickly  covered  with 
liffht  brown  spots  as  that  of  a  Marsh  Wren  {('istdflmntu  p'tliistris).  Scarcely 
two  sets  are  marked  alike." 

On  July  12,  IHilO,  Mr.  Steinbeck  wrote  me  as  follows:  "A  very  inter- 
esting fact  which  I  noticed  this  season  for  the  first  time  is  that  a  few  days 
liefore  nidification  commences  these  i)ir(ls  will  sit  perched  (dosely  together  on 
a  limb  of  some  tree  near  the  nest.'  Of  sixteen  nests  taken  l)y  me,  twelve  were 
found  on  hillsides  conmianding  an  extensive  view.  Two  were  placed  on  the 
sides  of  gulches  at  the  bottom  of  deep  raviiu's,  and  two  out  on  the  plains; 
fifteen  of  the.se  nests  were  in  live  oaks  and  one  in  a  white  oak.  These  nests 
were  of  all  sizes,  some  being  not  nmcli  larger  than  those  of  the  Western  Hed- 
tailed  Hawk  (^Ihitvo  hori'tilis  riili(nt.s),  others  measured  AJ  feet  in  diameter,  and 
were  large  enough  to  fill  a  wagon. 

"I  believe  that  in  e.xcessively  wet  seasons  like  the  ])ast  one  (1890), 
the  majority  of  these  bii'ds  do  not  nest.  When  (listurl)c(l  in  their  nesting  they 
will  likewise  occasionally  refrain  from  laying  that  season,  although  they 
remain  in  the  same  neighborhood  throughout  the  year.  They  are  a  very 
suspicious  bird,  and  it  takes  very  little  to  disturb  them." 

Mv  friend  Dr.  , lames  t!.  Merrill,  II.  S.  Arm  v.  writes  nu- :  "A  nest  found 
May  22,  1HH3,  was  placed  on  a  ledge  of  rocks  on  Indian  Creek,  a  small  trib- 
utary of  Pryor's  Creek,  near  its  junction  with  the  Yellow.stone  River,  about 
;{.'5  miles  from  Fort  Custer,  ^lontana.  It  was  located  about  lA  feet  from 
the  toj)  and  25  feet  from  the  bottom  of  the  ledge,  and  had  apparently  been 
occupied  for  several  j'ears.  It  was  a  large  jjlatfonn  of  braiu-hes  and  twigs, 
a  felted  mass  of  cattle's  hair  forming  the  lining.  The  day  before  my  visit  it 
contained  two  eggs,  but  these  had  just  hat* 'led  when  I  was  there.  A  dead 
Sharp-tailed  Grouse  was  lying  in  tlu^  \wst.  In  the  liig  Horn  Moimtains, 
Montana,  a  pair  of  these  Eagles  were  seen  repairing  their  nest  April  10, 
iHHa." 

>  This  iH  tt  peculiarity  with  many  KaptureH,  uiid  liax  lioeii  noticed  by  luyHelf. 


THE  (JOIiDKN  KAdLi:. 


26S> 


Quito  II  nuinhor  of  i'lm^  liavo  lu'cii  tiikcn  in  Oiilituriiia  diiriiii,''  tlio  last 
tell  years,  and  tliii  nests  were  nearly  all  placed  in  trees.  Dr.  Arthur  lieiuoyne, 
in  his  "Notes  on  .Some  IMrds  of  tlio  (Sreat  Smoky  Mountains  of  North  ( Caro- 
lina," puidishod  in  the  Ornitholoj^ist  and  Oi'llo^rist  (V(d.  xi,  188(5,  p.  148), 
mentions  takin;,'  a  set  of  tlufsu  ei,';fs  in  the  same  year  on  liald  Mountain,  North 
Carolina,  the  only  reeent  eastern  record  I  have  seen. 

iJut  one  brood  is  raised  in  a  scuisou,  and  if  the  first  set  of  efiffjfs  is  taken 
till)  birds  will  not  lay  a  socond  one  that  yi'sn'-  Mi"-  Steiniieck,  however, 
lielieves  that  the  same  pair  of  birds  from  which  he  tt»ok  a  set  of  ei^^s  on 
Keliruary  2il,  ISSo,  rupaireil  another  old  nost  in  thv  vicinity,  and  this  con- 
tained a  siiifflo  tigg  on  March  28,  when  it  also  wa^  taken.  The  jiair  of  birds 
from  which  I  obtained  several  sets  of  e^j^s  while  stationed  at  ()aiii|t  llaruey, 
()rei;oii,  u.sed  two  nests  al)out  a  mile  and  a  half  apart  in  the  same  (lailon, 
hut  on  opposite  sides.  Tim  year  after  I  took  the  yoiiu^f  they  used  the  second 
iiOHt,  and  tho  followin<f  sprin;,'  retunuMl  to  the  lirst  one  a^jaiii.  At  no  time, 
how(n'er,  was  a  s(!c,ond  set  of  ef^fjf'*  '"''I  t'"'  same  st^asou,  altlioujfli  tho  birds 
remained  in  the  vicinity  the  «'iitire  year. 

Th(!  (roldeii  Eaj^le  fjconerally  lays  two  e',''ffs,  rarely  three,  and  I  liulievtf 
these  proihic(!  birds  of  ditfereiit  sexe.s.  The  II.  8.  National  Museum  collection 
contains  a  set  of  three  (^;^<;'s  of  this  species  taktMi  i»y  .Mr.  Janu-s  McDoiij^-all, 
of  the  Hudson  Hay  Comjiauy,  near  Fort  Yukon,  Alaska,  in  tho  .spriii<r  of 
18(!8,  and  Mr.  William  Steinbeck  informs  me  that  he  also  took  a  .set  of  three 
on  March  21,  ISill.  'I'hese  last  <'jj:^;s  had  been  inciibati'd  for  probably  three 
or  four  days  and  were  all  fertile.  One  of  the  e^^-^^s  is  almost  invariaiily  a 
ti'itl(^  larger  than  the  other.  Several  days,  sonietinu^s  a  week  passes  betwoon 
tlu'  layin<,r  of  the  e<?^s.  Incul)ation  lasts  aiiout  foiu'  weeks,  and  from  per- 
sonal observation  1  bidit^vi!  the  mdi-  does  not  take  part  in  this  to  any  {^reat 
extent,  but  supplies  his  mat(^  with  food  while  she  is  so  enj^aj^cd.  The  youiij^ 
when  (irst  hati^lmd  are  covered  with  white  down  and  ^^row  vtsry  rapidly,  init 
it  takes  fully  two  months  or  mor»(  before  they  are  aide  to  tly  and  l(;ave  tho 
nest.  They  remain  in  company  with  the  parents  but  a  short  time,  and  an! 
ca.st  otF  as  soon  as  they  are  able  to  take  care  of  them.selves.  The  usual 
call  note  is  a  shrill  "kec,-ker',-kee,"  uttered  in  a  hi^^'Ii  tone;  it  is  often 
heard  in  tho  early  s|)riujf  Ix'fore  niditicatioii  commenc(;s.  Another  note,  not 
■SO  freipieutly  used — oim  of  alarm — is  "kiah-kiah,"  repeated  a  iiumlier  of  times. 

The  e;>'<.fs  vary  from  an  ovati^  ti)  a  short  ovate.  Their  shell  is  c(»ai's(',  thick, 
and  rouj^lily  f>'raiuilateil.  The  jri'innid  color  is  a  dirty  white,  in  some  speci- 
mens ai)proacliinj^  a  pale  cream  c-olor.  The  markinj;s  of  these  eji'^s  vary 
j>i'eatly,  one  .set  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum  cdllectiou  bein<r  almost  pure 
white,  without  a  spot  of  any  kind  on  them, -exceiitinjif  a  few  .stain.s.  Others 
are  thickly  blotcluMl  and  spotted  with  various  slia(h's  of  l)rown,  claret,  wr.lnut 
and  ferruginous  bro>.n  predominating.  Some  are  principally  marked  with  fin<! 
spots  and  blotelms  of  dral)  e.(dor  and  viiiaceous  rufous.  Fn  a  few  siteciiueus 
poarl  gray  aud  lavender  shell  markings,  sparingly  overlaid  with  darker  tints, 


11 


'^t^ 


11 


:i  < 


if- 


270 


LIFE  HI8TORIKS  OF  NORTH  AMKUICAN  BIRDS. 


predominate,  hut  in  tiie  inajority  of  rtpnciiueus  those  lifjliter  tints  are  entirely 
jibsent.  Kxcept  tlin  uns|)i>ttuil  O'^gn,  no  two  ani  exactly  alike.  An  egg  kiivlly 
st'Ut  ))y  Mr.  William  Steinl>efk  tor  examination  is  heavily  and  unit'orndy 
blotched  with  fawn  color,  iiidinfj  the  ground  color  almost  completely.  At  the 
larger  end  this  color  is  confluent  and  obscures  it  entirely.  It  is  the  heaviest 
markeil  egg  of  this  species  I  have  ever  seen,  and  is  figured.  In  the  ma- 
jority of  specimens  tiie  iuarking.«i  are  heaviest  aliout  tlu^  Inrger  end;  iu  a  few 
the  rever.se  is  the  case,  and  in  otiiers  the  niiirkings,  generally  small  in  size, 
are  regularly  distril)uted  over  the  entire  surfaces  Tiieni  is  considerable  dif- 
ference in  .size.  The  twenty  si)ecimens  in  the  II.  S.  National  Museum  col- 
lection— mostly  from  .Vrctic  regions,  excepting  a  few  collected  by  myself  in 
Oregon — average  74.')  by  o!)  millimetres.  The  largest  of  these  eggs  from 
Fort  Yukon,  .\laska,  measure-  HI  by  64,  the  smallest  71..")  Ijy  04  millimetres. 
This  was  taken  at  Anderson  River  Fort,  Aictic  America. 

Tiie  measunMueuts  of  twenty-eight  specimens,  all  taken  by  Mr.  Steinbeck, 
near  Ilollister,  Oalifornia,  give  an  average  of  7")  by  .')S  millimetres.  The  largest 
ofthe.se  eggs  measures  7(j  by  03.."),  the  smallest  71..")  by  5(5  millimetres.  These 
figures  are  based  on  Mr.  Steinbeck's  measurements. 

Of  the  type  specimens.  No.  •iOliill)  (1*1.  !l,  F\g. .')),  selected  from  a  set  of  two 
tggs  from  the  Hendire  collection,  was  taken  l)y  the  writer  in  Rattlesnake  Creek 
( !anon,  near  Camp  Harney,  Oregon,  April  !),  1S77.  It  is  one  of  the  finer  and 
more  uniformly  marked  specimens  in  the  (Collection.  The  heavily  marked 
specimen  (I'l.  II,  Fig.  ,'{)  was  taken  by  .Mr.  William  Steinl)eck  on  February  28, 
1886,  near  Ilollister,  California,  and  kindly  loaned  for  figuring. 

go.    ThrasaCtus  harpyia  (LiNNiEus). 

IIAKI'Y    EAGI.E. 

I'allnr  hnrpnia  Lin\/KITs.  Systi'iiiii.  Xaturae,  oil.  lo,  i,  17.5s,  Sf!. 
7'/t;v(.v((('yi(.s  liariii/in  (Ik,\y.  I'l-orcijiliiigs  ZucilDirical  Soi'icty,  ls;J7,  108. 

(li— ,  C  —,  K  4,5(1  Cii:JI,  U  ;{oo.) 

(Ikoorapuk'AI.  kanok  :  Tro[)ii'ivl  America  in  ;ii'iu'i-al.  sdutli  In  Bolivia  and  Para- 
;;uay,  nortli  to  Mexico,  and  rarely  to  llio  luouth  ol'  tlu'  Rio  (Jrauilo  (anil  in 
Louisiana  ?). 

The  Harpy  Fiighi  if  not  t\w,  largest  is  certainly  the  most  powerfid  of  all 
the  l)irds  of  prey  found  on  th(!  North  American  continent,  and  can  only  be  con- 
sidered as  a  straggler,  iiiiving  bei^n  noticed  in  the  iiower  Rio  (irande  Valley  in 
Texas.  No  s|)e('imens  hnvi^  as  yet  been  taken  witiiin  oui'  borders.  It  bi'ceds 
in  southern  .Mexico  and  thence  .southward  as  far  as  i{olivia  and  southern 
Brazil. 

In  an  interesting  article  in  the  American  Naturnlist  (Vol.  xii,  1S78,  pp. 
14(j-ir)7),  Dr.  Felix  L.  Oswald  gives  the  following  account  of  the  nesting 
habits  of  this  species.  Wiiile  (evidently  misinformed  as  to  tlut  size  of  its  eggs, 
aud  its  occurrence  in  southern  California,  his  statements  otherwise  are  seem- 


J,;  i 


rtm 


THE  HARPY  EAGLE. 


271 


ingly  correct.  Ho  says:  "The  Iliirpy  Eaj^le  (^Harpia  dcstrudor)  has  been  sliot 
in  the  mountains  of  southwestern  BoHvia,  in  the  Monies  du  Diable  of  San 
Domingo,  and  in  the  valleys  of  southern  California  ;  l)Ut  a  hunter  may  range 
those  regions  for  years  without  getting  a  chance  to  add  ti)  his  trophies  the 
feather  coronet  of  the  Aquila  real,  the  King  Eagle,  as  the  Spaniards  call  him, 
while  every  farmer's  boy  of  an  Oaxaca  Mountain  village  knows  an  eyrie  or  two 
in  the  neighboring  crags,  which  ho  is  ready  to  rol)  of  its  eaglets  or  large  whit(» 
eggs  for  a  couple  of  reals.  From  the  projecting  rocks  of  the  Lower  Sierra  on 
any  bright  morning  of  the  year  one  may  see  the  hovering  form  of  tlie 
Destructor  suspended  in  the  clear  sky  or  wheeling  in  ascending  circles  over 
the  misty  ocean  of  foliage ;  and  from  March  to  the  end  of  June  the  tree 
tops  of  the  Tirna  calknte  resound  with  the  screams  of  the  ever-hungry 
eaglets.     +     *     « 

"The  Loho  aolantc,  lu-  Winged  Wolf,  as  Quesada  translates  the  old 
Aztec  name  of  the  Harpy,  attacks  and  kills  heavy  old  Turkeycocks,  young 
fawns,  sloths,  full-grown  foxes  and  l)adgers,  middle-sized  pigs,  and  even  the 
black  Sai)ayou  monkey  (Afcirs  2)anisrit.s),  whose  size  and  weight  exceed  its 
own  more  tlian  three  times.     *     «     * 

"As  soon  as  the  lengthening  days  of  the  year  approach  the  vernal 
ecpiiuox  the  hen  Harpy  l)egins  to  collect  (by  sticks  and  moss,  or  perhaps 
only  lichens,  witii  a  few  clawsful  of  tlie  feathery  bast  of  the  Arauca  pabii, 
it'  her  last  year's  eyrie  has  been  left  undisturlied.  Her  favorite  roosting 
places  are  the  highest  forest  trees,  uspetnally  tlie  Adausouia  and  the  PiiiKs 
Ixilsdiiiifrni;  the  more  inaccessible  rocks  of  the  foothills  are  also  com- 
monly chosen  for  a  l>reeding  place,  and  it  is  not  ea.sy  to  distinguish  her 
coini)actly  built  eyrie  on  the  highest  branches  of  a  wild  fig  tree  from  the 
(lark  colored  clusters  of  the  Mexican  mistletoe  (Visfitin  ruhnaii)  which  are 
seen  in  the  same  tree  toj)s.  The  eggs  are  white,  with  yellowi.sh  brown  dots 
and  washes,  and  al)out  as  long  though  not  (piite  as  heavy  as  a  hen's  egg. 
Of  these  eggs  the  Harpy  lays  four  or  five,  but  never  hatches  more  than 
two,  and,  if  the  Indians  can  be  believed,  feeds  tlu*  first  two  eaglets  that 
make  their  appearance  with  the  contents  of  the  remaining  eggs. 

"The  process  of  ii\cubation  is  generally  finished  by  the  middle  of  March, 
if  not  sooner,  and  from  that  time  to  th(^  end  of  June  the  rapacity  of  the  old 
birds  is  the  terror  of  the  troi)ic;il  fauna,  for  their  hunting  expeditions,  which 
later  in  the  year  are  restricted  to  the  yarly  morning  hours,  now  occuj)y 
them  the  larger  part  of  the  day." 

Judging  from  tlu!  siz(^  of  several  specimens  of  the  Harpy  Engle  in  the 
U.  S.  National  Museum  collection,  the  vjX'^  of  this  spe(^ies  should  iit  least  be 
as  large  as  that  of  our  (}olden  Eagle  {AijhUh  clin/surlos),  and  in  fact  consid- 
erably larger.  I  have  been  uuablo  to  find  a  correct  description  of  the  agf; 
of  this  species. 


!:i; 


272 


LIFE  aiSTOKIES  OF  NOltTU  AMEUICJAN  IJIKDS. 


■-1^ 


gi.     Haliaeetus  albicilla  CLiNNiSus). 

QUAY    HEA    EAOLE. 

Falm  nlhinilla  Linn;eus,  Systoma  Ndturaj,  od.  10.  I,  1758,  St). 

Halkectan  dlhicilla   Leach,  Systomatic   Cataloguo  of   Mammals  and    Birds  in  tho 
British  Museum,  181(),  9. 

(B -ia,  C  — ,  R  45a,  C  S:!,},  U  351.) 

Geographical  kancje  :  Northorn  portions  of  eastern  hemisphere  and  soutli- 
oastorn  Groenhmd. 

Tlut  Gray  Sea  Eajrlo  is  included  in  our  fauna  from  its  being  found  in 
southern  and  southeastern  Greenhuid,  where  it  breeds  on  the  rocky  cliffs  of 
the  seashore  of  Davis  Straits. 

Mr.  Ilenry  Seebohni,  in  liis  "History  of  Hritish  IMrds,"  speaks  of  this 
Kaj^lo  as  foUows:  "Tlie  haunt  of  the  AV^hite-tailed  Eaj^le  is  not  necessarily 
a  maritime  one,  althi»u>;h  the  bird  is  more  attached  to  the  coasts  and  the 
.sea  cliffs  than  the  Golden  Ea<,de.  It  may,  however,  l»e  often  seen  far  away 
IVom  the  ocean,  choosinfi;  for  its  haunt  some  large  inland  lake,  especially  if 
there  be  lofty  cliffs  aud  rocky  islets  on  which  it  can  perch  to  scan  the  sur- 
rounding country. 

"The  haunts  of  this  noble  looking  bird  are  the  brown  lulls  of  the  Heb- 
rides and  the  adjacent  isles,  and  the  wild  mountain  country  of  the  mainland 
in  the  West.  On  tlie  bold  and  rocky  headlands  of  thi  ■  wild,  rugged  coast, 
whose  hoary  peaks  are  wa.slied  by  tlie  treacherous  waters  of  the  Clinch,  the 
Sea  Eagle  finds  a  congenial  home.  Tlie  scenery  of  Skye  is  typical  of  this 
Kagle's  favorite  iiaunt.  On  tliat  bleak  and  desolate  isle  it  occurs  in  probably 
larger  numbers  than  in  any  otlier  place  in  Great  Mritain.     «     *     * 

"In  I'omerania,  esju'cially  between  Stettin  and  the  Haltic,  the  Sea  F^agle 
is  a  common  resident,  breeding  in  forests.  It  builds  an  enormous  nest,  some- 
times (!  to  S  feet  in  diameter,  near  tin;  top  of  a  j)ine,  or  on  the;  horizontal 
l)ranch  of  an  oak  or  l)each,  preferring  forests  near  inland  seas  and  large  lakes. 
Instances  have  been  known  of  its  lireeding  in  the  same  'horst'  for  twenty  years 
ill  succession.  Every  year  some  a<ldition  is  made  to  the  nest,  until  it  becomes 
.")  or  (!  teet  high.  Occasionally  a  pair  nf  Sea  Kagles  have  two  'hor.sts,'  which 
are  used  alternately.  They  are  sliy  birds  and  leave  the  nest  at  tie  least  alarm, 
Imt  do  not  easily  forsake  their  old  home.  If  the  eggs  are  taken  early  in  tho 
season  they  will  fre(pientlv  lay  again  in  the  same  nest.  They  make  a  very 
Hat  nest,  and  generally  line  it  at  the  top  with  mos.s.  The  male  and  female 
are  said  to  sit  alteriiatelv,  and  the  female  is  said  to  be*  shyer  than  the  male  at 
the  iKsst.  Tw<i  is  the  usual  number  of  eggs,  but  freciuently  only  (me  is  found; 
in  rare  cases  as  many  as  thret!  are  laid.  Kggs  may  be  taken  from  first  week 
in  March  to  the  middle  of  April.     *     *     * 

"The  White-tailed  Eagle  is  undoubtedly  mated  to  its  partner  for  life,  and 
even  f.hould  one  of  the  bird*  be  destroyed  the  survivor  will  obtain  a  fresh  com- 


THE  GKAY  SUA  EAGLE. 


273 


|»iinion  in  an  iucreilihly  sliort  space  of  time — ii  habit  peculiar  to  most  if  not 
all  rapacious  birds.  For  many  seasons  in  suc«'ession  this  bird  returns  to  its 
old  eyrie,  merely  makinjf  a  few  necessary  alterations  each  season,  addinjjf  to 
tiie  structure,  or  making  good  what  damage  it  may  have  sustained  during 
the  storms  of  the  previ<ms  winter. 

"Tlu!  site  is  varied  according  to  locality,  and  may  be  on  njcks,  in  trees, 
or  on  the  ground.  In  the  inland  districts  the  birds  usually  select  a  rocky 
islet  in  tlie  middle  of  a  loch,  where  they  either  build  their  bulky  nest  on 
some  ledg(»  of  the  sloping  ground,  in  a  tree,  or  on  the  rocks,  as  occasion 
offers.  Sometimes  a  site  is  chosen  at  some  distance  from  the  water  in  small 
open  woods,  but  such  instances  are  rare;  iidand  rocks,  too,  are  often  selected 
in  similar  places  to  those  which  the  Golden  Eagle  frecpients — broken  ditrs, 
often  quite  easy  of  access  from  above  or  below.  Mut  the  most  characteristic 
eyries  of  this  bird  in  our  islands  are  on  the  coast,  built  high  up  in  the  almost 
iiiaccessil)le  ro(;ks,  hundreds  of  feet  above  an  ever  tm'bid  sea,  and  in  situations 
to  wiiich  none  but  the  most  intrepid  climbers  (hn-e  venture.  Home  nests  in 
these  situations  are  i^ideed  (juite  inaccessible,  and  the  birds  have  remained  in 
undisturbed  po.ss(!ssion  from  time  immemorial.     «     •     * 

"  Several  instances  are  recorded  of  the  Sea  Kagle  lireeding  upon  tlu- 
ground.  Herr  Tancre  describes  a  nest  which  he  found  upon  the  island  of 
liifhlensoe,  on  the  southern  shores  of  the  Baltic,  near  Stralsund,  on  the  naked 
meadow  among  the  reeds.  The  nest  was  carefully  made  of  sticks  and  was 
ab(mt  2  feet  high. 

"The  fo(»d  of  tiie  Sea  P^agle  consists  of  fish,  sea  fowl,  and  occasion- 
ally carrion.  Dixon  states:  'Within  my  own  observation  the  favorite  food  of 
this  Eagle  is  the  stranded  fish  and  sliore  garbage  on  the  beach  of  its  maritime 
haunts ;  while  farther  inland  a  dead  carcass  or  a  weakly  bird  or  animal  are 
shared  with  the  Havens  and  the  Crows.' " 

According  to  Seebohm,  the  eggs  of  tiie  Chviy  Sea  Eagh;  vary  from  fJll.S  to 
H3.8  millimetres  in  length,  and  from  "),'}.;{  to  (jO.!»  millimetres  in  breadth 
They  are  pure  white  in  color  and  ovate  to  rounded  ovate  in  shape.  Tlie 
shell  is  (Hjarse,  graiudated,  and  usually  cxmsiderably  nest  stained,  giving  it  a 
yellowish  a])i)earance. 

Three  eggs  from  southern  Greenland,  in  the  H.  S.  National  Mu.seum 
collection,  measure,  res})ectively,  80  by  ."):!,  7(!  by  57.5,  and  75.5  by  (il  milli- 
metres. 

They   are    scarcely    distiiiguishal)l('  from    the    eggs    of   the   Bald    Eagle 

(Ifnlitrrtiis  Ir.ucorcplialits),  excepting  that  they  are  somewhat  larger.     None  are 

liguVed. 

26967— Bull.  1 18 


i 
<    'i", 


r 

ii! 

I' 
t 


I 


m 


\.l 


H 


274  LIFE  tllSTOKlES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BlUUS. 


92.     Haliaeetus  leucocephalus  (LiNNiVjis). 

BALD    KAULK. 

Fdlco  li'ucnrpphnlus  LiNN^HUS.  Systoma  Natuni',  w\.  13,  i,  17(i(j,  124. 
lluUnlus  Iciwocephaluti  BoiE,  Lsis,  1823,  548. 

(B  41,  4;!,  C  -M-i,  R  451,  C  5:i4,  U  353.) 

OEOGRAPHtCAi,  UANdE  :  Wliok)  of  Nortli  Amei'ica  and  across  the  Aleutian  cliaiii 
lo  tlio  Commander  Islfind-s,  Kamchatka. 

The  Hald  or  Ainericau  Eajjlo,  our  luitional  embleiii,  is  pretty  {ifeiierally 
(ILstrihiited  over  the  entire  United  States,  and  In-eeds  more  or  less  alnni- 
(hnitly  accordinj^  to  food  supply  alonfy  the  Atlantic  seaeoast,  from  northern 
Maine  to  Florida  and  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  throuphout  the  total  len<rth 
of  the  Mis.sissip])i  Valley  and  the  larger  streams  and  lakes  of  the  interior, 
as  well  as  British  North  America,  to  the  Arctic  coast.  Jt  is  (juite  abundant 
on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  es]»ecially  connnon  at  the  nioutli  of  the  (Columbia 
Hiver,  the  shores  of  British  Columbia  and  the  Alaska  liia'iiland,  as  well  as 
on  all  the  Aleutian  Islands.  It  appeans  to  l)e  eijually  indifferent  to  extreme 
heat  or  cold,  but  in  the  northernmost  ])ortions  of  its  ranj>e  it  is  only  a 
summer  resident,  leaving'  these  inhospitable  regions  and  r(^tirin<f  to  a  warmer 
climate  as  soon  as  the  rivers  and  lakes  freeze  up,  which  furnish  it  with 
most  of  its  food  su))ply. 

Within  the  United  States,  it  is  perhaps  more  abundant  in  Florida  than 
anywhere  else.  Dr.  William  L.  l\alj)h  furnishes  me  the  foliowin^j  observations 
on  this  species,  made  principally  in  the  inunediate  vicinity  of  Merritt  Island, 
Indian  River,  Florida,  durin<j  Febnuny,  ISSG,  and  the  two  succeedinji^  win- 
ters, lie  says:  "Before  I  discovered  this  ])aradise  for  these  noble  birds,  I 
wouhl  not  have  believe<l  there  were  so  many  east  of  tiie  Mississippi  River 
as  I  found  there  within  a  radius  of  a  few  miles;  for  I  not  only  saw  them  in 
great  numbers,  but  found,  with  the  help  of  an  assistant,  nearly  one  hundred 
occupied  nests  and  took  thirty-live  sets  of  eggs. 

"Fre(piently  wiien  returning  to  the  liotel  at  Rockledge,  jusr  before  dark, 
I  wouhl  while  crossing  tlu^  island  opposite  the  village,  a  distance  of  about  a 
mile,  see  fifteen  or  twenty  Kagles,  most  of  them  l)ir(ls  in  young  phunage, 
roosting  in  the  trees,  and  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  to  see  six  or  eight  in 
one  fl<ick. 

"Notwithstanding  these  birds  were  so  very  common,  I  concluded  from 
the  gn^at  numl»(M"  of  deserted  nests  found  that  they  nuist  have  been  more 
al)Uiidant  formerly,  and,  on  intpiiry  among  the  inhabitants,  tbund  this  to  have 
been  the  case. 

"These  Eagles  seem  to  l)reed  earlier  than  those  in  other  parts  of  Flor- 
ida, due  nf»  doul)t  to  the  iunncnse  number  of  waterfowl,  es]iec,ially  Coots 
(^Falica  (imi'rirniid),  that  frequent  this  vicinity  during  tiu;  winter,  and  which 
seem  to  form  the  princijjal  article  of  their  food,  though  they  will  sometimes 


THE  BALD  EAGLK 


275 


condescoiul  to  out  fish,  liko  tlioir  luoro  nortlicni  brothers  and  sisters.  I  hiivo 
often  seen  them  ciitch  woundeil  hirds,  and  I  visitofl  one  uost  that  contained  in 
aihlition  to  two  well  grown  younij  l)irds  tlu*  remains  of  thirteen  Coots  and 
mw  catfish.  Most  of  their  egj^s  aic  hatched  i)y  the  middle  of  December, 
and  s(»m(!  must  be  laid  as  early  as  the  1st  of  Novend)er,  as  my  assistant 
found  a  nest  contaiuinff  two  e<fgs  on  the  point  of  hatc]iin<f  on  December  o, 
and  I  found  youn<^  birds  two  or  three  weeks  old  on  December  lo.  The 
latest  sets  I  colle(!teil  were  one  of  two  fresh  e<;};s,  taken  January  26,  and 
another  of  two,  one  e^g  of  which  was  nearly  hatched  and  the  other  addled, 
taken  February  iJ.  The  e<4gs  of  this  s|i(!ci(>s  from  this  vicinity  are  more 
elouffated  and  on  the  average  smaller  than  the  description-s  and  measure- 
ments usually  given  of  the  eggs  taken  farther  north. 

"From  what  I  could  learn  these  birds  invarial»ly  lay  two  eggs,  as  I 
uciver  found  a  larger  set,  and  where  I  fouiiil  but  a  single  i^gg,  it  was  always 
fresh.  On  several  oircasions  I  founil  l)ut  one  yiiung  ))ird  in  a  nest,  and 
as  I  took  ([uite  often  a  st!t  of  two  eggs,  of  whicii  one  was  addleil,  I  con- 
cluded that  this  was  the  reason.  One  peculiarity  of  the  IJald  Kagle  that 
1  have  never  noticed  in  other  l)irds  of  prey  is,  that  wiieii  a  i)air  arc; 
robbed  of  their  ^'i;'^'^  or  yoiuig,  tlu^y  will  not  lay  again  until  the  next  .season. 
1  watched  a  great  many  nests  after  they  were  rol)bed,  visiting  some  close 
by  where  I  liveil  every  few  days  for  a  period  of  tw<>  months  or  more,  yet, 
notwithstanding  1  almost  always  found  one  or  both  l)irds  at  home,  1  never 
succeeded  in  getting  two  sets  of  eggs  from  the  same  nest  during  the  same 
season,  though  the  next  year  these  nests  were  again  occupied. 

"The  nests  are  immense  structures,  from  a  to  (!  feet  in  diameter  and 
ai»out  the  same  in  dei)th,  and  so  strong  that  a  man  can  walk  around  in  one 
without  danger  of  breaking  through;  in  fact  my  assistant  would  always  get 
in  the  nest  before  letting  the  eggs  down  to  nu^  I'bey  an*  composed  t)f 
sticks,  some  of  which  are  2  or  li  inches  tiiick,  and  are  lined  with  marsh 
grass  or  some  similar  material.  There  is  usually  a  slight  depression  in  the 
center,  where  the  eggs  are  placed,  l)Ut  the  edge  of  the  nest  extends  so  far 
l)evond  this  tiiat  it  is  almost  imjutssiijle  to  see  the  bird  from  below,  unless 
it  has  its  head  W(*ll  up.  I  have  f're(piently  found  foreign  sui)stancef'  in  their 
nests,  usually  placed  on  the  edges  of  it,  tht*  object  of  whicli  I  cannot 
account  for.  Often  it  would  be  a  l)all  of  grass,  wet  or  dry,  sometimes  a 
gn^en  branch  from  a  pine  tree,  and  again  a  j)iece  of  wood,  bark,  or  other 
maierial.  It  seemed  as  if  they  were  placed  in  tlie  nests  to  mark  them. 
From  its  frequent  occurrence,  at  least,  it  appeareil  to   me  as   if  designedly 

doi'ie. 

"I  believe  these  birds  have  a  certain  time  for  laying,  and  that  tlmir 
eggs  are  deposited  within  a  few  days  of  that  time  every  year,  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  San  Mateo,  Florida,  the  Hald  Fagle  is  now  (piite  rare,  and  I  know 
of  but  one  nest  that  is  occupied  l)y  these  l)ir(ls.  This  season  they  began 
sitting  on  .January  31,  the  earliest  (hite  on  wiiich   I   have  ever  known  them 


"i;! 


276 


LIFE  lilSTOltlES  Ol-'  NOUTll  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


to  bej^iii  hero,  and,  duriuff  the  several  years  I  have*  kiidwii  tliis  nest  to  l)e 
occupied,  I  do  not  renieniher  tlieni  ever  coniniencin};'  to  lay  later  than  Feb- 
ruary (}  or  7.  I  also  think  it'  one  of  a  j)air  he  killed  after  they  have  e^ifs  or 
younjy,  if  notliin<;. further  happens,  that  the  reniaininff  bird  will  perform  all 
the  duty  of  incubation  and  care  for  the  youn;;. 

"Two  of  my  assistants  watched  the  nest  previously  refeired  to  diu'infr 
the  present  season,  1H!(1,  and  on  the  day  the  birds  were  first  found  sittin^^ 
both  my  men  had  visiteil  the  placi',  and  on  their  return  1  saw  them  sepa- 
rately when  they  both  told  the  tollowinf,^  story.  They  said  'that  they  found 
one  of  the  Kagles  on  the  nest  and  that  on  poundinj;'  on  the  tree  it  Hew  to 
another  near  by  and  gathered  a  l)unch  of  Spanish  moss  in  its  claws.  It  then 
Hew  .slowly  back  over  the  nest,  and,  when  just  above  it,  poised  for  a  moment 
on  its  wings,  and  dropped  the  moss,  which  nearly  fell  into  the  nest.'  I  believe 
this  to  be  true,  for  I  questioned  both  of  the  men  very  closely  an<l  they  t(dd 
(exactly  the  same  st(ny,  and  they  know  notliinj;-  about  the  habit  these  birds 
have  of  markinj^  their  nests. 

"Nearly  all  the  ne.sts  I  found  were  in  pine  tn^es,  and  frenerally  the 
hifrhe.st  and  thickest  the  birds  could  find,  l)ut  as  pines  in  this  locality  are 
not  very  tall,  the  majority  i>f  the  nests  were  only  .")0  or  (!()  feet  altove  the 
f^round.  The  highest  and  lowest  locations  of  nests  were  To  and  30  feet,  but 
these  were  extremes,  at  least  so  far  as  occupied  nests  were  concerned,  'i'he 
places  the  Bald  Kagle  likes  to  fre(pient  are  forests  of  tall  heavy  timber  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  some  good-sized  body  of  water,  and  they  almost  always 
build  their  nests  in  such  situations.  Hotli  sexes  assist  in  incubation,  and  are 
etpially  solicitous  in  the  care  of  tlieir  eggs  and  young.  They  show  great 
distress  when  their  nests  are  disturljed,  but  are  very  caieful  to  keep  just  out 
of  gunshot,  and  I  can  recall  but  one  instance  of  the  l?ald  Eagle's  attacking 
anyone,  and  that  was  a  pair  which  had  a  nest  in  a  large  j)ine  tree  near 
the  south  shore  of  Crescent  Lake,  Florida.  These  birds  wouM  swoop  down 
and  almo.st  strike  the  head  of  my  climber,  and  were  so  very  savage  that  one 
of  my  party  became  frightened,  and  thinking  they  might  injure  him,  shot  the 
male,  which  was  the  fiercer  of  the  two.  Tiie  nest  contained  two  young  but 
a  few  hours  old,  and  as  1  was  afraid  they  would  either  starve,  or  that  Vul- 
tures or  Crows  would  get  them  while  the  mother  bird  was  al)sent  after  food, 
I  thought  I  would  try  to  raise  them  myself 

"They  throve  splendidly  on  a  diet  of  meat  and  fish,  and  the  amount 
they  wouhl  consunu;  in  the  course  of  twenty-four  hours  was  .something  won- 
derful. I  would  stufi'  them,  until  I  was  almost  afraid  they  would  burst,  in 
hopes  of  keeping  them  (piiet  for  a  few  minutes ;  but  it  was  no  use,  for  the 
first  noise  they  heard  would  set  them  yelling  as  loud  as  ever.  I  kei)t  them 
until  I  left  Florida,  a  period  of  almost  two  months,  and  they  were  then 
nearly  half  grown,  and  the  family  with  whom  I  lived  promised  me  to  care 
for  them.  Soon  after  my  departure  one  of  them  was  injured  and  died  shortly 
afterward,  but  the  other  got  along  nicely,  and  on  my  return  the  next  winter. 


THE  BALn  EA(!LE. 


277 


I  touiul  it  still  iilivo.  One  peculiar  tliiiify  about  tliiw  bird  was  that  it  never 
Iciinu'd  to  fly,  tlioiiffh  it  wan  not  confined  durinjf  the  first  year.  Its  winjjs 
lid  not  <frow  to  the  jnoper  leuffth  and  the  feathers  on  them  were  twisted 
in  all  directions.  It  had  a  very  rou<>li  and  dilapidated  apjjcarance  ffenerally, 
which  I  cannot  acconnt  tor,  as  it  was  luncr  handled  nnich.  While  not 
afraid  of  man,  this  bird  was  a  ji^reat  coward  in  other  respects,  and  would 
run  from  any  other  animal  of  wliatever  size;  (nen  a  chicken  w<mld  jfreatly 
fri^i'hten  it. 

"It  woidd  seem  from  what  little  chance  I  had  of  noticin<^  the  growtii 
of  the.se  youn<.;'  Kajiles,  that  unless  tlu^y  jirow  much  faster  in  a  stat«f  of  natun- 
tlian  in  captivity,  birds  of  this  species  nmst  remain  in  their  nests  from  three 
to  four  months.  They  are  very  nuich  attached  to  their  chosen  Iicmies,  and 
altliou<;h  their  e<;'^s  and  younj^'  may  be  taken  from  them  for  several  successive 
seasons,  and  even  one  of  the  old  Itirds  killed,  the  snrvivor  will  find  another 
mate  and  return  to  the  old  eyrie  another  season. 

"The  cry  of  the  male  is  a  loud  and  dear  '»'ac-cac-cac,'  cpiite  different 
from  that  of  tlu^  female,  so  nuich  so  that  I  could  always  recoj^nize  tht* 
se.\  of  the  bird  by  it;  the  call  of  tlie  latter  is  more  harsh  and  often  broken. 
Hald  Kaiiles  are  constant  residents  of  this  vicinity,  as  they  are  of  most  ])arts  of 
Florida,  unless,  as  the  inhabitants  say,  they  ^o  away  for  awhile  during  tluf 
suMuner.  This  I  belicM'  to  be  true,  for  there  nuist  be  a  scarcity  of  food 
then,  when  the  waterfowl  ••■o  north,  as  most  of  them  do  early  in  tlu*  spring. 

1  iieliev(^  the  Hald  Kagle  does  not  lireed  before  getting  the  adult  plumage, 
and  that  this  is  the  case  generally  with  bii'ds  of  ])rey,  with  few  exceptions." 

In  the  vicinity  of  (!orpus  (Jhristi,  Texas,  the  Hald  Eagle  breeds  sometimes 
on  th«*  ground.  ()a|)t.  H.  F.  Go.ss  writes  me  as  follows:  "Of  six  nests  of  this 
species  examined  by  me,  near  the  al)ove  mentioned  locality,  all  within  '2Ft  miles 
of  it,  four  were  found  in  tret>s,  but  the  two  others  rleserve  special  mention, 
as  both  wen*  i)laced  on  tlu*  ground  on  small  islands  in  Nueces  Hay.  An 
assi.staut,  whom  I  hired  to  helj)  nie  in  collecting,  showed  me  a  nest  from  which 
lie  had  taken  the  two  young  about  five  days  jn-eviously,  and  had  them  in  his 
possession  at  the  tinu'.     The  nest  was  placed  (Ui  a  small  island,  not  nu)re  than 

2  feet  in  its  highest  part  al)ove  high  water  mark,  and,  with  the  excejjtion  of  a 
little  grass  growing  in  the  central  part,  it  was  a  bare  sand  reef  The  nest  site, 
tor  it  could  hardly  l)e  called  a  nest,  was  located  in  the  center  of  the  island.  It 
consisted  simj)ly  of  a  few  sticks  laid  on  the  i)are  ground,  not  enough  to  nuike 
a  single  tier  even,  and  these  were  covered  with  bones,  feathers,  and  fish  scales, 
and  th(*  gnuuid  in  the  inunediate  vicinity  was  littered  with  the  renmants  of 
rlu>ir  food  and  the  excrement  of  the  young.  We  also  found  a  small  armadillo 
on  the  island,  which  was  evidently  brought  there  by  the  Eagles  to  feed  their 
young,  who  probably  found  tin*  shell  too  hard  for  them  to  orack,  as  it  appeared 
uninjured.  The  owners  of  this  nest  were  said  to  have  l)een  in  the  iunnature 
plumage,  which  accounts  for  the  poorly  ctnistructed  nest,  probaldy  being  a 
first  attempt. 


1 

' 

pli' 

II 

ll 

' 

1 

j 

:t 


278 


LIFE  U18TOUIK8  OF  NOUTII  AMERICAN  1!I|{1)8. 


"About  tlu'  middle  of  flic  uioiitii  1  found  niiotlicr  nest  of  tliiw  HjM'cics  on 
nil  isliiud  in  tlic  u])|)ci'  jiiirt  of  tlic  liiiv,  nlioiit  A  luilcs  from  tlic  foniit-r.  Tiiis 
was  u  massivi'  struftuic,  also  built  on  tlic  p'ound,  at  least  (!  feet  liij^li  and  "» 
feet  in  diameter.     1  saw  it  fullv  2  miles  awav,  and  from  tliat  distance  it  looked 


lik 


e  a  n 


lonument.     Altlioui-li  out  of 


<iiu'  com 


se,  and  in  a  secluded  jiart  of  tl 


bay,  it  so  aroused  ]ny  curiosity  that  1  ordered  my  boatman  to  ])ull  to  it.  it 
contained  a  sin<>le  youn<i-  Kaj^le,  nearly  half  <{Town.  'i'liis  island  was  larfifcr 
and  also  a  little  hi<;her  than  the  iirst,  and  a  solitary  small  tree  was  frrowin^- 
on  it  some  2  rods  from  the  nest.  Otherwise  it  was  quite  bare.  'I'liis  nest 
was  (|uite  a  prominent  object  and  was  visiide  for  miles.  It  was  built  ^vith 
surprisinj"'  rcf^ularity,  apjjearcd  to  bo  a  perfect  circle,  and  the  sides  smooth 
and  almost  jterpendicular.  'IMie  top  slopecl  slijjhtly  toward  the  center  where 
the  ea;>let  sat,  which  viciously  sna])iK'd  at  me  as  I  looked  ov(n'  the  edg(^  of 
the  nest.  It  was  built  of  .sticks  and  had  evidently  Iteen  rai.sed  to  the  jm?sent 
luM}>ht  by  successive  yearly  additions,  as  tlie  lower  half  had  be<fuu  to  deca}', 
and  a  few  iiuhes  of  the  top  had  evidently  lieeii  recently  added.  iJotli  ])ar«'nt 
birds  attacked  us  with  ffreat  fury,  screaminj;-  and  .strikin<f  at  us  with  their 
talons;  while  e.\aminin<''  the  nest  tlu'\'  came  witiiin  a  few  feet  of  me  and  1 
was  {^lad  to  retire.  This  pair  were  both  adult  l)irds.  Sometime  later,  as  my 
assistant  was  taking  the  eggs  from  a  nest  in  a  tree,  he  was  set  upon  l)y  both 
the  Kagles,  and  if  ho  had  not  had  a  good  stick  to  (h'fend  himself,  I  feel  sure 
they  would  havi^  struck  him;  as  it  was,  they  approached  within  S  leet  of  him. 


'I'll 


dv  t 


se  are  the  only  two    mstances    coming  under  my  observation  wliere  anv 


attempt  was  made  to  defend  the  nest." 

That  the  IJald  Kagle  shows  considerable  courage  at  times  in  the  defense 
of  its  nest,  cvtMi  without  any  provocation,  I  can  corroborate  from  ))ersonal 
observation.     In  the    months    of  March  and  April,   iHSiJ,  I   repeateiUy  visited 


I  low  marsin-  swa 


imp  at    the    head  of   Wood    Hiver,  about    '2.J    miles 


nor 


th- 


oast  of  Fort  Klamath,  Oregon;  the  oliject  of  these  visits  being  to  locate 
the  nest  of  a  pair  of  (Josiiawks,  which  committetl  daily  depredations  among 
the  poultry  at  the  post,  and  which  always  disappeared  in  this  direction.  A 
number  of  large  aspens  and  several  ileiise  groves  of  conifers  were  scattered 
through  this  marsh,  as  well   as  a  few  immense  pine  trees. 

A  j)air  of  liald   Hagles  nested  in  one  of  the  largest  of  these  pines,  and 

lis  tree  nearer  than   100  yards  without  one  of 


at  no  time  cou 


Id  I 


i|)|)roa( 


MM 


h  tl 


these  birds,  jirobably  the  male,  swooping  down  at  me,  soinetinu-s  as  close  as 

le    plainly  to  understand   that  1   had 


mti-. 


and  "•iviu"'  n 


20  feet,   lustily  scream 

no  business  in  that   jiarticular  vicinity. 

These  Eagles  seem  to  nest  in  trees  by  itrefereiice,  and  only  where  such 


are    wantini"-  w 


ill  tl 


ley    resort    to  cliH's  or 


to  th 


slulx 


toun 


occasionallv 


on 


tl 


u^  river 


blurts 


Tlie\-  are    far  more  abundant    aloiiy  the  seashore    than 


in  the  interior,  but    thev  are  bv  no    means    uncommon  in  suitable  localities 


on  tn( 


th 


artrer  mlam 


I  lak( 


e( 


"y 


At  tlit^  Klamath  Lakes  they  are  esjiecially  numerous,  and  1  have  repeat- 
distance  of  .'{  miles.     Some  of  <nir  earlier  writers 


seen  a  dozen  witlnn  a  i 


th 


THE  BALD  EAOLK. 


8?9 


s|)t'!ik  ill  ratlicr  iiiicoiiipliinoutary  tonus  of  our  iiiitioiml  l)ir(l,  stifjinatiziii},'  it. 
iis  11  roliluM-  ami  tyrant,  and  as  twuiUii;,''  priiu'ipaily  on  iisli,  stolen  tVoiii  tlio 
Osprcy,  and  on  (rarrion.  This  is  not  strictly  true.  Accordiiiff  to  iiiy  oliscr- 
vations  tlio  Maid  Kajjlo  llvos  to  a  jrreat  «'Xt(Mit  at  Insist  on  prey  <'aptiir«Ml  by 
its  own  fxcriions,  principally  on  vvouiidcd  watcrt'owl.  When  ('ii}fii;r»'d  in 
tlic  chase  ot'  a  Hock  of  (leose,  Mrant,  Ducks,  or  other  water  Itirds,  on  which 
it  snlisists  almost  entindy  when  such  are  procuialde,  it  is  hy  no  means  the 
shiuVish,  lazy  hird  some  writers  would  have  us  iielieve,  Imt  the  peer  in 
switrtiess,  dash,  and  "(race  of  any  of  our  Uaptores. 

\Vhil(!  it  undoulitedly  has  occasionally  to  resort  t<»  an  exclusive  lish 
diet,  some  of  which  is  captured  from  tlu^  Ospn^y,  tiiis  liaiiit  is  l»y  no  means 
universal,  and  carrion,  in  my  opinion,  is  only  used  when  other  kinds  of  food 
nw,  not  available. 

On  May  1,  18«(;,  Mr.  S.  B.  i.aihl  found  a  nest  of  the  Uald  Hajrie  con- 
taiiiiii}''  yoiinj;-  in  jjancaster  County,  Pennsylvania.  The  ffrouiid  directly 
under  it  was  ♦•overed  with  numliers  of  land  t(M'rapins  in  various  staj't's  of 
decay.  These  reptiles  luid  (evidently  iieiMi  carri(Ml  to  the  }'oiin<f  eajflets  to 
feed  on,  wctru  found  nnmanaj^ealile,  and  pushed  out  of  the  nest :  prolialily 
Init  little  other  food   was  to  he    procured  at   the   time. 

Sometimes  also  when  appaicntly  fishinjr  tli(f  Hald  l'iaj;l(^  is  after  a  dif- 
ferent sort  of  jrame,  as  the  followiiij;'  incident  will  show.  .Mr.  \V.  W.  Worth- 
inj^toii  writes  iiu^  from  Daritiii,  (leor^ia:  "Tlu(  other  day  I  noticed  a  hald 
I'liijile  hoveriiij;'  over  the  sound,  inncli  the  same  as  tlu^  Fish  Hawk  does 
when  about  to  strike  a  tish.  Suddenly  he  pluiii>ed  down  and  <;Tap[ded  with 
what  I  supposed  to  be  a  lar<^o  tish,  but  was  unable  to  raise  it  from  the 
water,  and  after  stru}j^j>lin<»'  awhih*  ho  lay  with  wiiijis  extended  and  appar- 
ciitlv  exhausted,  .\fter  restiii}^  a  ininut<*  <>v  two  he  a<fain  raised  himself  out 
of  the  water  and  I  saw  he  had  some  lar};(f  iilack  object  in  the  j^piisp  of  one 
of  liis  talons,  wlii<',li  lu!  succeed(Ml  in  towiiij*'  aloii<^  the  top  of  the  water 
toward  the  shore,  a  short  distance,  ami  tluMi  lettiiij^'  j>'o  his  li(dd.  He  was 
llieii  joined  by  two  other  Kagles,  and  liy  takin^-  turn  they  .soon  succeeded 
in  <;ettiiin'  it  to  the  shore.  InvestiH^ation  proved  it  to  bo  a  larj^e  Florida 
(Cormorant,  on  which  thoy  were  about  to  rej^ale  themselves." 

Xiditicatioii  i)i'<piiis  early.  In  Florida  ami  other  parts  of  the  (}ulf  coast 
e;>'i;s  are  soiuetimes  deposited  in  the  early  part  of  Novemiier,  imt  <j;'eiierally 
from  tli(^  1st  to  the  lath  of  December.  In  the  .Middle  States  they  nest 
occasionally  in  the  iiei^Mimin;^-  of  F(d)ruary,  .Mr.  Thomas  11.  Jackson  takiiij; 
a  full  set  of  e;;'j^'s  in  Lancaster  ('ouiity,  I'ennsylvania,  on  Fel)ruary  II. 
Usually  they  (hi  not  commence  to  lay  till  March,  and  correspondingl}'  later 
as  they  advance  northward. 

( )n  the  Pacific  coast  in  California,  they  iKsst  about  the  middle  of  Feb- 
ruary; ill  Oref^on  and  Wasliinjj^ton,  about  .Vpril  I;  in  .Vlaska  alxnit  tlii^ 
iiiiddh^  of  tlu^  month,  and  in  the  interior,  in  tli((  Arctic  re;^'ions,  as  late  as 
tlu!  latti-r  part  of  -May,  and  occasionally  even  in  .lime. 


i  h  :. 


280 


LIFE  IIISTOKIES  OF  NORTH  AM  KUICAN  BIRDS. 


Ah  Jilreiuly  Htated,  troi's  socni  to  l)«  prcfoiTcd  for  ncHtiiifj^  nitt's,  and  liir^e 
j)iiu>8  are  ot't«MU'r  luade  iihc  of  tor  tliiH  purposi'  tliaii  other  kinds.  In  certain 
portions  of  Florida  tliey  resort  to  a  consideriihle  extent  to  the  niaufifroves, 
occasionally  to  live  oaks,  and  in  the  West  I  iiavo  seen  them  nest  in  hufro 
Cottonwood  trees. 

The  heijcht  from  the  jjround  varies  considerably  also,  the  extremcH 
hein<if  probably  from  '20  to  100  feet.  (Miff  anil  blntf  sites  an^  <fenerally  nsed 
when  no  suitable  trees  are  to  b(^  found  in  tim  vicinity,  and  nests  on  the 
ffronnd  nmst  b(*  considered  as  niuisual  locations  and  of  very  rare  occurrence. 

Incubation  lasts  about  a  month  and  both  sexes  take  part  in  this  duty. 
The  usual  nnnd)er  of  ejjfj^s  laid  by  this  species  is  two,  rarely  less,  and  very 
seldom  three;  they  art^  laid  at  intervals  of  tlire(!  or  four  days.  One  of 
them  is  always  somewhat  lar<«;er  than  tlu*  other,  and  occasionally  this  ditfer- 
ence  in  size  is  (piite  marked.  Hut  a  sinj^h*  brood  is  rai.sed  in  a  season.  The 
youn<^  at  the  end  of  the  tir.st  year  are  considerably  larj^er  than  the  parents, 
and  were  for  sometime  considered  as  a  distinct  species,  and  named  l)y  Audu- 
bon Halifftiis  irasliiii/ftDtiii — the  Bird  of  VVashin;;ton.  In  this  plumaj^e  they 
are  dark  brown  throufrhout,  mixed  with  dull  fulvous;  they  do  not  attain 
the  adult  plumage  until  the  third  year. 

The  nests  vary  greatly  in  size  and  are  usually  almost  flat  on  top.  Some 
are  fairly  well  lined  with  dry  grasses  or  seaweed.  The  eggs  are  jture  white 
in  color,  but  frecpiently  nest  stained ;  in  very  rare  instances  slight  traces  of 
markings  are  observa})le  of  a  pale  bufly  brown,  and  in  the  hand.'^ome  seri«'s 
of  eggs  of  tlui  liald  Eagle  in  Dr.  Ralph's  collection  are  two  such  specimens. 
The  shell  is  strong,  gninidated,  and  without  any  luster.  The  shape  varies 
from  a  rounded  ovate  to  an  ovate,  the  former  predominating.  Kggs  from 
the  more  northern  breeding  grounds  are  consideral»ly  larger  than  those  from 
Florichi  an<l  the  Gulf  coast. 

Sixteen  spet-imens  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum  collection,  principally 
from  the  Arctic  regions,  giv(^  an  average  measurement  of  7.'}. 5  by  ftl.f)  milli- 
metres, the  largest  egg  measuring  7G..'")  by  M,  the  smallest  61)..'')  by  FyGI) 
millimetres. 

Korty-Hve  Florida  specimens,  all  i-ollected  by  Dr.  Ralph,  and  now  in 
his  collection,  giv(^  the  following  average:  (!1)  Ity  f}'d.!')  millimetres,  the  largest 
egg  of  this  series  measuring  74..''»  by  Ft'),  the  smallest  (11.")  liy  oO  millimetn's. 
Ai>out  a  fair  average  would  be  71    by  04  millimetres. 

Tile  type  specimen,  No.  2()ni)7  (i'l.  !»,  Fig.  7),  from  n  set  of  two.  Hen- 
dire  collection,  was  olttained  n(^ar  Alden,  Iowa,  April  IH,  lH7i5,  and  was  slightly 
incubated  when  foiuid. 


TUK  WHITH  (lYUPALCON. 


281 


93.     Palco  islandus  iiuiiNMcii. 

WIMTH;    (lYKKALCON. 

Falm  inltimliis  BrunnU'II.  OrnitholoKiii  Bi)roiiliH.  I7(i4,  2. 

(B  1 1,  C  ■M\<i.  R  M-i,  C  ridl.  u  .m.) 

OKOdKAi'iiirAl.  KAN(»K:  Circuiupoliir  ri'giinis,  iiicliuliiiK  (Imoiilaiul,  A.rclic  Aiiicf- 
iciv,  Commmidor  Isliuids.  t'tc. 

With  our  |)r()S((iit  limited  Itiiowlodj^e  of  the  Wiiitc  (Jyrt'iilcon  hut  litth- 
Clin  positivtflv  !>•!  «tiitiMl  !il)out  its  Itn'cilinjr  nuijii^  cxccittiii;^  tiiiit  duriii}^  the 
•st'iisou  of  n^productioii  it  inlial)its  the*  circiiinpoliu'  r»'<>;ioii.<.  it  bnu'tls  idouj>^ 
tlio  nm.«<t  of  iiortlu^rii  (irrnoiilaud,  tlut  ici^-ltouud  Mini  iiiliospitiiljlo  sliortM  of 
castiTii  North  Aiucrica  hordcriuj''  on  HafHn  Bay  and  Smitii  Soinid,  ami  i)rol»- 
alily  !i1m>  alon^  tin*  numerous  islands  of  tlit*  Arctic  Sea,  and  the  coast  of 
nortiicrn  Labrador  and  Hudson  Strait.  Accurdinj"'  to  Dr.  Stcjncjfor,  it  also 
iirt'i'ds  on  Hcrin"^  l.slanil,  out*  of  tlm  ('oinmandcr  <>r(»u|»  of  nortlu'as<^ern  Asia. 
lie  says:  "A  pair  had  their  ue.st  in  a^  st(f(ip  iind  inactiessihh*  rock  in  the 
so-called  'Nakovahui^ni,'  a  couple  of  miles  from  the  main  villajje."  A  male 
was  shot  hy  him  on  Aujj^ust  27,  IH82,  and  a  female  on  May  2,  1HH8. ' 

This  species  is  tlu*  lij^htest  colonel  of  the  (lyrfalcons.  (Jren.  A.  W.  (Ireely, 
( Miief  .Si<>nal  OlHcer,  IJ.  S.  Army,  says:  "TIk^  (Ireenland  Falcon  was  prol)al)ly 
seen  by  the  I'oliiris  i'jxpedition  al)out  May  22,  1S72.  Mr.  Hart  noticed  these 
birds  nestiujf  in  cliffs  near  Cajje  Hayes,  latitude  7!*^  42'  N.,  and  a  Falcon  was 
seen  near  (.'apt!  Fra/.er,  latituih^  7!)°  44'  N.,  August  24,  lS7(i.  TlKf  latest 
specinuHi  in  Smith  Sound  was  recorded  by  Hayes  diUMii^-  his  boat  jounu^y  on 
Nortlnnnlu'rland  Island,  near  (Jape  Alexanch'r,  Septemlter  10,  isr)4.  We  saw 
an  e.xamph*  Au<;ust  4,  IHHl,  just  nortli  (»f  Oarl  Ritter  Bay,  and  another  near 
Ft»rt  (JiMif^er  on  .Inly  30,  1S82,  tluf  attention  of  Serj^eants  .Jew(dl  and  Ralston 
beiiif^  called  to  the  latter  throujih  the  {ifreat  alarm  shown  by  the  Buffon's 
Skuas  in  their  vicinity.  Three  Falcons  w«'re  .seen  Auf^ust  lil,  1882,  in  tht^ 
valhn-  at  tlie  head  of  St.  Patrick  Bay,  about  latitude  81^  fu)'  N.,  attracted  by 
otfal.  riiey  were  o1)S(U'V(m1  in  tiie  sanu-  locality  Auj^^iist  1.'),  and  a  pair  of  tluMU 
(lew  around  Fort  Con<i'er  two  days  later."- 

Nelsou  found  the  Whit(f  (ilyrfalcou  rare  in  Alaska  and  only  secured  a 
sinjile  specinuMi  of  this  bird,  an  Fiskimo  kin,  taken  at  (Jape  l)arl»y,  on  tlie 
.\laskan  shore,  near  Berinj;-  Strait.  Tlie  natives  also  told  him  tiiat  these 
White  Hawks  sometimes  brcMl  on  the  mountains  of  the  Kaviak  Peninsula,  but 
he  had  no  nutans  of  personally  verifyin;^'  this  statiuneiit,  althou<ih  his  solitary 
spt'cimen  came  from  there. 

Accordiii'''  to  Kumlitiu,  it  is  very  rare  on  tluf  ('iimberlaiid  (lulf  .side  of 
Davis  Strait,  and  much  more  nuimu'oiis  on  tin*  (Jreeiiland  shore.  He  says 
tiiat  it  is  apparently  much  .slower  on  tlu;  win^'  than  tlii^  common  Duck  Hawk, 

'  Rullotiii  W,  U.  8.  NatiiinnI  Miihciiiii,  1H85,  |i.  m'>. 

'luterimtioiial  I'ular  Kx|i«ilitiiiii  to  haily  l''rniikliii  Uay,  Qriunull  Laud,  1888,  Vol.  11,  [i.  'iti. 


\f\ 

\m 

1 1 

11! 


^^ 


m 


282 


lAVK  HISTORIKS  OK  NOllTII  AMFMtlt'AN  Uruns. 


; !  ii'  '  ' 


\ 


■■  ''A 


r? 


w:i 


5<i 


m 


tliiit  it  WUH  seen    |)iirHiiiiif,'  tlic  (Jiills   until  they  w<'r('    ('xhiiiistcil    li<'lurc    tim 

lliiwk  cinilil  secure  its  |ii'ey,  sli(i\viu;i'  tliiit  tlieir  eiuliU'iiuce  exceeds  tlieir  s|hh'(1.' 

Turner  oiitiiiued  n  Hin;;le  specimen  iit  St.  Miciiiiel,  Alaskii,  Miiy  1;'),  1H77, 

anil  says  tliat  it  is  not  a  connnon  liinl   in   tliaf  vicinity,  and  ntteiier  seen  in 


the  H|)rui;i 


tl 


lan 


at  oti 


ler  seasons. 


in  his  notes    "(>n  the    Mirds  ot'   Laijrador 


and   Ihiirava,"  \w  states:  "'IMiis  heautil'ul    Falcon   is  connnon    throughout  tluf 


»Mitire  region,  althonj,ni  more  inimeroiis  m  the  sparsely  woodeil  tracts  luiu  in 


d 


the    nei^'hlioriiood  of  hi;{li  ru;^';;'ed    lii 


IS    species 


vuown  as 


tlle    I 


re   in   winter,    hut    so 


wary 


trid;;'e  Hawk  l»y  the  Kn;;lish-speakin;;'  people,  who  apply  the  name  oC  I'ur 
trid^i'e  to  hoth  spwies  ot"  Lt\ii<n)i(s  and  to  ItnnlnifidiHis  indi.scriuiiiiately.  Ii 
the  vicinity  of  Fort  ("liimo  it  is  not  at  all 
that   hut  one  s|)ecimen   was  secured. 

"A  pair  was  hnildinji'  their  lu'st  <m  tlu*  sido  of  tin*  Idutt'  known  as  llawk'g 
Head,  some  2  miles  north  of  Fort  Chimo.  I  umlertook  to  ascend  the  Itlutt' 
l»\'  means  of  a  rope  drawiu;;-  me  up  a  distance  of  KIH  feet,  where  I  had  nothiiif; 
to  clin;.>'  to  hut  the  rope,  and  after  whirling'  around  and  around  do/.eiis  of 
times  (as  the  nest  was  on  a  part  which  conlil  not  he  reached  t'rom  ahove), 
reached  the  spot  where  the  nest  was  located.  I  was  then  so  di/,/,y  that  I 
was  oliid  to  find  a  re.stinj;'  place,  iuid  when  I  attained  the  site  I  jtnt  my  foot 
directly  on  the  half  completed  nest,  comjiosed  of  a  few  sticks  and  a  j^reat 
(piantity  of  dry   ;;ras,ses,  forming'  a   hulk  ahout   l'>  inches  across  the  top  and 


:(    in 


ijil. 


hird 


s   were  cu'clmi 


anil   sen  amnm' 


■*liort   distance  olf 


,'hile  a   man  was  liriu"^'  at  them.     'I^hey  deserted  the  locality  and  were   not 


a^ain  seen, 
"'i'his 


Fal 


con   IS  extremi 


Iv  si 


IV,   am 


1   wl 


len    sittinii'  wi 


th  its 


pure   w 


hito 


hreast  toward  the  hunter  will  often  escape  detection  on  the  snow,  as  it  is  far 
inon^  numerous  from  Septeinlter  to  April  than  at  other  times.  The  natives 
assured  me  that  they  repair  to  the  ru;4';;'ed  mountains  in  the  vicinity  of  ("ape 
Chidlev  (the  nortliernmost  point  of  Lalirador)  to  hreed,  and  that  they  fed 
their  youn;>-  on  the  liock  l'tarniij>an,  which  also  .seek  that  region  for  the 
same  purpo.se.  The  manner  of  tli^^lit  is  hy  rapid  heats  of  the  win^^s,  fol- 
lowed  l)y   a   short  sail." 

The  ne.stinji'  liahits  of  the  White  Gyrfalcon  would  ap])ear,  from  what 
little  we  know  on  the  suhject,  to  be  in  no  way  ditferent  from  those  of  the 
other    memhers    of    this    {••(Mius,    exceptinj^    that    they    |trol)al)ly    nest    almost 


exchisivelv    on    rockv  cliff's    near 


th 


seacoas 


t.     V 


ew  sintalile  trees,  even  ni 


>f  their  summer  ranye,  would   he  found  in  these 


the   more  southern   portions   o 

northern  refi'ioiis  sntlicieiitly  lar<ie  to  hold  their  lu'sts.     As  a  rule,  these  rocky 

(ditfs    are    the    summer   homes  of  iiniumeraltle    waterfowl,   on   whose    youufjf, 

as  well    as  on    l'tarmi<^-an,  they   l>''^'y   to  a  {iTeat  extent  ilin'inj>'  the  season  of 

reproduction. 

'I'he  usual  number  of  eggs  to  a  sot  is  probably  three  or  four,  and  they 
are  not  likely  to  be  deposited  much  1)efore  May   1. 


H.vtiuctH  I'lDiii  .NulaDU's  Koiioit  mi  Natural  llislmy  t'ollruUoiis  iiiaili'  in  Alaska,  1S77-18H1,  iip.  H.'i,  llti. 


TIIK  NVIIITK  CIYIIFALCON. 


988 


( H"  tilt'  two  spcciint'iirt,  hutli  from  ditVcrcn,  iii'stH,  in  t\w  V.  H.  Niitioiiul 
.Nriist'iiiM  collcctiuii,  iiikI  iil)oiit  will  s<-  cori'tM't  iilciiirinitioii  I  iiiu  l)y  no  iiicinm 
satisfied,  No.  •JfKKI,  ininkcd  h'lili  „  itiiiilicinix,  rollt-ctcd  in  (Jn-cnland  in  IS^S, 
and  pin'ciiasfd  from  Madam  11.  Drouft,  mcasin'cs  only  fiT  !)>'  4')  millimftri-s, 
and  s<!cms  to  \n'  too  small  an  i-\i\i  to  lM'lon;>'  to  this  Itird.  No.  l,'('J,'il, 
obtained  from  Dr.  '!'.  M.  lirewer,  and  also  trom  (ireenland,  is  more  of  tlie 
prohalile  si/,e,  measMrin<;'  r)',l.r)  hy  Ai'i.h  millimetres. 

'I'liey  resemlde  the  efif^s  of  the  (iyifaleon  hoth  in  shape  and  color,  and 
are  not  distin;;'nishal)le  from  these,  makin>;'  a  detailed  description  unneees- 
sar\'.      None  of  these  e;;'jj;s  are  lij>'ure(l, 

94.     Falco  rusticolus  Linn.ki'h. 

OK.W    (IVKIAI.CnN. 

Fnlri)  ninliriilus  LlNN-Kl'M.  Systema  Natura'.  imI.   |o.  i.  IT.IH,  HA. 

(H  \i.  ('— .  K  ll->/(,  ('  ;.o(i,  1 1  :i,'..|.) 

(JROOKAPIIICAI.    UANOK:     K.Vtrclllf    nortlliTII     |HPrliiillS    n{'    Kui'ope    (cxci'pt    ScaiKJi- 

11,'iviii),  Asia,  and  Norlli   .Viiiericn.  iiiclii<liiiff  Icclaiid  and  sdiillicin  ( Jri'i'iilaiid  :  suutli 
in  winter  to  Mortiicrn  lioi'di'r  n(  I'nitcd  Stuli'.v. 

'Hie  (}ray  (iyrfaleon  is  another  species  \vh,  c  hreedinji'  ran;;)'  is  still 
rather  imperfectly  known.  Accindin;;  to  Uidj^way  it  inhaltits  the  extreme 
northern  portions  of  Mnrope  (exceptinji'  Scanilinavia),  Asia,  and  Noi-tli  .Vmerica, 
inclndinji'  Iceland  and  southern  (Jreeidand,  and  it  prohaldy  lireeds  thrtmiih- 
ont  the  ranji'c  indicated.  In  sontli  (ireenland  and  Iceland  it  is  said  to  nest 
naistly  on  the  inaccessilde  clitfs  .alonji'  the  seashore,  nsnalK  in  close  proximity 
In  l)ird  rocks,  which  snp}ily  them  with  an  alinndance  i>\'  easily   pmcnred  food. 

The  e^^'i^'s  of  the  (Jra\'  ({\rt'alcon  are  said  to  he  three  ur  fonr  in  nnndier, 
and  indistin^^nishaltle,  Itoth  in  color  and  size,  from  those  of  the  other  lar}>'e 
(i\'rfalcons  fonnd  in  noi-thern  North  .\merica.  In  sontli  (ireenland  tlie\' 
are  iisiially  deposited  diirinj''  the  latter  part  of  April  and  tliroiiuhuiit  May. 
There  are  no  specimens  in  the   V .  S.  National    Miisenm  colh-ctioii. 

95.     Falco  rusticolus  gyrfalco  (Linn.ei-.s). 

(iVKrAI.CON. 

Fiilro  <i!/rf(tlci)  LlN'N.Kls.  Systeina   Xatiira'.  cd.  10.  L,  17,^8,  91. 
Fillri)  rilnlifulilN  ijijrtdlni  .StK.INKOKK,  Allk.  II,  IHSr>,  1S7. 

(H  — .  ('  ;tH.  K  41  a//,  C  4!)H.  U  -.iMu.) 

'      (}Ko(iKAl*lll('Ai.  KANOK:    Noi'tlicrii   Eiii'oiic  aiid  Arctic  Aiiici'ica,  fnun   iiortlicni 
Lal)i'a(liir  and  coasts  of  Hudson  Hay  to  Alaska. 

The  l)reedini>'  raiifii;  of  the  (Syrfalcon,  a  sli<fhtly  darker  cohired  bird 
than  the  precedinji',  is  somewhat  better  known  than  that  of  the  two  allied 
subspecies  alr«'ady  mentione<l.  It  includes  Arctic  North  America,  from  north- 
ern   Labrador  and   the  coasts  of  lliidson  Mav,   thronohont  the   .so-called    Fur 


'■' 


lii 


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.!iil> 


284 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  RIRDS. 


if- 

i  -f 
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i 


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Country  in  tlio  interior,  to  Alaskii.  It  is  nlso  fonnd  in  northern  Eiu'ope 
(Seandiniiviii).  It  iiijpiirently  <loes  not  reach  <niite  snch  hi<;fli  northern  hiti- 
tudes  as  the  otlier  subspecies  ahvady  nientionetl. 

Mr.  K.  MacFarhine,  eliief  factor  of  tiie  Ihidson  Bay  (/Onipany,  states  that 
this  Fah'on  is  connnon  in  tlie  wooded  coinitry  on  i)otli  sich's  of  tlie  Aiuh'rson 
liiver,  and  from  tlie  fact  that  over  twenty  nests  were  secured  hy  him  tiiis  nuist 
certainly  be  the  ease.  All  of  these  nests,  with  but  two  exceptions,  were  placed 
close  to  or  near  the  tops  of  the  tallest  trees  in  tlie  neifj^hborliood,  generally  in 
])ines.  One  nest  was  built  on  a  ledf>e  (if  rocks  and  the  other  aj>ainst  the  side  of 
a  deej)  raviric.  'I'he  nests  were  eom])osed  of  sticks  and  small  branches  and 
lined  with  mosses,  hay,  deer  hair,  feathers,  etc.  'riiey  were  similar  in  com- 
position but  smaller  in  size  than  those  of  the  Maid  Ivijile,  and  while  the 
numbi^r  oi  ef^jjs  was  either  three  or  four,  their  contents  were  fretpiently  found 
in  ditVerent  staj^es  of  develoiiment. 

iJoth  parents  manifested  much  anifer  and  excitement  when  interfered  witli, 
or  even  distantly  approached.  They  made  a  "•reat  noise,  and  indeed  more 
than  onee  their  folly  in  comin<i-  so  near  and  .screamiu}''  ,so  loudly  over  our  heads 
attracted  attention  to  .some  that  would  otherwise  have  escaped  notice.  The 
earliest  date  of  iiiidiiiji'  a  nest  was  May  10,  18(53,  at  Anderson  Wiver  Fort. 
The  ej.'-gs,  three  in  number,  were  (piite  fresh.  In  another,  taken  tive  days 
Iat(*r,  the  e<i<rs  contained  partially  formed  embryos.  In  a  few  cases  youiij; 
birds  were  found  in  the  same  nest  with  e<;<is,  the  contents  of  wliicii  were  but 
little  chanji'ed,  and  in  another  ne.st  a  perfectly  fresh  ej^-jf  was  found  with  several 
I'eadv  to  hatch.  In  nearly  e\('ry  case  the  ejij^s  seeiiu'd  to  lie  in  dilfereiit  stafjes 
of  develo|)nient,  and  incubation  seems  to  be}>in  as  soon  as  the  lirst  e<i<>'  is  laid.' 
The  latest  date  on  which  ejij^s  were  found  by  Mr.  MacFarlaue,  acconliiij^'  to  the 
records  in  the  V.  S.  National  Museum,  is  June  1'2,  1,S(!4,  when  two  sets  of  four 
eirirs  I'ach  were  taken. 

Nelson,  in  speakinjr  of  this  specie.s,  says:  "Throuj^liout  Alaska,  fnmi  the 
Aleutian  Islands  north,  both  alonf>-  the  coast  and  in  the  interior,  extendiuff 
from  Heriuf;'  Strait  across  the  northern  jMirtion  of  Mriti.sh  America,  the  present 
Falcon  is  the  «'oinmonest  resident  liird  of  prey.  It  was  4ibserved  by  Murdoch 
at  I'oint  Harrow,  thoufih  it  was  not  common.  It  frecpieiits  the  vicinity  of  clitfs 
and  rocky  points  about  the  seacoast,  or  the  rocky  ravines  of  the  interior  durin<;' 
the  breedin<r  season :  and  the  remainder  of  tlu^  year,  especially  in  the  fall,  it  is 
found  wanderinjj  over  the  c<mutry  everywhere  that  food  can  be  olitaiiied;  it 
is  e.speciallv  numerous  during'  the  migration  of  the  Ptarmigan  along  the  sea- 
coast.     *     *     * 

"Along  the  seacoa.st  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Michael  it  breeds  rarely,  choos- 
ing rocky  cliH's,  lacing  the  sea.  Along  the  Lower  Yukon,  and  the  Kuskokwiiii 
River,  it  is  numerous  in  winter,  and  finds  an  almndance  of  I'tarmigan,  upon 
which  it  preys.  At  this  season  it  is  fre(iuently  seen  perching  on  a  stout  branch 
of  a  tree  overhanging  the  river  bank,  and  I  have  seen  it  on  .several  occasions 
' From  li.  MocKarlmiu'i)  Manuscript  Notos on  llin  \Ai\\i\  iiiul  WahM-  HirdH  Npstinu  in  liiit'Hli  Aniorim. 


THE  CVKFALCON. 


285 


allow  a  train  of  ilofj  sk'dfjos  to  pass  within  40  or  TiO  yjivds,  tnily  noticing  their 
presenco  ])y  slowly  tuniiii^-  its  hi-ad. 

"It  was  seen  in  the  \iciiiity  of  Hcrin;"'  Strait  and  aro;uid  the  shore  of 
Norton  Sound  durinj;-  the  cruise  of  the  Conriii  in  the  sunnuir  '>f  ISKl,  as 
also  upon  the  northeast  shore  of  Siberia,  in  the  vicinity  of  East  V,n\w  ,uid 
Plover  Hay.'" 

Mr.  I.,.  M.  Turner  obtained  several  specimens  of  this  Gyrfalcon  in  tlu^ 
vicinity  of  St.  Afichai^l,  where  he  says  it  is  a  constant  resident,  except  during- 
protracted  periods  of  severe  weather  in  winter  ()nly.  Accordinj;'  to  tlu'  natives 
it  breeds  on  the  hi^^h  hills,  either  on  a  rocky  led<>'e  or  on  tlie  moss-covered 
firound.     lie  faile<l  to  obtain  the  ni'st  and  ej^ji^s. 

Mr.  dames  Lockhart  found  the  (Jyrfalcon  breediu},'  on  the  Yukon  Kiver 
100  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Porcu|)ine  Hiver,  and  took  a  nest  and  thrcH' 
(j^ifs  thert!  in  tFunc,  1S(I2.  .Messrs.  MacDouji'all  and  .(ones  also  took  their 
c<;os  near  Kort  Yukon,  Alaska,  in  \Xi\f),  and  all  of  these  sjxu'iniens  are  now 
iu  the  U.  S.  National  Museum  collection. 

Krom  our  present  knowledj^e  it  apjtears  that  the  (Jyrfalcon  l)reeds  north 
of  latitude  (!r»°.  It  has  not  been  found  nestinj'-  farther  south  than  this,  so 
t'lir  as  I  can  learn,  althou;i'h  in  winter  the.se  birds  strayf>le  sometimes  into 
Canada  and  the  northern  borders  of  tlu!  United  States.  In  Scandinavia  the 
(Jyrfalcon  usually  conunences  layiuf;-  abmit  the  end  of  April,  and  the  nests 
are  jj^enerally  placed  on  clitVs,  rarely  in  trees. 

The  ejiji's  aro  thrt'o  or  four  in  numi)er.  The  <irounil  color,  when  distinctly 
\isil)le,  which  is  not  oft«'U  the  ease,  is  creamy  white,  'i'his  is  usually  hidden 
Ity  a  paUi  cinnamon  rufous  suifusion.  In  an  occasional  speciiiu'U  it  .seems  to  be 
piuki.sh  vinaceous.  The  e;i<;s  are  closely  sftotted  and  blotched  with  small,  irre<x- 
ular  markiujfs  of  dark  reddish  brown,  l)rick-red,  ochi'aceous  rutous,  and  tawny. 
Tlu'se  niiirkinfi's — usually  pretty  evenly  distributed  over  the  entire  ei;<j; — ari^ 
jfenerally  small  in  size,  and  niori'  or  less  couHuent.  Some  specimens  show 
scarcely  any  trace  of  markinj;s,  the  v<>if  bein}>-  of  a  nearly  uniform  c<dor 
throufi'hout.  One  of  the  ejjfi^s  ti<fured,  from  an  incomplete  set  of  two  (No. 
KM  72),  both  alike,  is  a  most  ])eculiarly  markeil  specimen.  In  the  jicueral  pat- 
tern of  uiarkiuf^s  the  e>,f<is  of  tlu*  (Jyrfalcon  approach  those  of  the  IVairie 
Falcon  {luiliD  iiic.riitiHKs)  imtcli  closer  than  tlios(^  of  the  Duck  Hawk  (Faico 
IH'n'firiinis  (nitifiini),  which  as  a.  rule  are  nnu'h  darker.  In  shape  they  vary  from 
ovate  to  roumled  ovate.  The  shells  of  these  eygs  feel  rough  to  the  touch,  are 
irregularly  granulated,  and  without  luster. 

The  average!  measurement  of  thirty-two  .speciuu'us  in  tlu;  V.  S.  National 
MTiseum  collection  is  f)!!.')  by  4")  millimeti'es,  thi'  largest  egg  iu  tlu)  series 
measuring  (i.'}  Ity  4f).r»,  tlu^  smallest  57.0  by  4iJ  millimetres. 

'V\n'  type  specimens  ligm-ed  wei'e  ol)vained  as  follows:  No.  10172  (PI.  11, 


1- 


itr.  !• 


),  fr' 


om  an  mcom 


plete  set  of  two,  was  taken  dune  12,   1H(;4;  No.   i;{7!)0 


(PI.  !),  Fig.  H),  a  single  i'iXii:,  taken  in  ,Iune,   ISCo;   No.    lSl\)-2  (PI.  !»,  Fig.  (;), 

'  Rupcirt  (Ml  Natural  llixtury  Collitutioii  iiiuilo  ill  Aluska,  NoIhou,  ttJTT-Itmi,  pp.  146,  147. 


Bsl 


286 


LU'E  IJlSTOUIliS  OF  NOUTH  AMERICAN  1UKU8. 


from  a  sot  of  tliivi',  also  taken  in  .June,  lHf!5.  TIii'v  wtM'o  all  collucti'd  by 
tlu!  iufk'fatigahlu  Mr.  I{.  MacFarlane,  near  Amleisou  River  Fort,  An.'tic, 
America,  situated  in  latitude  (J8°  '6h'  N. 

g6.    Falco  rusticolus  obsoletus  (Gmelin). 

BLACK   GYRKAIX'ON. 

Fnlco  tihunli'lu.s  Omei.in.  Systciiia  Niituni',  i,  i.  1788,  a()8. 
Falco  ruslirnlun  ohHolcluti  Stkjnecsek,  Auk,  II,  1885.  187. 

(B  -,  C  — ,  R  iVir,  C  4!i!l,  U  354/a) 

GEociRAPHlc'AL  KANtJE  :  Coust  of  Labrador;  south  in  winter  (o  Caiuida,  Maine, 
and  Now  York. 

As  far  as  known  at  ju'esent  the  brecdiuj?  ran};e  of  tlu-  Mlack  flyrfalcon, 
the  darkest  colored  bird  of  this  f^enus,  is  coniiiu'd  to  the  coast  of  Labra<lor. 

Jlr.  L.  J\I.  TuriU'r,  of  the  I'.  S.  .Signal  Service,  jiixcs  the  followinj; 
account  of  this  subspecies  in  his  "  \otes  on  the  Birds  of  l>al»rador  and 
Un}»'ava,"  and  he  has  kindly  permitted  me  to  make  the  follo\vin<r  extracts 
from  the  .same,  lie  .says:  "A  mnnber  of  speciumns  of  this  larj^e  Ilawk 
were  prociu'ed  at  Fort  ("liimo.     *     «     » 

"A  pair  of  these  Hawks  had  been  fre(|uentin};  the  Chapel  for  tlu;  last  six 
weeks  and  were  occasionally  seen  throu<ihout  the  winter.  The  nest  site 
tirst  selected  was  deserted  and  a  new  oiu^  chosen,  some  200  yards  to  the 
.south,  but  on  the  same  side  of  the  bliitf.  The  Chapel  is  an  imnu'nse  rock, 
some  300  feet  abov(^  the  surroundiufi'  rocks,  and  gradually  slopes  upward  to 
t]w  north  eiul,  which  is  almost  precipit(Uis  and  absolutely  inaccessible,  'i'he 
west  side  of  the  north  end  is  nearly  perpendicular  tor  half  the  len<>tli,  but 
varvini;-  sonu'  40  to  DO  feet  in  heiiiht  alonjj;  the  perpendicular  ])ortion.  The 
eastern  side  is  more  abru])t  and  hifjher,  beinj^'  in  places  over  200  feet,  almost 
perpendicular.  Here  are  several  led<i-es  on  which  these  Hawks  have  built 
their  nests  for  many  years.  'I'he  southern  end  of  the  hill  is  low  aiul  forms 
an  easy  slope  to  the  to]).  The  nests  of  these  Hawks  were  attaiiuil)Ie  only 
by  a  person  Ix'iu;^-  lowered  over  the  sid(^  of  the  clitf.  On  April  7  1  oliserved 
beneath  the  lu-st  site  tirst  selected  a  nund)er  of  sticks  and  other  refuse  lyinjf  mi 
the  snow  ladow,  as  thou}>h  the  locality  had  been  subjected  to  a  rearranije- 
ment  or  cleanin<>-  process,  and  such  material  as  appeared  umu'cessary  was 
rejected  nnd  cast  over  the  side  of  the  le<lu<.,  'Plu.  site  of  this  nest  was  a 
luUTow  lefli>e  of  rock  which  projected  from  the  main  wall  and  end)raced 
an  area  of  not  over  .'5  superticial  feet.  Here  were  a  nund)er  of  sjmu'c  and 
larch  twifrs  and  liranches  of  various  sizes  indtedded  in  what  ap])eared  to 
be  the  accunudateil  debris  of  many  freiierations.  Ainon<;  this  a  few  jfrass 
seeds  had  found  enou<ih  soil  to  eiialile  them  1o  send  forth  a  rank  {growth, 
which  was  now  a])pearinjr.  This  mass  or  accunuilation  was  about  10  inches 
dee])  aiul  covered  nearly  the  entire  surface  of  the  ledjjre.  The  new  nest, 
fonniujr  au  irregular  truncate  cone,  was  |)laced  on  this. 


•.i' 


TUE  BLACK  GYltFALCON. 


287 


"On  tlic  "intli  (if  May  I  iifraiii  visited  tlio  locality  ami  succci'ik'd  in 
])Ut)iii^  a  ciiar^i!  ot"  shot  into  the  ti-nialc,  wliicli  had  since;  tiit)  1  Itli  of  the 
month  takun  up  with  thu  mate  of  tho  bird  shot  on  tiiat  date.  Tho  one  aiiot 
on  the  20th  fell  lu-arly  n  mile  distant  after  tuml)linff  headloii};  several  times 
tlninif^h  tho  air,  and  I  could  not  find  lier.  1  su|)])osed  that  the  nest  would 
now  be  abandoned  by  the  male,  as  lie  was  ])articularly  wary  and  {^ave 
warning  (iven  when  I  was  over  a  thousand  yards  distant. 

"On  May  22  1  went  with  a  jKirty  of  four  to  lowt-r  me  over  the  cliff  to 
secure  the  (i<^<^>^  which  luijfht  remain  in  the  nest.  To  my  <;r('at  astonishment 
1  found  a  ])air  of  these  Falcons  launchin<^  into  tii»!  air  from  the  same  site. 
I  descended  to  the  uest.  In  front  of  it  hu>^e  icicles  stood  joined  with  the 
sli^iitly  projectinj^  roof  above  the  ledge;  some  of  these  ice  colunnis  were  2 
or  13  inchf's  thick  and  4  inches  wide,  forming  an  icy  ])ali,sade  around  the 
edge  of  the  n<^st  and  permitting  approach  to  the  interior  only  by  a  narrow 
space  or  dooi-way  next  the  main  wall  of  rock,  and  I  was  comi)elled  to 
detach  the  ice  before  1  could  reach  the  four  eggs  I  .saw  within  the  nest, 
wliich  was  comi»osed  (tf  a  few  twigs  and  l)ranclies  of  larch  and  spruce, 
irregularly  disposed  on  the  outer  side  of  the  rim  of  tiie  m-st  to  prevent  the 
eggs  from  rolling  out,  forming  only  a  semicircular  i)rotection,  while  the 
rear  portion  was  a  part  of  the  liare  rock  of  the  ledge.  Hi'low  these  twigs 
were  the  remains  of  former  nests.  Somt;  of  the  sticks  were  so  rotten  that 
tiicy  would  not  support  their  weight  when  held  l)y  one  end.  The  eggs 
were  placed  nearly  touching  each  other.  'I'hey  contaiiu'd  small  end)ryos 
and  liad  l)een  incul)ated  about  twelve  days.  'i'he  parent  of  the.se  is  No. 
lliaOK   in  the.U.  S.  National  Museum  collection.     *     *     * 

"This  subspecies  is  the  most  al)undant  of  any  Hawk  observed  in  this 
region.  During  the  excessively  cold  periods  of  winter  but  few  are  to  be  seen. 
Al>out  the  mi(hlle  of  March  they  are  more  alnuidant  an<l  become  plentiful  by 
the  last  of  April.  *  *  *  Their  food  consists  almost  exclusi\ely  of  Ptarmi- 
gan, little  else  being  found  in  their  stomachs.  They  seize  their  ju'ey  while  on 
the  wing,  depending  (h)ubtless  on  their  sudden  a])pearaiu'e  among  a  Hock  of 
Ptarmigan  to  put  their  prey  to  flight,  when  it  may  l)e  secured.  Their  food 
is  devoureil  on  the  ground;    I  have  never  seen  them  carry  it  in  their  talons. 

"The  young  birds  are  able  to  leave  the  nest  i>y  the  middle  of  Augn.st,  and 
in  SeptcMuber  of  some  years  they  are  (juite  al)nndant,  flying  ovtM'  the  houses  at 
Fort  Cliimo  with  l)ut  little  fear.  *  *  «  Their  manner  of  Hight  is  by 
extremely  rapid  wing  l)eats  followed  by  sailing  for  a  few  rods.  They  j)ass 
through  the  air  with  great  rapidity,  no  bird  of  prey  in  those  regions  flying 
more  I'apidly.  •  *  *  'Plie  only  note  evi-r  heard  from  this  Hawk  was  a 
chattering  .scream  of  the  syllables  'ke-a,  ke-a,  ke-a,'  repeated  a  number  of 
times,  more  ra])idly  toward  the  fifth  or  sixth  utterance,  ami  finally  so  blended 
that  the  sound  is  a  rattling  scream.  I  have  never  seen  one  of  tiu'se  Hawks 
alight  in  or  Hy  from  a  tree.  In  the  Fnga  a  district  they  invariably  select  a 
le<lge  of  rock  on  the  cliflPtf  for  nesting  jtlaces." 


m 


■■■.■V 


ii 


K^i\i 


■  -       1 


I  If: 


288 


LIFE  IllSTOlUKS  OF  NOltTU  AMIiKKJAN  BIKDS, 


"On  Au<>iist  (i,  IH;$;{,  Mr.  .Folni  W.  Audulxm  tuuii<l  ii  nest  of  this  Falcon 
amonjf  sonus  nx-ky  c^lifFs  natir  Hras  d'i  )r,  liabnulor,  containinjf  fonr  younj^  birds 
ready  to  tly,  two  ot"  wliuili  wore  soc/arod.  Tho  nest  was  placed  anionjj  the 
rocks  abuut  AO  feet  from  their  suinniit  Jind  more  than  300  feet  from  their 
base.  It  was  composed  of  sticks,  seaweed,  and  mosses,  was  abont  2  feet  in 
diameter,  and  almost  flat.  Its  ed<,''es  were  strewed  with  the  remains  of  their 
food,  aii<l  beneath  the  nest  was  an  accnnudatioii  of  tlie  win;^s  of  the  Ptarmigan, 
Mormons,  Uriic,  etc.,  mingled  with  large  pellets  of  fur,  bones,  and  various 
substances." ' 

Four  eggs  seem  to  be  the  num))er  usually  laid  by  this  Falcon,  and 
they  are  de})osited  about  the  middle  of  May.  The  shells  of  these  eggs  are 
roughly  gj-auulated  and  without  luster.  In  shaj)e  they  are  ovate,  and  appar- 
ently indistinguishal)le  from  those  of  the  preceding  subspecies;  the  .set  under 
consideration,  and  tlie  only  one  in  the  U.  S.  Natii>nal  Museum  collection,  is  a 
trifle  ligiiter  colored. 

The  ground  color  is  a  (ireamy  white  nearly  hidden  by  fine  irregular 
markings  of  light  ruildish  or  rusty  brown.  Three  of  the  specimens  are  thus 
marked;  in  the  fourth  and  lightest  colored  one  these  markings  are  more  of  a 
clay  color,  with  scarcely  a  trace  of  red.  They  all  differ  slightly  in  color  from 
each  other. 

The  measurement  of  these  eggs  is  as  foll(»ws:  AH  by  45.5,  58  by  44.5, 
57.5  by  45,  and  57  by  45.5  millimetres. 

Tlie  type  specimen,  No.  2-2:W.)  (PI.  10,  Fig.  1),  was  collected  near  Fort 
Chimo,  Labrador,  May  22,  1HH3,  by  Mr.  L.  M.  Turner,  U.  S.  Signal  Service. 

97.     Falco  mexicanus  Schlegel. 

I'KAIKIE    KAI.CON. 

Fidco  mexicanwi  ScHi.EOEL,  Abhaudhmp'ii  aiis  dcin  Gobioto  dor  Zoologie,  1841,  15. 

(B  10,  C  34-,>,  K  41:3,  C  bo-i,  U  :!5.5  ) 

GEo(iKAi'ni('.\L  KANOK:  Wt'stiTii  United  States,  from  eastern  t)ordor  of  tho  Great 
Plains  tij  the  Paeilic,  south  into  Mexico;  easual  eastward  to  Illinois. 

The  breeding  range  of  tlie  Prairie  or  Lanner  Fah^on  includes  the  more 
open  country  from  eastern  Texas  in  the  vicinity  of  Houston,  where  Nelirling 
reports  it  as  resident  but  not  common,  north  through  the  Indian  Territory, 
Kansas,  northwestern  Mi.ssouri,  and  Nebraska  to  Sciutb  and  North  Dakota, 
which  .seems  to  form  the  northern  limit  of  its  lireeding  range,  as  far  as  known 
at  present.  Pmf.  .1.  Macomi  has  taken  it  at  Iliisli  I^ako.  Northwest  Territory, 
in  latitude  i't\'^,  and  it  jirobaljly  occurs  and  i)i'('eds  in  small  numbers  along  the 
southern  l)order  of  the  Uominioii  of  (Janada  from  western  Manitoba  to  southern 
Hritish  (!olumbia.  From  tlie  Dakotas  it  I'eaclies  westward  through  the  interven- 
ing States,  exceiiting  the  densely  timbered  and  higlier  mountain  regions,  to  the 

>  History  North  Aiuoricau  Birds,  1874,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  liil. 


THE  I'UAllUE  FALCON. 


mj 


Pacific  coast,  wlicro  it  seeiiis  to  lu'  fairly  coiiinioii  in  suital)lc  localities  tlirou<,'li- 
out  Wasliiiiffton,  Orcffon,  and  California.  1  have  no  doultt  tliat  it  crossos  our 
hordor  into  IJritisli  C'olninl)ia,  as  I  have  found  tlieni  Itrccdin}^  not  unconi- 
iiioiily  on  tlio  Upper  C'oluiid)ia  River,  close  to  the  boundary  line.  South  it 
extends  throuf^'h  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  Lower  California,  and  northwestern 
Texas  into  Mexico.  It  seems  to  be  e(|ually  and  ])ossil)ly  ni(»re  al)nndant  in 
the  central  portions  of  its  range,  indudinfi'  portions  of  Colorado,  Wyoming, 
Arontana,   Utah,  Nevada,  and  Idaho. 

It  breeds  in  all  the  hu-alities  mentioned,  but  is  only  a  sunnner  resident  in 
the  northern  j)ortions  of  its  range,  wintering  east  of  the  liocky  Mountains 
from  about  latitude  37''  southward.  On  tlu!  I'acilic  (;oast  some  of  these  Fal- 
cons at  least  remain  throughout  the  winter  as  far  north  as  latitude  45^  .'}()', 
where  I  have  nuit  with  them  at  Foi't  Walla  Walla,  Washington,  and  also  shot 
an  adult  male  on  February  l!),  IHHf),  at  Fort  Custer,  Montana,  while  the 
weather  was  still  intensely  cold. 

Though  on  the  whole  perha|)s  more  of  a  ])rairi(!-loving  species,  this  Falcon 
does  not  confine  itself  exclusively  to  open  country,  l)Ut  inlial)its  an<l  breeds  in 
the  lower  mountains  as  well;  sometimes  even  where  heavily  timbered.  1  have 
repeat(Mlly  se((n  them  diu'ing  the  ))reeding  season  in  the  Hlue  Mountains,  near 
(!amp  Harney,  as  well  as  in  the  Casca(hi  Uange,  ni^ar  Fort  Klamath,  ( )regon, 
where  they  nested  in  souu*  of  the  numerous  canons,  and  on  inaccessibk;  <lilfs 
abounding  in  these  regions. 

In  the  latter  part  of  May,  187!*,  while  ascending  the  Ujiper  Cohuubia 
Hiver  in  a  .steamer  from  Wallula  to  Priest's  Rapids,  Wa.shington,  which  was 
then  the  head  of  navigation,  I  noticed  a  nest  of  this  Falc»»u  in  a  small  cavity 
of  a  chalk  blurt",  rising  perpendicularly  for  about  I'iO  feet  directly  out  of  the 
water.  The  nesting  site  was  nearly  midway  up  tlie  Idutf  (called  White  I'dufi"), 
and  as  the  main  channel  ran  along  the  foot  of  it,  1  had  rather  a  good  oppor- 
tunity to  e.\amin(i  it  closely. 

In  thos(^  days  stiiamc^rs  seldom  ascended  the  river  so  far,  and  the  surround- 
ing country  was  almost  uninhabited,  excepting  here  ami  there  l)y  small  roving 
Itands  of  ludian.s.  As  we  approacheil  the  Idufi'  l)oth  tlie  old  Falcons  circled 
around  above  the  nest,  screaming  loudly  in  a  high  key.  Their  alarm  note 
was  a  rapidly  repeated  "kee,  kcc,  kec,"  'I'ld  a  so'-t  of  cackle.  Standing  on 
the  upper  deck  of  tlui  boat  I  could  see  the  young  jjlainly;  there  were  certainly 
four  and  jjossibly  five  of  them,  and  they  ajjpeared  to  be  sitting  on  the  bare 
grountl.  I  saw  I)ut  litth;  nesting  material  lying  about  the  outer  eilgc  df  the 
cavity,  and  this  seemed  to  me  to  look  mon^  like  scraps  of  refu.se  than  anything 
els»).  The  cavity  was  rather  shallow  and  not  nnicli  more  than  large  enough  to 
hold  th(!  young.  The  site  was  practically  inaccessible,  excepting  by  rope  from 
above.  'I'he  surroun<ling  country  was  utterly  devi>id  of  trees  and  consisted  of 
o])en  grass  and  sagel)rush-covered  table-lands. 

Landing  at  Mm  foot  of  Priest's  Rapids,  the  journey  was  continued  to 
Wenatchee  on  hor.sei>ack  along  the  north  side,  and  from  there  on  the  .south 
269D7— Bull.  1 19 


m 


1  ;  , 


.a** 


290 


LIFE  lIlSTOiJlES  OF  NOKTIl  AMKKIOAN  r.lKDS. 


i   ^ 


V,- 


1r 


sido  of  tlio  Coliiinl)ia  to  a  point  opposite!  tlu*  inoiitli  t»t'  tlu^  ( )kiiiakiiu(', 
tollowiiiff  tiu!  slioivs  of  tlio  t'oniici'  wliciHJVd'  |)i'acti(iil»lt'.  On  tliis  ninrcli  I 
«a\v  sovoral  more  of  their  uosts,  all  in  similar  lociitions  on  small  projcctin^i 
k'djri's  of  porpondicular  cliffs,  most  of  them  at  a  considcrabli!  heif^lit  from 
tlu)  {ground  and  noarly  all  practically  inaccessible,  uidcss  ono  was  provided 
with  stron<!^  roi)es  and  IowcicmI  from  above.  A*  the  season  was  too  far  ail- 
vanced  1  did  not  attempt  to  exfmiine  any  of  these  nests  for  e^ji's.  Tiu'se 
Falcons  seemed  to  he  connnon  enoiij^h  throuji'iont  the  entire  re;ii(in  trav<'led 
over,  and  were  ai)ont  the  only  iJaptores  seen  in  this,  for  the  most  pint, 
scantily  tindiered  country. 

At  Fort  Walla  Wnllii,  Washiiii>ton,  1  noticed  the  Prairie  Fah-on  more 
often  in  the  late  snnnner  ami  fall,  a  few  dnrin;;-  the  winter,  and  aj;fiin  in  the 
spriii};  oi\  the  return  from  their  mi;^Tations.  Without  especiidiy  li>okin;;'  for 
them,  I  usually  obtained  half  a  dozen  specimens  each  sea.son,  yonn<f  birds 
greatly  prechaninatinj^'. 

While  here  they  ted  jirincipally  on  Mrewer's  IJlackbirds  (^Sriilcidiihdf/iis 
cifatioirphaliis'),  which  always  conjiiej^iited  in  lar<;'e  flocks  about  tlie  cavidry 
stables,  except  durin<j-  the  breedinf^'  season,  and  were  coii.'^tantly  harassed  by 
this  Falcon,  and  also,  but  to  a  less  extent,  by  the  I'iyetai  Hawk  and  the 
Ulack  and   Hichardson's  Merlins. 

The  dead  top  of  one  of  the  lar^^est  Cottonwood  trees  ;;rowinj;'  on  the 
banks  of  the  little  creek  tlowin;;-  past  the  fi'arrison  was  selected  as  a  favorite 
]ierch  by  nearly  all  thesis  birds,  and  fully  three-fourths  of  tlu^  specina-ns 
obtained  were  killed  from  it.  As  atVoi'diufi'  them  the  best  outhtok  over  the 
HiuToundinj;-  country  it  was  no  doubt  selected  on  that  account.  Most  of  their 
huntinjr  was  done  early  in  the  mornin;;-  and  ajiain  about  an  hour  before 
sunset.  Mournini;'  Doves,  Western  Meafh>w  Larks,  and  a  domestic  l'ij;-c(in  tur- 
nisluMl  them  now  and  then  with  a  na-al,  and  I  have  also  found  the  remains 
of  a  t'ohunbian  Shar])-tailed  (Jrouse  in  the  crop  of  one  specimen.  Poultry 
was  rarely  nioli-sted;  and  althou^jh  one;  of  these  Falcons  would  souu'times 
make  a  flash  at  .some  of  the  fowls,  it  seemed  to  me  that  it  was  done  more 
to  scare  and  to  see  them  run  than  to  capture  them.  Not  a  sini^le  instance 
came  luvder  my  observation  where  a  chicken  was  actually  struck  by  onc^  of 
them.  I  have  no  doid)t  whatexcr  that  they  are  iully  caital)le  of  killing;'  a 
full-};rown  hen  and  of  carryinj"'  her  otf,  but  they  ilo  not  seem  to  care  for 
poultry,  and  1  have  more  than  once  seen  chickens  feedinj.;'  under  a  tree  in 
which  one  of  these  birds  was  sittinji'. 

On  the  plains  where  hares  are  abundant  they  are  said  to  live  partly  on 
them,  and,  should  other  food  bi^  scarce,  no  doui)t  some  of  the  various  species 
of  rodents  found  in  such  localities  are  also  capture(l.  In  the  vicinity  of 
Walla  Walla  they  subsisted  almost  entirely  on  such  liirds  as  nu'Utioned. 

They  are  strong  and  powerful  for  tluur  size,  very  tenaciiais  of  life,  and 
ugly  customers  to  handle  when  wounded,  invariably  throwing  themsel\-es  on 
their  backs  and  tiercely  striking  (uit  with  their  sharp  talons.     Their  flight  is 


a"' 


TUE  rUAlUlE  FALCON. 


2UI 


easy  Jind  {jriicefiilly  iiccnniplislu'd  by  nipid  wiii^r  Ik-siIs  and  alternate  sailin}'', 
and  when  once    launclii'd  after  the  solocted   victim   they  are    as  swift  as  an 


arrow. 


1  believe  that  the  Prairie  Falcon  nests  almost  invariably  on  roeky  cliUs 
or  |)er|)endi('nlar  blulls,  on  ledjfes  or  in  small  caxities  in  the  same,  and  but 
rarely  in  other  sitnations.  ( lol.  N.  S.  (Joss,  lioweNcr,  in  his  "  Mirds  of  Kansas," 
mentions  that  two  ejfffs  of  tliis  s[)ecies  now  in  his  brotlu-r's  collection,  were 
taken  April   2S,  ISSO,  ut  Marysville,   Misscuri,  from  a  tree,  the  nest  beinfi'  l\f) 


feet  from  the  srround ;  it  was  not  stated  \>'hether  the  nest  wa 


s  an  open  one  m 


the  forks  of  branchi's,  or  in  a  hole  of  the  tree,  but  doubtless  tlie  hitter.     Mr. 
Walter  K.  Jiryant,  of  San  Francisco,  California,  who  has  taken  a  number  of 


sets  of  e}.f<"'s  of  this  species,  (bin 


th 


lem  mvariablv  on  clills  h'om  .'50  to  liH)  feet 


from  the  Ixittom.     A   handsome  set  of  five;  ejif^s,   which    he  kindly  presented 
10  writer,  was    taken    on    March  25,    1^X2,  at    I'iiu;    Canon,  near    Mount 


to    tl 

Dial 


Calif 


brnia,  and    were  fresh  when  tbiiiid;    they  were   laid    in  a  cavity 


of  a  cliff  alioiit  4  fei't  in  depth  on  some  saiul  and  liits  of  fur,  feathers,  etc., 
ejected  l»y  the  liirds,  there  beiii<^-  no  nest,     'i'lie  cliff  was  alioiit    KM)  feet   hij;li 


anil 


lei'Dei 


idicnl; 


ir,  aiK 


Sets    of  ejins  of  the   I'rairie    Fal 


I  the  site  about  .'{(>  feet   from   its  base, 


con   now  in  the   l'.  S.   National  ^luseinii 
collection,   from  near  Oilmer,  and    others    from    the    Wind    l\i\er  Mountains, 


W 


\'oinini'',  as  w 


ell  as  from   Hattle  Mountain,  Nevada,  were  all  taken  in  sim 


ilar  situations.     The   first 


of   this    species    l)roii}>'ht    to  the  attention  of 


turalists  weri^  a   set    of    three    taken    on    (Jros  Ventre    txiver,   in  the  Wind 


ua 
b'iver 


M 


oiintams 


by   Dr.   F.   V.   Ilavd 


en,  on  .liiiu 


ISfiO. 


Mr.   Walter   Iv    Ih-yant  also  tbiind  a    pair  of    these    Falcons  nesting;'  in   a 
hi;.;li    cliff    near    San    I'iSteliaii,    Lower    California,    on    i\pril     IS,     ISSit.     'Die 


arliest  <late  on  which  he  took  full   sets  of  e; 


.f  tl 


lis  siH'cies  in 


Calif 


oriiia 


was 
Thest 
raiiN-c, 
iiiiiji'  o 
tlier(!  if^ 


March  24,    ISSl,  and  fresh  ei 


date: 


are 


iro 


balib 


re  taken   l>y  him  as  late  as  April   7. 


as    earn' 


tl 


ie\'     lie 


St    anywhere    within    their 


Farther  north  nidification  is  prntracte(i   tliroiijili  April  and  the  beji-in- 


f  M 


IV, 


ind  occasionally  e\'eii 


into  tile  first 


'k 


WeeK    111 


line 


A 


s  a  run 


rue 


but  little  of 
amoniif  some   o 


nest,  if  aii\-, 


ieiii!«'  lis 


iialh'  laid   on  the  bai 


f   till'    refuse   carried    there    a>  tbud,   siicl 


1   as    bones. 


bit.- 


if  fur. 


anil 


feati 


lers. 


'I'll 


ejiji's    niimher    troiii    tlirei 


th 


to    livi 


sets 


live    seel 


llinii'    to    lie    tile 


usii 


niimhei 


fbuii 
rl 


Id  on 


til 


tl 


icific  coast,   while  in  the  interior  sets  of  tlirei 


r  tniir  are    iierhaiis   mure   common. 


Oc, 


all\     imt    two   I 


"'li's   have   been 


iiiid,    but   it  is   doubtful    if  such    so-called    sets   were   complete  when    takei 


Sliliuld   they    lose    their    first    clutch    of   i 


iius    a    second 


am 


smaller    one    is 


nil 


metimes    laid.     The  c;;<;s  are  deposited    at   intervals  of  a   day   or  two,   and 
lificatioii   lasts  probably  from   three   to  four  weeks.     The  yniiii;.;'  when  first 


hatched  are  covered  with  a   thick  white  tlutl'v  down,  and  tlie\-   "i 


.\ 


s  soon  as 


th 


'V  are  fully   "rown  ai 


d  able    t 


o   care 


fbr 


row   rapidly. 
liemseKes  they  are 


turned  adrift  to   ma 


ke   tl 


leir  o\vn  liviny,  and 


fal 


easy  victims 


he   "Uiis 


w       ^;( 


292 


LIKI'J  lllSTOUlKa  OF  NOKTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS, 


1!< 


of  collectors.  Tho  old  hinls  arc  shy  and  wiiry,  iind  iimcli  luirdcr  to  hrlnj^ 
to  hug.  If  the  e}»'}.f.s  arc  near  tlic  |M)iiit  of  hatchiiif,',  or  if  there  are  yoiiii>r 
in  the  iiest,  the  parents  will  occasionally  defend  them,  showin;;  at  times 
considerable  conrajfe. 

The  majority  of  the  O'^iit^  of  tlu*  Prairie  Falcon  in  tlut  11.  S.  National 
Museum  collection  are  lij^iiter  colored  than  thos(i  of  any  other  Kaicons  found 
on  the  North  American  continent,  exci^ptinf^-  the  ejj^jfs  of  the  Sparrow  Hawk. 
Tlie  ^ifround  color  is  creamy  wliite,  and  easily  visible  iu  a  majority  oi  tlu; 
specimens  l)efore  me.  In  a  few,  iiowever,  this  is  entirely  obscui'ecl  by  tlie 
overlyinj;  pij^ment,  ^ivinjf  the  e^''fi^  a  vinaceous  cinnamon  color,  and  in 
others  a  dirty  day  color.  Pliey  ure  blotched  and  spott(ul  witli  dill'erent 
shades  of  reddish  brown,  tawny,  and  chocolate.  As  a  rule  tlie.s(f  markings 
are  pretty  eveidy  distrilmted  over  the  entire  vn'^;  only  iu  an  occasional 
specimen  are  they  heaviest  on  one  end,  and  in  such  cases  usually  confluent. 
The  avera<]fe  measurement  of  fourteen  specimens  iu  the  II.  S.  National 
Museum  collection  is  53  l)y  41..'')  millimetres,  tlie  larji'cst  Of^f?  nieasurin;r  f)*) 
by  41,  the  smallest  52  by  40  millimetres. 

Tiie  type  .specimens  No.  \!'}'}\)Ci  (IM.  10,  Fijr.  2),  selected  from  a  s(it  of 
five,  n'presentiufr  one  of  the  heavier  markcMl  e;r^s,  was  taken  by  Mr.  II.  H. 
Durkee,  near  Gilmer,  ^Vyomin^^  May  i;{.  1X70,  and  No.  20(>(>4,  from  th(!  Hen- 
dire  collection  (IM.  10,  Fi<>-.  ,'{),  al.so  from  a  set  of  five,  was  taken  in  Pine 
Canon,  Mount  Diablo,  ("alifornia,  by  Mr.  II.  E.  Hryant,  March  2.^),  1882. 
This  is  one  of  tiie  more  sparinj^Iy  marked  s[)ecimens  in  the  (^illection. 


g8.     Falco  peregrinus  anatum  (Honai'aktk). 

DICK    UAWK. 


I   1^ 


•^1^^■ 


i 


,  (   : 


Fnirn  nnafiiDi  Bonap.vktk,  Gi'oifrapliicil  and  Coin|iavativo  List.   ls;)S,    I. 
Falco  penijvinus  (i  (Uialuin  Hlasics,   List  of  tlic  liinls  of  Eunnn!,  ISUa,  3. 
(B  5,  (1,  C  :it;t,  R  lit.  C  rm,  U  :!riO.) 

Geooraphical  ranoe  :  Wliolo  of  America,  south  as  far  at  least  as  Chile  ;  east- 
ern Asia.  ? 

The  breediuff  ranjje  of  the  Duck  Hawk,  or  I'ere<,miie  Falcon,  includes 
the  {freater  portion  of  the  United  States  and  the  Dominion  of  (^anada, 
exceptiuf,'-  perhaps  the  extreme  southern  portions  of  our  domain,  such  as 
Florida  and  the  cotton  States  bordering-  on  tlie  Gulf  coa.st,  wIuM-e  it  appears 
to  be  a  winter  visitor  only.  It  lU'sts  spariufjly  in  suitable  localities  throu;rh- 
out  the  thiidy  .settled  mountainous  portifuis  of  South  Carolina  fnmi  alxiut 
latitude  3.')°  N.,  northward,  and  jjfenerally  amonnf  the  more  or  less  inaccessible 
cliffs  found  near  the  shores  of  the  larger  mountain  streams  and  lakes  of  the 
Atlantic  watershed.  In  the  middle  and  western  [)rairie  rcfrions,  where  tlmre 
are  no  suitable  cliffs,  it  nests  in  hollows  of  trees  in  the  heavily  tind)ered 
bottom   lands.     Throu^^hout    the    Rocky    Mountains,  north   to   the   shores   of 


TDB  DUCK  HAWK. 


29d 


the  Arctic  So;i,  iis  well  ns  near  tlio  iiiiincrous  lakes  of  tlic  (irciit  IWiii,  and 
westward  over  tlit*  entire  Pacific  coast  f'roni  Ijiwer  and  soutiiern  California 
nortliward  to  Orej^on  and  Wasliinffton,  it  seems  to  lie  more  ahnndant  than 
east  of  tluf  Mississippi  River,  and  l»reeds  thron;;liout  tlie  (entire  ranjic  indicat«Ml. 
Wliile  it  caimot  i)e  considered  a  connnon  species  anywiiere,  still  it  is  tlio 
most  numerous  of  our  lar;;'er  Falcons. 

In  tlie  northern  jiortions  of  its  ranjjc  it  is  only  a  suunner  resident,  fol- 
lowinji'  till'  immense  Hocks  of  waterfowl  din'in<r  tlicir  nii^iratioiis,  oii  which 
it  ]irinii])ally  sulisists.  Hares,  I'tarmi^fan,  (Jronse,  Holi  Whites,  IM^ieous,  as 
well  as  smaller  liii.ls,  enter  hnj^ely  into  its  bill  of  fare,  antl  the  poultry 
yard  as  well  occasionally  sutlers.  Next  to  the  (Josliawk  the  l'ere<irine  Falcon 
is  our  most  audacious  liird  of  jirey.  Its  tlii^ht,  wiien  once  f....iy  started 
in  pursuit  of  its  (piarry,  is  ama/.iuj;ly  swift;  it  is  seemin^ily  an  easy  matter 
for  it  to  oscrtaki)  even  the*  fleetest  of  liirds,  and  when  once  in  its  }>;rasp  resist- 
ancif  is  useless.  I  have  seen  this  Falcon  strike  a  (Munamon  Teal  (Anas 
ri/(tiioj)tct(i)  almost  within  j^unshot  of  me,  kill  it  appaiently  instantly  fr<im  tlu* 
forc(f  of  the  shock,  iiiid  Hy  away  with  it  as  easily,  and  without  visilile  sfrujjgle, 
as  if  it  had  lieen  a  Sparrow  instead  <if  a  l)ird  of  its  own  wei^^ht. 

Within  recent  years  quite  a  numl)er  of  the  nests  of  this  speci(>s  have 
been  taken  in  tlu!  New  Kn^Iand  States  and  other  localities  in  the  North, 
records  of  these  captures  beinj^-  noted  in  \arious  ornitliolo};ical  pulilications. 
In  a  letter  now  before  me,  written  l)<'cember  IM,  1.SK7,  Dr.  .lolin  W.  Det- 
willer,  of  Hethlchem,  Pennsylvania,  states:  "It  may  interest  you  to  know 
that  tluf  Duck  Hawk  breeds  abundantly  in  this  State.  I  found  a  ne.st  con- 
tainiiiff  four  e}.f^s  on  a  cliff  on  the  west  shore  of  the  Delaware  River,  12 
miles  below  Faston,  I'eimsylvania  ;  and  about  four  weeks  later  a  second 
containing  two  e;i'us  slijihtly  incubated,  which  doulitless  belon^^ed  to  the 
same  birds."  In  the  same  letter  several  other  localities  iire  mentioned  alonjjf 
the  Susipiehamia  K'iver  from  which  tla^  doctor  has  taken  full  sets  of  ejffi's  of 
this  sjKM-ies,  and  the  bird  is  evidently  not  nnconmion  there.  Fi-om  the  obser- 
vations of  Mr.  L.  M.  Loomis  "()n  the  Sunmier  liirds  of  Pickens  County, 
South  Carolina,"  in  the  Auk  (\'ol.  vii,  iSIKt,  p.  ii7),  there  is  little  reason 
to  doubt  that  these  binls  had  a  iwst  with  youiij>'  there,  and  if  other  suital)le 
mountain  rejiions  throu;;hout  Norfli  Carolina,  the  Nirjiinias,  northern  Ahi- 
iiama,  (jleor<ria,  Teiniessee,  and  Kentucky  were  ecpially  well  examined  the 
Duck   Hawk   would   lu^  found   breedin<i'  there,    too. 

Mr.  Robert  Rid^way,  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  foinid  thc^  Duck 
Hawk  not  at  all  rare  in  the  heavy  timber  of  the  river  bottoms  in  the  vicinity 
of*  Moinit  Carmel,  Illinois.  Not  lt!ss  than  three  nests  were  foimd  in  the 
inmiediate  vicinity  of  town,  all  placetl  in  cavities  in  the  tojis  of  very  lar<^e 
s\(amore  trees,  and  ini:<'cessible.  Om*  of  these  trees  was  felK'd  and  four 
fully  feathered  youn;j  were  taken  from  tin*  nest.'  Col.  N.  S.  Goss  also  found 
the  Duck  Hawk  nttstiuff  in  trees  near  Neosho  Falls,  in  southeastern   Kan.sus, 


'Hulletiii  Niittall  UrnitholoKical  Chill,  Vi,  .    II,  187H,  \t\>.  105,  ir>«i. 


:'S:r 


ii 


If '      * 


I. 


ii  • 


Ii. 


I'  l.\ 


i 


.ii'-* 


994 


LIFIO  IlISTORIKS  OF  NOUTri  AMKUICAN  IJIUIJS. 


II  pair  •xu'upyiii},''  ii  trcijili-Iikc  ciivity  in  a  lar<,'(*  Hycamoni  altoiit  fiO  feet  from 
tlic  jfrouiul.  The  iH'st  coiitaiiu'd  tlirce  tn^sli  ('i^jj^s  on  Mairii  27,  IHTf),  wliicli 
wor«  laid  on  the  line,  soft  mtten  wood  in  a  liollnw,  worked  i)nt  of  tlio  name  fo 
fit  the  l»ody  of  the  l»inl.  'i'iiere  was  no  otluT  material  or  linin;;'  except  a  few 
featliers  and  down  mixed  witli  tlie  decayed  wood.  On  March  17,  1H7(!,  a 
pair  wer»(  fonnd  nesting;  on  the  opposite^  side  of  tlie  river  from  the  aiiove 
descrilu'd  nest,  in  a  cottonwood  ut  h-ast  (!(>  f(M't  from  tlie  {ground,  tiie  i>irds 
enterinf;  a  knot  iioh-  in  the  tree  apparently  not  over  o  or  (!  inches  in  dinm- 
eter.  The  tree  was  very  strai<;lit  and  without  lind)s  up  to  tlu*  nest,  and  this 
wiiH  out  of  reach.  The  iiirds  were  very  noisy,  hut  shy.  On  April  .'{0,  1X77, 
he  found  anotlier  pair  about  4  miles  farther  up  the  river,  l)reedin<>-  in  :i  Itroken 
hollow  liml)  of  a  <;iant  sycamore,  and  from  the  actions  of  the  hirds  he  thnufihl 
they  had  youn}>'. 

('oh)nel  (Joss  further  states:  "The  males,  so  far  as  noticed,  sit  upon  the 
e<;<>s  in  the  fore  part  of  the  day,  and  tlie  females  durinj;'  the  latter  part;  each, 
while  oH'  duty,  occasionally  feedin;if  the  other,  Itut  puttin<i'  in  a  <>ood  share 
of  tiie  time  us  sentinels,  perched  upon  a  favorite  (h-ad  lind)  near  the  nest, 
ready  to  }>ive  the  alarm  in  case  of  a])proacliin}''  (hui|^or.  At  such  times  thev 
scold  rapidly  and  manifest  <j;reat  anxiety  and  fear,  circliuff  overlu-ad,  occa- 
sionally alijilitiny,  but  takinj;'  <;'ood  care  to  kee|)  out  of  reach.  Their  feai'  of 
man  is  not  without  cause,  for  our  hunters  never  lo.se  an  opportunit}"  to  shoot 
at  them,  knowin;^  how  destructive  they  are  to  the  waterfowl  found  in  the 
sloujihs  aloU"'  \\w  river  Ixittoms."' 

In  Clelan-ne  County,  Arkansas,  it  nests  in  the  .sandstone  bluffs  alon};  the 
liiftle  Red  Kiver.  Mr.  H.  T.  Gault  noticed  them  in  such  locations  there  in 
tiie  siiriiifi'  of  ISHS,  and  },\\:  ().  Widmann  informed  him  that  they  also  nested 
(piite  abundantly  in  the  rocky  bluffs  and  ledj^es  alony  the  Mississippi  River, 
a  few  miles  south  of  St.   Louis,   Missimri. 

In  Montana,  Dr.  James  ('.  Aferiill,  V'.  S.  Army,  says  tliey  are  (piito  com- 
mon aloiijf  the  Missouri  and  Yellowstone  Rivers,  near  cliffs  or  cut  banks,  where 
their  nests  were  jilaced,  .sometimes  in  a  cavity  in  some  rock  higii  above  tiie 
river,  and  then,  sif'-ain,  on  a  shelf  or  projection  of  a  clay  bank,  so  low 
that  he  could  see  the  contents  of  the  nest  from  the  uiijier  deck  of  the  steamer, 
'i'heir  abundance  on  the  Upper  Missouri  is  further  contirmed  by  Mr.  It.  S.  Wil- 
liams, who  writes  me:  "Quite  a  number  of  these  birds  lireed  in  tlie  Iii<>li  saiid- 
.stoiie  cliffs  above  the  Falls  of  the  Missouri.  I  found  a  nest  containiii<>'  two 
iiirds  just  hatched  and  two  eggs,  on  June  ."},  \W,h.  The  nest  was  situatetl 
ill  a  small  hollow  in  a  jierpc^idicular  wall  of  rock,  some  lo  or  20  feet  above 
the  lia.se  of  the  wall,  and  consisted  of  a  few  course  twigs  and  bits  of  grass, 
forming  a  ridge  on  the  outer  side  banjly  sufficient  to  prevent  the  eggs  from 
rolling  out.  The  jiarents  were  liotii  aliout  and  (piite  bold,  (hishing  back  ami 
forth  overhead  and  keeiiing  up  a  constant  succession  of  noisy  screams  as  long 
as  I  was  near." 


■  Bulletin  Nuttall  OriiitholiiKical  Club,  Vol.  HI,  IH7H,  pp.  »i-\M. 


TIIK  DUCK  HAWK 


395 


A  iit'st  taken  hy  me  <»ii  Ajn-il  21,  1H77,  riuiii  ii  small  cavity  in  a  haHaltic 
(']\ft\  HO  iniK's  smitli  iit'  ('aiii|»  llanicy,  Orc^^dM,  and  alumt  .'J  miles  from  the 
eastern  end  of  Mallienr  Lake,  cnntaineil  three  sli^^htly  im  iil)ate(i  e^''n's.  They 
were  lyin}>'  on  the  liare  roek,  with  a  little  rnliitisli  and  a  tew  small  hones  plaeed 
around  them  to  keep  tiiem  tVom  rollin^i'  out.  The  site  was  aliont  2')  feet  from 
the  ^jTound  and  ahont  lO  I'eet  iVoni  the  tc  [i  ot'  the  clilV.  'i'iie  female  was  very 
hold  and  was  easily  shot.  Another  set  (-(dlected  for  me  a  few  miles  south  of 
San  Dief^'o,  California,  on  March  2!*,  IH7.'!,  was  placed  in  a  similar  situation,  a 
hasaltic  ditf  on  the  seashore.      It  contained  three  tVesli  e<ij;s. 

( ►ccasionally  the  Duck  Hawk  will  n.se  the  nest  of  another  s|)ecies  to  lay 
in,  Itnt  such  instances  seem  rare.  .\Ir.  Denis  Oale  took  a  very  handsome  set  of 
,.oj.s  from  an  old   Isajile's  nest  on  April  .'((»,  1SS!(,  which  he  ji'eneronsly  donated 


I   (1 


iscoverec 


1  tl 


us 


to  th(^  U.  S.  National  Museum  collection.  ll«'  writes  na 
nesfin<>-  situ  first  on  April  4,  1HS!I,  iu  a  leil^n.  of  rocks  on  tln^  Cache  la  I'oudrt* 
Creek.  Some  dillicnlty  was  experienced  in  i^cttin^i'  to  the  nest,  and  no  e<ij;s 
were  fotuid  on  that  occasion,  it  heinj;'  too  early.  N'ev<'rtheless  the  birds  were 
a  yood  deal  excited  and  tiew  around  overht^ad,  yet  it  inijilit  only  ha\e  i)een 
caused  l»y  seein<i'  their  favorite  huntin^i'  jyround  invaih'il.  I  think  if  they  had 
(.ou's  to  j^uard  at  that  time,  the  watcliin;i'  I  liestoweil  nimn  them  with  my 
i^lass  would  liav(^  located  the  site  exactly,  hut  it  did  not.  l*rol)ai)ly  it  was 
when  nearest  to  their  nesting;-  site,  that  the  female  Hew  overhead  and  cackled 
like  a  two-thirds  ;;rown  ducklinj;-.     This  was  unmistakahle,  and  a  |>eculiarity  I 


never 


l.ef 


on*  met  with. 


'On  the  •i4tli  the  nest  contained  two  ej;|>s,  which  wore  loft  till  the  3()tli. 


Tl 


K'  site   was  in  a   rock\'  ledye  aliont   S(»  fcft   hi"h  and  ahont  ;")()  feet  f 


roni 


the  foot  of  the  clill'.  The  nest  was  reached  by  climl)inj>'  down  a  roju'  from 
above.  ( )n  April  'Mi,  six  days  later,  fom-  ejigs  wore  found  in  the  nest  and 
taken.  They  were  all  perfectly  fresh.  I  do  not  think  that  the  set  was  com- 
plete, and  believe  that  another  would  have  boon  added  a  day  or  two  lat«'r." 


The   Duck   Hawk  must  be  fairlv 


com 


inon   in  the  Arctic  reiri 


ons  and 


th 


interior  o 
Xati 


onal 


f  Al; 
M 


isKa,  as 


attested  b\-  a  nimilier  of  sets  of  enii's,  now  in  the   V.  S. 


useum 


collection,  taken  bv   Mr.  1{.   Abud'^arlaii 


on 


th 


•khart 


and  Anderson   Uivors:    bv  .Mr.  S.  .lones,  at  Kort   Rae,  (ireat  Slave  Lake,  aia 


Fort  Yuk 


on, 


Alaskii 


an( 


1    bv   Mr.  .lames    Lockhart,  at    Kort    Resolution  and 


other   localities.     They   usually    nested    on  sandstone    and   day   banks   along 
the  rivers  and  tu'merons  lakes  of  that  region. 

Mr.  L.  M.  Turner  found  the  Duck  Hawk  (piite  common  near  Fort  Cliimo, 
Labrador,  in  1SS3  and  IHSl,  and  he  took  several  sets  of  their  eggs.  He 
.stfttes:  "Scarcely  an  island  of  large  size  but  what  has  one  or  more  pairs  of 
these  Hawks  breeding  on  thorn.  Those  islands  which  are  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  localities  solocted  by  Eider  Ducks,  (Jidls,  and  other  water  birds,  are 
the  ones  also  chosen  by  these    Hawks  for  brooding    purposes,   if  a  suitable 


led 


tfO   oi 


1  a  clifV  can  bo  found.     *     *     * 


'At  the  southoru  end  of  a  (ditV  on   Hunting  Hay  a  pair  of  this  spotaos 


III 


f 


I 


,di)' 


290 


LIPK  IIIHTOUIKS  OF  KOllTIl  AMRUKJAN  lUimS. 


y '■'}  . 


«  ' 


w««r<>  Idiililiiij;  tlicir  nest;  woiiui  70  yunlrt  froin  it  was  tlut  lU'st  ot  tlio  Hliick 
KiMijr|i-lt'if},'('(l  \h\\\V.  {Archilintm  liiiiapifi  snniti-jiihtiitnis),  wliiln  mmio  3t)(*yiir(l^ 
t(t  till*  luirtli  wiirt  tliti  Host  ot"  a  Haven  (Corriis  ronix  siiiHutiis),  ami  near  it  tlic 
lu'f^iimin;;  of  tlin  iicst  of  tlic  liahnulor  Kalcttii  (Falcn  nisticoliis  ohsalrtiis).  Just 
i)ciu'atli  tli(f  latter  were  tiio  deHeited  nests  (»t"  the  |»rece<lin<(  year  of  the  White- 
itelhed  SwaUow  {Tiicliifiitwfu  hirolor)." 

Several  ejffif.s  of  this  species  from  (ireeiilaiiil,  wlien^  it  is  not  uneonnnon, 
are  also  in  tho  l'.  S.  National  Miisenni  collection,  i  think  the  Diick  Hawk 
remains  paired  dnrinfjf  life,  and  that  when  u  nestinff  site  is  once  selected  it 
is  usually  resortod  to  from  year  to  year,  even  should  tlui  OKK**  '•«'  taken 
rejiidarly  each  season.  They  appear  very  nuich  attached  to  certain  localities, 
and  if  persistent  persecution  durin;^  tlie  nesting;'  season  shoidd  cause  them  to 
abandon  tho  ori;.;inal  site  thoy  nearly  always  s(dect  aiiotlmr  on  the  same 
dirt",  or  if  one  cannot  he  found  there,  as  near  to  it  as  pos.siltle.  A  site  once 
stdected  is  valiantly  defended  a^^ainst  interlopers,  and  as  a  rule  no  other  pair 
of  ilawk.s  irt  allowed  to  nc^st  in  close  proximity  to  it.  Kacli  pair  seems 
also  to  have  its  proper  huntinjf  ranj^-e  duriii}^  tho  Huasou  of  reprodu('tion, 
and  any  infrinf^cment  on  this  is  stoutly  n^sisted.  At  other  seasons  they  are 
usually  seen  alone,  and  they  are  at  all  tinu's  rather  a  silent  hird,  except- 
in<i  when  their  homes  are  invaded;  then  they  an*  noisy  enon<;h,  and  f^ive 
vent  to  loud  screams  ami  cacklinff.s. 

Niililication  in  the  southern  and  middle  portions  of  its  raiiire  Itejifins  in 
the  latter  half  of  March,  in  New  York  and  the  New  Fini,dand  States  usually 
aliout  tho  hc'ifinninji'  of  April,  in  ('oloraih),  Montana,  and  ()re<i-on  ahout  the 
latter  half  of  April,  and  I'orrespondinffly  later  in  liahrador  and  the  Arctic 
rejfions,  where  e^i^f^s  have  Imh'U  taken  throuj^hout  tin;  month  of  .lune,  and  a 
HOt  of  four  at  Fort  Chimo,  Un<fava,  as  lato  as  July  (!,  lSS-1,  Mut  a  sinj>le 
broiMl  is  raised  in  a  season.  Incubation  lasts  alxmt  four  wtn^ks  and  both 
parents  assist  in  this  dnty.  Tluf  egj(s  are  usually  foin-  in  iuind)er,  occasion- 
ally but  three,  and  V(ay  rarely  fivo.  Tho.se  are  deposited  at  intervals  of 
two  or  more  days,  and  fji'nerally  laid  on  tho  bare  rock  or  soil,  if  the  eyrie 
is  on  a  clilF  nr  clay  bank.  The  Duck  Hawk  can  scarcely  la*  said  to  build 
a  nest,  and  if  there  is  occasionally  a  .semblance  of  ono,  it  is  but  very  slif^lit. 
Sites  in  hollow  trees  are  only  used  when  cliffs  or  suitable  bluffs  are  wantinf,', 
and  old  i^osts  of  other  Raptores  an*  still  mon*  rarely  resortiul  to. 

The  og<?s  of  the  Duck  llawk  vary  consideraldy  in  shape  as  well  as  in 
coloration.  The  most  connnon  forms  are  .short  and  rounded  ovate,  and  occa- 
sionally a  specimen  is  distinctly  elliptical  ovate. 

The  ground  color  when  visible,  which  is  not  often  tluf  case,  is  pale 
creamy  or  yellowish  white;  in  some  specimens  this  is  evenly  overlaid  with 
coloring  matter,  giving  it  a  light  chocolate  colored  appearances  in  others  it 
approaches  a  pale  3'ellowi.sh  brown,  and  in  one  it  is  a  decided  fawn  color. 
The  eggs  are  irregularly  blotched,  streaked,  smeared,  and  spotted  with  vari- 
ous  shades  of  claret  brown,  vinaceous    rufous,  and  brick  rod.     In  some  tho 


TUB  DUCK  nAWK. 


997 


iimrkiii;;H  am  well  (Irliiicd,  in  others  coiilliiciit,  ^jiviii;;  tlit'iii  ii  cltunlcil 
ii|»|)«iiriincf;  tin*  majority  iin<  pretty  (tveiily  iimrke  1  tliroii},'lioiit,  in  a  tew 
tliey  are  more  heavily  Hpotted  on  one  of  tlie  ends,  ("ompureil  with  the  i'HHH 
ot'  other  Kiilcons  they  are  (h'(iile<lly  (hirker  eohireil,  reHemliHn;;'  tlie  lieavier 
marked  and  darker  Hpeeimens  of  tlie  eg;fs  of  Audnlton's  Ciiracara  (/''i/////«//(.v 
rhrriiviiif). 

'I'he  a\erajjfe  measMrement  of  sixty-one  speeimeMs  in  tlie  T.  S.  National 
Miisemn  colhu'tion  is  n'i.")  I»y  *H  millimetres.  'The  lar;;est  of  these  eji'^s 
measures  57  hy  4;),  th(»  smallest  iS.f)  l»y  'MJt,  and  a  runt  «'<(j(  hut  •JM.ft  Ity 
^i')  millimetres. 

Of  the  type  specimens  selected  to  show  some  of  th(»  styles  of  coloration, 
No.  (il'.M  (1*1.  10,  V\<i;.  f>),  a  sinjfle  e;,%  was  collected  i»y  Mr.  .lames  Locl<hart, 
near  Kort  Yukon,  Alaska,  in  June,  \HH:\-  No.  lolsl  (I'l.  10,  I'V  (1),  l»y  Mr. 
U.  Ma(d''arlane,  on  tin*  I^ockhart  Hiver,  Arctic  America,  .June  f),  XHIUi,  from 
a  set  of  four;  ami  No.  2;{«!»0  (IM.  I0,  Fi-r.  7),  liy  Mr.  Denis  (Jale,  on  Cache 
la  i'oudro  Creek,  Coh»rad(»,  April  30,  lHHi(,  likewi.se  fnun  a  set  of  four. 


(I 


gg.     Falco  peregrinus  pealei  HiiKiWAv. 
i'kai.k'h  falcon. 

Falri)  ((imitiiniix  var.  imilfi  Riimiway.  BuUutia  Es.scx  lastitiitu,  v,  Doccmbcr.  1H7;|,  -Jill. 
!<'nlc()  jii  r((iriiiiin  jiidlfi  KindWAV.  I'roccoiliugs  U.  S.  National  Miisciiin,  III,  AtiKa.st  vM, 
isso,  i!r,'. 

(H  — ,  V  ;ii;t((,  R 4it((,  C  604.  U  :i.'iii((.) 

OKocntAi'UiCAi,  KANcnc:  I'iuidt iist,  rcj^ionol'  Noitii  Anicrica.  IVoniOre^'oa  imrtli 

totiu'  Alculiuii  and  west  to  tlii'  (!i)iiniiaii(l('i'  Islands. 

This  dark  colored  race  of  the  Duck  Hawk,  I'eale's  Falcon,  seems  to  lie 
a  fairly  common  resident  of  the  Aleutian  as  well  as  the  Commander  Islands. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Dall.  II.  S.  Coast  Survey,  in  his  "Notes  on  the  Avifauna  of 
the  Aleutian  islands,"  esju'cially  thos((  west  of  Tnalaska  Island,  puhlished  in 
the  Proceeding's  of  the  (JalifiuMiia  Academy  of  Sciences,  I.S74,  ]).  '6,  speaks  of 
this  subspecies,  under  tlu?  name  of  Falco  t/i/rfdlci)  LiN.N.,  us  follows:  "A  male 
was  ohtained  in  the  harl)or  of  Kyska,  .Fune  ;{0,  1S73,  heinji'  o\w  of  several 
which  had  their  nests  on  the  hrow  of  a  pri'cipitous  and  inaccessible  clill  at 
the  west  enil  of  the  hai'l»or,  perha])s  loO  feet  above  the  water.  The  sanu- 
species  was  observed  Hyinji'  over  the  low  island  of  Amchitka  a  little  later  in 
tli(*  season.  It  does  not  appisir  to  be  councdu,  but  was  the  only  Hawk 
olt.served  in  the  islands  west  of  IJnalaska.  It  a})i)eared  to  pass  most  of  its 
tiihc^  near  tlu*  nest  and  raise<l  a  loud  outcry  when  anyone  approatdied  the 
base  of  the  clitl'  on  the  beach  below.  The  fraji'inents  of  .several  I'tarini^an, 
probably  remnants  from  some  of  its  meals,  were  noticed  at  the  foot  of  the 
Itlulf  ladow  the  nest." 

Mr.  L.  M.  Turner,  in  speakinjj  of  this  Falcon,  says:  "IV>ale's  Falcon  was 
freiiueiitly  observitd  on  Amchitka   Island  in  the  montii  of  .Inne,  ISSl,  and  on 


I  I  : 


I 


'■  I 


1 

i 


I'll 

m 


;• 


298 


lilKK  IJISTOUIHS  OF  NORTH  AMHUICAN  UIUDH. 


8((vt'ral  (icciisions  on  Attn  iHliiiid  diiriii^f  IHSO  ami  1SK1.  It  In-ccds  on  nearly 
all  the  islands  of  the  ciiain  and  is  a  winter  resident  on  llie  nearer  uronp, 
nt  I(>ast.  On  Af^attu  it  is  reported  to  he  very  eonnnon,  and  on  Ann  liitka  I 
knew  of  tlu'tu^  nests  on  tlie  ledges  of  tlie  lii<ili  l)luH's  lianji'inj,"'  over  the  sea. 
Any  approach  to  the  elilfs  was  heraldeil  liy  the  l>ird  dartinj;'  from  the  nest 
and  eirelinj'-  hi;'h  in  tlie  air,  screaminjf  fiercely  all  the  while,  an<l  any  attempt 
to  shoot  the  birds  while  flyin<;'  over  the  water  wonlil  have  result«'d  in  the 
loss  of  the  specimen,  lor  they  always  tiew  in  front  of  the  elilfs  ont  of  ran<;»'. 

"At  Attn  Island  I  fretpiently  saw  one  ttf  these  birds  join  the  Havens 
when  the  latter  were  peiformin}''  their  ai'rial  {fynmastics  on  the  approach  of  a 
gale,  'i^he  Hawk  endeavored  to  imitate  the  K'avens,  whicii  paid  lint  little 
attention  to  the  antics  of  the  intruder.  At  Attn  tliis  Hawk  is  not  etinmion, 
thon<4'h  tlie  natives  assert  that  it  is  common  enon<ih  at  Afrattn  and  the 
Semichi  Islands,  and  they  told  me  that  where  this  Hawk  breeds  there  will 
also  be  foinid  the  nests  of  the  i'liders.  1  <'onld  not  lieliexe  this  nntil  a  short 
stay  at  Amiclia  Island  forced  me  to  recoj^-nize  it  as  a  fact;  toi'  in  each  instance 
the  iMders  were  \ery  abnndant  in  every  locality  where  the  nest  of  this 
Hawk  was  known  to  be.  It  is  ipiife  proliaiile  that  the  Hawk  selects  the 
place  with  special  reference  to  pros|iecti\(!  yonn^'  i'liders."' 

N<ithin<i-  is  as  yet  known  aliont  the  v<x<x>i  of  I'eale's  Falcon,  but  they  are 
ilonbtless  indistin<iiiisliable,  iiotli  in  size  and  color,  from  those  of  tiie  precedin<;- 
snlispecies.  It  a|ipears  to  nest  in  localities  similar  to  those  of  tiie  latter  when 
breediii"'  on  the  seacoast. 


loo.     Falco  columbarius  Linna:iis. 

I'KiKON    HAWK. 

Fdiro  columliariun  LinN/KIs,  Sjslenia  Natiira'.  cd.  Id,  i.  17^)8,  !I0. 

(M  7,  ('  :iil,  U  117.  V  ">ii."i.  U  :i.^7.) 

(iKooHAiMlieAi-  ifANiiK:  Till'  wlicilc  of  Noi'tli  Aiiii'iica  ;  soutli  in  winter  to  the 
West  liiilii's,  itiidtllc  Aiiii'iica,  and  iiurllicrii  Houtli  America. 

Althoii;ih  the  well  known  I'i^'eoii  Hawk  is  pretty  }>-enerally  distribnted 
over  the  entire  I'nited  States  din-iiiji'  the  fall  and  winter  seasons,  by  far  the 
{greater  nninber  breed  north  of  onr  border,  and  comparatively  few  remain 
as  sinnmer  residents,  at  least  east  of  tlie  .Mississippi  b'iver,  and  those 
that  do,  jiciicrally  confine  themsehcs  to  the  mountain  disti'icts  and  to  tin- 
thinl\-  settle(l  and  heavily  wooded  rejiions  alon;^-  our  Northern  States.  In 
the  Ikocky  .Mountains,  as  well  as  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  and  Cascade  K'an^'es, 
and  their  sjinrs,  the  IMf-'eon  Hawk  is  pi-obably  ipiite  a  common  summei'  resi- 
dent, but  as  yet  its  nest  and  ej^'fj^s  have  been  rarely  taken,  and  even  where 
thev  have  been  found,  there  remains  more  or  less  doubt  as  to  their  proper 
identification,  as  the   two  closel\'  allied    forms,   Fiilto  rolninli(iriii.s  Nidhiei/i  and 


'('cmtlilMiliniis  to  lln'  Niitiiial  nistiirv  iif  AliiHJiii,  IHSli,  p.  Kill. 


THE  PIOEON  HAWK. 


2J)9 


Falco  rifhardsnnii,  ofciir  in  soiiin  of  tlicso  niouiitaiiis  as  well,  iiiid  iiro  voiy 
liiiWlc  to  !)('  iiiistakcii  lor  the  true  Pij^cou  Hawk,  cncii  l)y  (airly  \v»'ll  posted 
oniitliolojjists,  and  almost  ct'rtaiuly  l>y  the  axcrafic  collector.  I'ulcss  tho 
])ar('nt  is  secured  with  the  ej^'^i's  the  latter  cannot  lie  identitieil  with  any  cer- 
tainty. Its  ranj.'e  northward  is  quite  extended,  reachinj;-  north  ol'  latitude 
(!H"  in  the  interior  of  Uritish  North  America  to  Norton  Sound  and  to  the 
shores  oi'   IJerin^'  Sea,  in  Alaska. 

In  the  easleiMi  I'nited  States  the  I'ificon  Ilawk  has  been  occasionally 
ttiiserved  dnrinj;'  the  ljreedin<4'  season  in  Maine,  Vermont,  New  Hampshire, 
and  the  northern  parts  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania.  It  has  likewise  lieeii 
noticed  at  this  time  in  Michiji'an,  Iowa,  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota,  and  doultt- 
less  hreeds  here  also,  as  well  as  in  the  mountainous  portions  of  some  of  tlii' 
Southern  States. 

Mr.  William  lirewster  reconls  the  tindiu"-  of  a  nest  and  lour  eaifs  on 
Amherst  Island,  in  the  (iulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  on  dune  !l,  lSS-_>,  liy  Mr.  Krazur, 
who  while  passing  a  siiruce-clad  knoll,  surroimded  hy  a  l>ojij;y  swamp,  noticed 
a  pair  of  I'ii^con  Hawks  cirdiiif;'  ai)ov<'  the  trees,  antl  approachinji'  ijuickly, 
discovered  the  nest  liuilt  in  a  dense  spruce  at  the  intersection  of  a  liorizontal 
branch  with  the  main  .stem,  and  at  a  hei<,dit  of  about  1*)  feet.  As  he  clindied 
tile  tree  the  Hawks,  now  thorou;;hly  alarmed  for  the  safety  of  tlieii'  home, 
dashed  wildly  alioiit  his  head,  frecpU'Utly  passinji-  within  a  few  feet  and  uttei- 
iny  shrill  screams  of  anifer  and  dismay.  After  takini;-  the  e""s  he  made  a 
close  i'.xamination  of  the  nest,  which  was  found  to  lie  Ncry  iiulky,  in  fact 
"as  lar^'c  as  a  C'row's,"  and  comp(»sed  chielly  of  bark,  with  some  <'oarse 
sticks  suri'oundiu};'  the  exterior,  and  a  neat  soft  lining  of  tiner  bark  and  horse 
hair.  l''ro,  Us  <it'nei'al  appearance  he  felt  convinced  that  it  was  constructed 
liy  the  llawivs  themselves.  This  was  ,lune  !•;  returninji'  five  da\s  later  he 
found  lioth  birds  flyin<i'  about  the  knoll,  and  their  actions  indicat<'d  that  they 
had  built  another  nest  somewhere  near,  but  it  could  not  be  found.  As  he  was 
tlieii  on  the  point  of  leaving  the  ishnid  he  shot  the  male,  a  line  adult  specimen, 
wiiich  accoinjianies  the  eggs." 

Mr.  Lynds  .lones  writes  me  that  he  found  a  nest  of  this  species  near 
(irinnell,  Iowa,  on  April  "JS,  containing  four  eggs.  They  wer<'  placed  in  a 
hole  in  an  American  linden  tree  ab<iut  S  \\'v\  from  the  ground.  The  nest  was 
made  of  dry  grasses,  librous  bark,  and  a  few  feathers.  The  liirds  hovered 
near  when  the  nest  was  disturbed,  but  did  not  oiler  any  resistance.  Mr.  .1. 
W.  Preston,  of  Haxter,  Iowa,  informs  me  that  a  pair  of  these  birds  remaineil 
one  season  near  Iowa  ("ity  under  circumstances  which  led  him  to  lielieve  they 
w^'re  nesting.  Mr.  Charles  D.  (iilison  states  that  the  Pigeon  Hawk  is  a  res- 
ilient of  the  .Maryland  and  Delaware  Peninsula,  and  that  it  bi-eeds  in  both 
localities.     I    have  tried  to  verify  this  record,  but  was  unsuccessful." 

Mr.  Auilubon  found  three  nests  of  this  bird  in  Labrador,  each  containing 
live  eggs.     These  nests  were   placed  on   tiie  top   bi'anches  of  the    low   firs    so 

'  lliilli'llii  NiiHiill  OihilliciloKiiiil  Chill,  \c,l.  MI,  1^*',  Nil.  1.  11.  •-'.'i,''!. 
■'OriiitliuloKisl  iiiiil  (liiliiKint,  Vnl.  Vlil,  SciitciiiliiT,  ItWil,  No.  !•,  pilK"'  7'.'. 


ff 

\.. 

1 

' 

'  ' 

i 

U\\ 


^if 


300 


LIFE  niSTORIES  OP  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


common  in  that  country,  composed  ot"  sticks,  sind  slightly  lined  with  moss  and 
a  few  feathers.' 

Mr.  L.  M.  Turner  observed  a  few  of  these  birds  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort 
Chimo,  Labrador,   in  1HH2  and  18S3,  but  failed  to  find  their  nests  or  (^f^f^s. 

Mr.  R.  II.  Taylor  descrilx^s  a  nest  of  the  Pij^eon  Hawk  taken  by  himself 
on  April  i!,  18S8,  in  Santa  Clara  County,  (.'alifornia.  He  says:  "I  first  saw 
the  nest  latt*  in  May  one  year  aj^o,  when  it  contained  three  younj^  birds 
ready  to  fly.  It  was  located  on  a  steej)  mountain  side  on  the  stock  rancli 
of  Mr.  J.  P.  Sargent,  in  the  above  named  county,  on  a  ledge  of  a  precip- 
itous bluff  about  Sf)  feet  high.  While  near  the  nest  last  year  the  old  bird  was 
astonishingly  fearless  and  would  swoo])  down  close  to  my  head,  uttering 
ear-piercing  cries.  Tiiese  Jingry  demonstrations,  while  they  made  me  some- 
what iipprehensive  of  damaged  eyes,  afforded  an  (^xctdlent  opportunity  for 
jottitig  down  a  description  of  this  Falcon. 

"When  I  visited  tlie  nest  this  season  the  bird  flew  off"  as  1  came  up 
and  winged  its  peculiar  flight  across  the  canon,  wlien  it  settled  (piietly  on  a 
hillside.  My  friend  Mr.  U.  C.  Sargent,  adjusted  the  (Mid  of  a  rawhide  lariat  to 
my  body,  and  as  soon  as  the  rope  had  been  placed  around  a  small  shrub 
wiiich  grew  above,  I  swiuig  over  the  ledge  and  was  slowly  lowered  toward 
file  nest,  and  as  it  was  rather  in  from  the  face  of  the  cliff  I  f'oimd  it  diffi- 
cult to  get  a  foothold,  but,  when  I  did  at  last,  saw  that  it  was  composed 
simply  of  jiieces  of  friable  rock,  and  in  it,  to  my  delighted  suri)rise,  were  five 
eji'lis,  which  contained  larye  embrovos."'"' 

While  I  was  stationed  at  Cam])  Harney,  (Oregon,  a  woodchopper  work- 
ing in  the  lower  footliills  of  the  IMue  .Mountains,  al)ont  .'i  miles  from  tiie 
post,  f'liund  a  nest,  prol)iibly  belonging  to  tliis  species,  nn  \\m\  'JO,  1H7(!.  It 
continued  five  well  inculiated  egg.s,  three  of  wliich  lie  broke  before  I  receiv«'d 
them  from  him,  nearly  a  week  after  tliey  were  first  taken.  I  made  him 
show  nu'  the  nest  at  once  in  tlie  hoj)e  that  the  pnrents  might  still  be  found 
in  the  vicinity,  but  a  lengthy  and  careful  search  failcfl  to  discover  tliem. 
The  two  eggs  left  are  indistinguishable,  both  in  size  imd  markings,  from  fully 
identified  specimens  of  this  s])ecies;  still  they  are  just  as  likely  to  iu-long  to 
Richardson's  Merlin  (luilca  riilidnlsoiiii),  which  is  also  found  there  and  appar- 
ently equally  abun(hint.  The  nest,  evidently  built  l)y  tlie  birds  themselves, 
was  ])laced  in  a  young  spruce  tree  about  2."t  feet  up,  and  close  to  the  trunk. 
It  was  well  concealed  and  the  woodcli<>]iper's  attention  was  drawn  to  it  by 
the  uneasiness  of  the  birds  while  he  was  working  in  the  vicinif\'.  'flie  nest 
appeared  to  n.e  considerably  smaller  than  a  ('row's  nest  and  was  loosely 
constructeil  of  small  fir  and  juniper  twigs,  and  slightly  lined  with  dry  juniper 
liark  and  a  little  ino.ss. 

With  i)Ut  few  exceptions,  nearly  all  the  eggs  of  this  species  in  the  IT.  S. 
National  Museum  collection  were  olitained  north  of  the  I'liited  States.  Mr. 
R.  MacFarlane,  who  took  several  of  their  nests,  says:   "This   Falcon  ranges 

'History  "f  Ncirtli  Aini'riciiii  ItinlK,  1h7I,  Veil,  iir,  [i.  I.V,'. 
'Oriiitli(il<i)?isl  1111(1  OiiloKiHt   Vul.  xill,  Di'ciMiilicr,  IHSh,  No.  1',',  p.  IS.'i. 


THE  riGKON  HAWK. 


301 


iiloiifj  tlic  Anderson  River'  to  near  tli«  Arctic  const  of  Liverpool  lijiy.  Sev- 
eral of  their  nests  liad  apimrently  been  bnilt  on  i»ine  trees  and  others  on 
ledges  of  shaly  (diffs.  The  former  were  composed  externally  of  a  few  dry 
willow  twijrs  and  internally  of  withered  hay  or  grasses,  etc.;  and  the  latter 
had  <»idy  a  very  few  decayed  leaves  nntler  the  eggs.  In  one  instance  tlu! 
oviduct  of  a  female  contained  an  i'<x<x  almost  ready  for  extrusion;  it  was 
colored  like  the  others,  but  the  pigment  was  still  .so  soft  that  it  adhered 
to  the  ling(!rs  on  being  touched.  *  *  *  Other  specimens  taken  from  the 
oviduct  were  perfectly  white. 

"1  would  also  mention  the  following  interesting  circumstance:  On  May 
2r),  18(54,  a  trusty  Indian  in  my  emjdoy  found  a  nest  placed  in  the  midst 
of  a  thick  branch  of  a  j)ine  tree  at  a  height  of  about  0  feet  from  the 
ground.  It  was  rather  loosely  constructed  of  a  few  dry  sticks  and  a  small 
([uantity  of  coarse  hay;  it  then  contained  two  eggs;  l)ot]i  parents  were  seen, 
fired  at,  and  missed.  On  the  31st  he  revisited  tiie  nest,  wliich  still  held  but 
two  eggs,  and  again  missed  the  birds.  Several  days  later  he  made  another 
visit  thereto,  and,  to  his  surprise,  the  eggs  and  j)arents  liad  disappeared.  His 
first  impression  was  that  some  other  person  had  taken  them;  after  looking 
carefully  around  he  perceived  l)otIi  binls  at  a  short  distance,  and  this  led 
him  to  institute  a  search  wliicli  soon  resulteil  in  finding  that  the  eggs  nuist 
have  been  removed  by  the  parent  birds  to  the  face  of  a  nniddy  bank  at 
least  40  yards  distant  from  the  original  nest.  A  few  decayed  leaves  had 
lieen  placed  under  them,  but  nothing  else  in  the  way  of  lining.  A  tliird 
egg  had  been  added  in  tiie  interiu'.  There  ciui  iiardly  Ik;  any  doubt  of  the 
truth  of  the  foregoing  facts."' 

l\Ir.  J.  Sibbiston  took  a  nest  and  eggs  at  Fort  Yukon,  Alaska,  in  June, 
lHr)4;  Messrs.  Robert  Kennicott  and  Altfxander  McKenzie,  each  one,  at  Fort 
Hesolution,  Great  Slave  Lake,  on  June  (!,  IHfiU,  and  Mr.  A.  Flett,  one  at 
P^trt  Peele,  Arctic  North  America,  in  June,  18(53.  In  all  these  cases  the 
parent  was  taken  and  sent  on   with  the  eggs. 

Dr.  R.  H.  llitz  took  two  fresh  eggs  at  Sun  River,  Montana,  on  July  5, 
18(57,  but  failed  to  secure  the  parents.  Tiie  nest  was  in  the  hoUow  of  a 
tree  about  20  feet  from  the  ground. 

From  the  foren'oiu":  accounts  it  will  be  seen  that  the  I'ij>'eon  Hawk 
breeds  in  open  nests  and  in  natural  hollows  of  trees  as  well  as  on  clifls  and 
in  cavities  and  projections  pf  river  bluffs.  Its  flight  is  swift  and  powerful, 
resembling  that  of  tlu;  larger  Falcons  During  the  breeding  .season  these 
birds  are  rather  retiring  and  are  seldom  noticed  uidess  their  nesting  site  is 
veVy  (dosely  approached;  but  in  the  early  fall  and  spring,  as  well  as  during 
the  winter,  excepting  along  our  northern  l)order,  they  are  not  at  all  luicom- 
mon,  especially  during  their  migrations.  I  found  them  moderately  abimdant 
in  Oregon,  Washington,  and  Idaho,  and  have  no  doubt  that  they  regularly 
breed  in  tlu^  mountains  there,  but  the  majority  go  farther  north. 

K.  MacFarlaoo's  MaiiuHcript  Notes  on  the  Laml  and  Water  Birds  Nestiii);  iu  Britisb  America. 


■'  r 


:  i 


{ 


302 


LIFI'}  lIlSTOHIliS  OF  NOllTU  AMEKICAN  lUUDS. 


\i^ 


1     , 

m 


Their  food  to  Ji  girat  extent  consists  of  small  birds,  and  no  hesitation 
is  shown  in  attackinj^  one  fidly  as  lari^o  or  oven  lar<^er  than  theinselv<'s. 
In  the  summer  {^rasshoppei's  and  crickets,  as  well  as  other  insects,  furnish  a 
considerable  portion  of  their  daily  fare. 

In  the  southern  })ortions  of  their  range  nidification  bef^ins  ])robably 
about  ,the  end  of  March  or  the  first  week  in  April,  and  corresi)ondingly 
later  farther  north.  In  central  Alaska  and  the  Anderson  River  country  it 
is  protracted  till  the  latter  part  of  May  or  the  be<iinnin<i^  f>f  June,  and  occa- 
sionally even  later.  Incubation  probably  lasts  about  three  weeks,  and  but  a 
sin<fle  brood  is  raised  in  a  season,  'i'he  ej^f^s  are  generally  four  or  five  in 
number,  and  these  vary  considerably  in  shai)e;  some  art}  short  ovate,  others 
rounded  ovate,  some  nearer  oval,  and  a  few  specimens  elliptical  ovate.  The 
shell  of  the  e<?<^  is  close  f,n'ained,  and  without  luster.  'IMie  f^round  color  when 
visible  is  pale  creamy  white  as  a  rule,  and  is  hidden  by  a  reddish  brown 
sutfusion  of  various  de<;frees  of  intensity,  and  this,  a<iain,  is  finely  marked 
or  l)oldly  blotched,  with  different  shades  of  l)urnt  umber,  claret  i)rown  and 
vinaceous  rufous.  The.se  markiiiifs  are  {generally  equally  and  profusely  dis- 
tril)uted  over  the  entire  e<;<>',  anil  are  superficial;  occasionally  they  are  most 
distinct  abimt  one  of  the  ends,  beini?  dis|)o.sed  in  the  shape  of  a  wreath.  Com- 
jiared  with  the  e>fjifs  of  other  Falcons,  they  re.semble  those  of  the  Duck  Hawk 
(Falco  pcyegrinus  anatuin)  closer  than  any  others  as  far  as  coloration  is  cou- 
cerned. 

The  averajre  measurenuMit  of  twenty-seven  specimens  in  the  U.  S.  National 
Museum  c(dlection,  is  40..')  l)y  ;$!..")  millimetres.  'I'iie  larj^est  ef^jj  of  the  series, 
from  Fort  Yukon,  Ala.ska,  measures  44.;")  by  i{.'{,  the  smallest  37..')  by  3.'}  milli- 
metres. 

Of  tlu;  tyi)e  specunens,  No.  (!1I)2  (PI.  l(t,  Fiji'.  '^)i  from  an  incomplete  .set 
of  two  eji'fi's,  was  taken  June  (i,  lS(i(),  near  Fort  Resolution,  Great  Slave 
Lake,  l)y  Mr.  Alexander  JIcKenzie,  and  No.  SSOS  (I'l.  10,  VV^.  4),  from  a  set  of 
four  efj^ji's,  was  collected  by  Mr.  R.  McFarlane  at  xVnderson  River  Fort,  Arctic 
North  America,  in  June,  \.W6. 

loi.     Falco  columbarius  suckleyi  Ridgway. 

BLACK    MKRLIN. 

Falco  ritlumhurhi.s  var.  sHrklriji  Ridoway,  Rullctiii    Essnx    Institute,  v,   Docembor, 

isr;5,  aoi. 
(B  — ,  C  -ma,  R  417a.  C  50(1,  U  35r«.) 

GKOOUAPniCAi-  KAN(iE:  Northwcst  coast region  frDin  Califoi'iiiu  to  Silka,  Ala.ska; 
east  to  (^istci'ii  Wasliiiijitoii  ami  ()i'(;s'>n. 

Scarcely  aiiythinji'  is  known  aliout  tlu;  breediufj  haliits  of  this  tlm  ilark- 
est  colored  and  liandsoiiiest  of  onr  Merlins.  Its  i'anj;-e  probably  includes  the 
mountain  re<fions  from  northern  California  to  Alaska,  alonji'  tlie  coast;  and  iu 
the  interior  it  is  fotnid  in  .southern  ( )re|.;i>n  (Fort  Klamath)  and  eastern  Wash- 


run  BLACK  MintlilN. 


303 


iufjjtoii  (Fort.  Wallii  Walla),  in  Ixttli  ol'  which  Incalitics  I  olitaiiicfl  spculinciis, 
but,  am  not  awaro  that  its  «!j;'H'.s  havo  ever  Ixscii  taken.  I  am  ([iiito  positive, 
however,  that  mi  occasional  pair  hnsiMls  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Klamath.  On 
May  !>,  1SS;J,  while  en  route  froui  this  post  to  Liukvillc,  ()re<ion,  I  observed 
a  pair  of  these  birds  in  the  larj^-o  open  pine  forest  altout  midway  between 
the  two  points.  1  had  halted  my  party  to  let  the  horses  frraze,  aud,  while 
restin<>',  my  attention  was  attracted  to  the  maUt,  i)y  its  incessant  screaming 
in  the  trees  ov(!rhead;  this  also  l)rou<jht  tlu*  female  around,  and  slu^  was 
ccpially  as  noisy.  It  was  clear  that  they  had  a  nest  in  tlu!  vicinity,  either  in 
th(^  tall  pines  or  in  a  clitF  about  400  yards  di.stant,  but  a  careful  searcli  insti- 
tuted l)y  the  meml)ers  of  my  party  and  myself  faile(l  to  reveal  it.  i^oth 
birds  were  rather  shy,  but  I  finally  sncccc(le(l  in  killinj;'  the  male,  a  very 
handsome  adult  specimen.  This  is  now  in  Mr.  .Manly  Hardy's  collection  at 
Hrower,  Maine,  to  whom  I  presented  it.  WhtiHi  \  observed  Buckley's  Mer- 
lin, it  was  nnich  rarer  than  Ftifro  (olnmlxnliis  at  any  time.  At  Fort  Walla 
Walla,  Washinfjfton,  I  obtained  both  sul)species  as  well  as  Uichard.son's  Merlin; 
all  of  the  specimens  tak(ai  here,  however,  were  shot  dnrin<f  the  mi<;ration, 
or  in  winter.  It  is  probably  connnon  enouffh  alon;."-  tlit^  coast  of  ( )re<^on, 
Washinffton,  and  Hritish  (J()luml)ia,  and  the  mode  of  nidilication  as  wcdl  as 
the  eggs  are  not  likely  to  dili'er  from  those  of  the  preceding  subsi)i!cies. 


102.     Falco  richardsonii  Kidcway. 


RICHAKDSONH    MF,KI.1\. 


iili^ 


Fcdco   (Hypotfiorchis)   rirhartJsDuii    Uidowav,    J'i'c)ci'c<liiiKH   Aciulemy   Natural   Sci- 

tnii'os,  T'liiladi'liiliia,  DLrfmlicr,  ISM),  NT). 

(B  — ,  C  :it.^,  li  us,  C  aor,  U  .'ios.) 

GeohraI'HU'AI.  KANOk  :  Iiittu'lor  a,ii<l  western  |ilaiii.s  of  Nurtli  Ameiiea,  I'min  the 
Mississiinii  Uivcr  to  the  Pafilic  coast  ;  iiortli  to  yaskatchewaii,  Britisli  Aiiiui'ica.  south 
ill  winter  to  To.xas  and  Arizoiiii  (and  ])robiil)ly  into  Mexico). 

Richardson's  Merlin,  a  slightly  larger  and  paler  c(dore(l  bird  than  the 
I'igeon  Hawk  and  resemi)ling  vt^ry  unich  the  common  Furopean  Merlin 
(l''(il<:o  reifitlt(.s),  with  which  it  was  confoun(h'(l  l)y  some  of  our  earlier  orni- 
thologists, is  another  species  about  which  little  is  known  respecting  its  eggs, 
nests,  and  breeding  range. 

From  an  examination  of  tlu*  series  of  skins  of  th.e  suijgenns  yJ-Jsalaii  in 
the  U.  S.  National  Museum  collection,  it  plainly  appears  that  the  northern 
range  of  iiichardson's  Merlin  is  not  nearly  so  extended  as  that  of  the  com- 
mon Pigeon  Hawk.  Among  the  luunerous  specnnens  received  through  the 
exertions  of  some  of  the  gentlenu'n  of  tlu^  Hudson  Hay  Company  from  the 
(Ireat  Slave  Lake,  the  Mackenzie  and  Anderson  river  region,  there  is  not 
a  single  one  referai)le  to  this  species,  and  it  is  (h)ubtful  if  it  reaches  a 
higher  latitude  than  af)"  in  tlu*  interior,  though  on  the  I'acific.  coast  it  may 
possibly  l»e  found  somewhat  farther  northward  during  the   Itreeding  season. 


iH 


304 


LIFE  IlISTOKMHa  OF  NOKTII  AMElilCAN  BlUDS. 


Dr.  Killiott  Couos,  in  sj)L')ikin}r  of"  this  sj)0('i(>s,  says:  "Dr.  Richardson's 
bird  was  an  old  li'inalu  killed  at  (!arlton  llouso,  on  tlm  Saskatchewan, 
May  14,  1S27,  while  Hying  with  her  mate;  in  tho  oviduct  there  were  sev- 
eral full-sized  white  eggs,  (douded  at  one  end  with  a  few  bronze  colored 
spots."' 

Carlton  House  is  situated  on  tho  lino  of  the  Canadian  Pacilic,  Railroad, 
near  latitudi^  53°  N.  Within  our  own  limits,  it  seems  to  bo  most  common 
along  the  timben^d  river  bottoms  of  the  Mis.souri  and  its  tributaries  and 
along  the  borders  of  the  various  streams  liaving  their  sources  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains  from  Colorado  northward.  It  is  known  to  breed  near  Fort  Rice, 
Dakota,  where  young  birds  just  out  of  the  nest  were  obtained  on  July  V), 
lH(i7.  Among  the  specimens  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum  collection 
an>  some  from  Colorado,  Montana,  Wyoming,  the  two  Dakotas,  the  Indian 
Territory,  and  New  Mexico;  also  from  Wasliington,  Oregon,  and  California, 
on  the  Pacific  coast.  I  have  taken  several  at  Walla  Walla,  Washington, 
but  do  not  believe  that  it  breeds  in  the  inunediate  vicinity  of  tliis  ])lace. 

There  are  no  absolutely  identified  eggs  of  Riciiardsou's  Merlin  in  the  U.  S. 
National  Museum  collection.  Its  mode  of  nidification  anil  the  eggs  as  well, 
are  doubtless  very  .similar  to  those  of  the  common  Pigeon  Hawk,  and  indis- 
tinguishable from  them,  but  may  possibly  avcsrage  a  triHe  larger  in  size. 

103.     Falco  regulus  Pallas. 

MKKLIN. 

Falro  rrqulus  Pallas,  lifi.sc,  Riissisclu'ii  KcicliH.  ir,  AiihaiiK.  1773,  707. 

(B  — ,  C  -,  li  -,  C  — ,  U  ;!r)S.  1.) 

Gkocskaphk'al  kanoe  :  Europe,  Asia,  and  Africa ;  accidental  on  tho  coast  of 
Greenland. 

This  little  Falcon,  one  of  the  smallest  found  in  luu'ope,  breeds  through- 
out the  more  northern  portions  of  the  Old  World,  and  is  entitled  to  a  jdace 
in  our  iivifauna,  a  specimen  having  been  shot  at  (-'aj)e  Farewell,  Greenland, 
May  3,  IH?;"),  which  is  now  in  the  collection  of  the  Public  Museum  at  Mil- 
waukee, Wiscon.-(in. 

A('cording  to  Mr.  Henry  Seebohm,  "The  Merlin  breeds  throughout  north 
Euro])(',  Iceland,  and  the  Faroes,  wintering  in  .south  Europe  and  north  Africa, 
where,  according  to  Loche,  a  few  remain  tlinmgh  the  summer,  retinng  to  tho 
highest  districts  to  breed.  Eastward  it  breeds  throughout  northern  Siberia, 
jiassing  through  Mongolia  and  Turkestan  on  migration,  and  wintering  in  south 
Ciiina,  northwest  India  and  Scinde." 

Speaking  of  this  species  in  Great  Hritain,  he  says:  "The  Merlin,  in  those 
districts  frefjuented  by  it  from  North  Derbyshint  to  the  Sluitlands,  is  a  resident 
s])ecies,  living  on  the  moorlands  and  the  mountains  in  summer,  and  retiring  to 


•Birds  of  the  Nortbwest,  1U74,  p.  M'J. 


THE  MERLIN, 


305 


more  cuUivatocl  distHcts  for  tlio  winter,  in  ii  manner  similar  to  tliat  of  tiie 
Meadow  I'ipit.  Even  in  the  wild  eonntry  of  tlie  iSlietlands,  the  Western  Isles, 
and  the  lliffhlands  the  Merlin  is  fonnd  throuf,diout  the  year;  in  summer  on  the 
moiintiiins  and  in  winter  lower  (h)wn,  in  more  sheltered  distriets  on  the  sea- 
shore.    *     *     * 

"Altlioufjli  the  M(>rlin  arrives  on  the  moorl.inils  from  its  winter  haunts  late 
in  March  or  early  in  April,  it  is  a  somewhat  late  breeder.  Thc!  date  of  nidifi- 
cation  is  evidiMitly  cho.sen  with  n^lation  to  an  almndani  supply  of  food  for  the 
youiif;'.  *  *  *  'V\u',  site  selected  for  the  nest  varies  in  dill'enait  localities; 
for  in  !.iaplaiid,  l)oth  Wolley  and  \Vheelwrij;ht  mention  instances  of  nests  beiuff 
foiuid  in  trees,  and  (!oll(ftt  says  that  in  south  Norway  it  frerjuently  takes 
possession  of  an  old  nest  in  a  tree,  like  the  Kestrel.  On  the  Faroes  it  is  said 
to  breed  on  the  cliHs.  ( )n  our  own  moorlands  a  site  is  chosen  on  the  j^round, 
in  the  tall  heather,  or  in  some  flat  spot  amoni;  the  rocks  on  the  steep  slopes 
at  tli(!  foot  of  the  precipitous  ridj^cs  so  often  met  with  in  the.se  localities.  Tiie 
site  usually  slopes  down  to  a  stream,  and  is  one  that  commands  a  good  view 
of  tlie  surroundinjr  country.  In  most  cases  a  small  hole  is  made;  whatever 
roots  and  dry  {•rass  may  chance  to  be  upon  the  spot  are  scratched  into  the 
rudiments  of  a  nest,  ami  the  only  materials  actually  .selected  l)y  the  bird 
appear  to  be  a  few  slender  twij^s  of  'lin<r'  t<»  form  the  outside  of  the  structure, 
and  which  are  {generally  broken  from  the  heather  overhanj>inff  the  nest.  When 
on  the  rocky  slopes,  it  is  usually  made  under  a  heather  tuft,  or  beneath  a  mass 
of  coar.se  herbaj^e,  and  is  then  l)ut  a  mere  hollow  in  the  scanty  soil,  us 
often  without  the  lin<>'  twi;;s  as  with  them. 

"The  ejfffs  of  tlie  Merlin  are  usually  five  in  num])er,  sometimes  only 
fotu';  and  are  somewhat  rounded  in  form.  *  *  »  Some  spei'imens  are  deep 
rcildisli  brown,  so  richly  coh)red  as  to  hide  all  trace  of  the  jjfround  color; 
others  are  \y,i\v  red  with  most  of  the  deep  brown  confined  sometimes  to  the 
lar<i-e  ami  sometimes  to  th(f  small  end.  Some  s[)ecimens  an;  pale  cream  in 
fjround  color,  evenly  and  l)eautifully  marbleil  with  deep  piu'j)lisli  red,  or  finely 
dusted  over  tlus  entire  surface  with  minute  specks  of  blackish  brown,  and  vary 
from  l.(!.")  to  1.50  inches  in  Ien<jtli,  and  from  1.20  to  l.l")  inches  in  breadth 
[equal  to  41. !l  to  :5S.l    in  len;j;th,  and  iJO.")  to  2'.):2  millimetres  in  breadth]."' 

TIu^  eg<;s  of  the  Merlin  are  scarcely  disrinjiuisliable  from  those  of  the 
IMfj-eon  Hawk.  The  av('ra;j,-e  measurement  of  eij^lit  egi^s  in  the  IJ.  S.  National 
Museum  collection  is  IV.)  by  ;51  millimetres.  Tiie  larj^est  egg  measures  40 
by  JU.i"),  th((  smallest  ;{8  by  31   millimetres. 

1  History  of  British  Birds,  ia«;!,  Vol.  i,  pp.  34-3'J. 
liG957— Bull.  1 1!0 


m 


?••■■:  i' 


iniij 


!   .J  ; 


'  i  !i  ■ 


:«    il. 


^;ii^- 


306  lilFK  FllSTOUIES  OK  NOUTJl  AMKIilCAN  lUKIXS. 


104.     Falco  fusco-ccerulescens  Vieim-ot. 
Aru)MAi)(i  kaia;()N. 

Falro  fusro-nr villi sirii.s  VxKUAAvr.  Ndiivcjiu  Dictioimirc.  XI,  IS17.  !)0. 

(H!t,  V  mr,  u-u!),  c.Mi,  u  ;)5!t.) 

OkookaI'IIIcai,  UANoK;  Tri>])ical  Aiiu'ricu  in  ^(•iicriil  (oxct'i)t  West  Indies),  iiortli 
tosoutlii'rii  Ti'Xiis  iiiiil  tlio  T(!rrit()rit's  ol'  New  M(\\ico  iiud  Arizona. 

The  breeding  raufj^e  of  the  liiiudsoinc'  Aploniiidt)  F^ilcoii,  ji  ctiniiiKtii  iiml 
widely  distrilmtcd  Central  and  Sdiitli  American  speries,  as  tar  as  known  at 
present,  is  alonj;  the  sontlnvestern  Ixirder  of  the  l-nitetl  States,  thron^jh  the 
valley  of  the  Hio  Grande  from  southern  and  southwestern  Texas  to  south- 
western New  Mexico  and  soutiiern  Arizona.  It  has  not  as  yet  lieen  met  with 
in  Lower  California,  and  it  is  doul)tful  if  it  occin's  tliere. 

In  its  hahits,  compareil  with  other  Falcons,  it  is  said  to  be  rather  spirit- 
less and  does  not  appear  to  possess  the  dash  of  the  I'ij^eon  Hawk  or  the 
Duck  Hawk,  between  wliich  it  is  intermediate  in  size. 

l>r.  James  C.  Jferrill,  U.  S.  Army,  is  the  first  naturalist  who  found  it 
breedinjj  within  our  borders.  In  liis  "Xotes  on  Hiids  observed  in  the 
vicinity  Fort  Hrown,  Texas,"  he  says:  "Durin;;-  ISTC  and  1S77,  I  had  occa- 
sionally seen  a  Hawk  that  1  felt  confident  was  of  this  species,  but  did  not 
succeed  in  obtainin<;  any  specimens.  On  the  Kith  of  dune  of  the  latti-r 
year,  I  found  a  n«^st  placed  in  the  top  of  a  low  Spanish  bayonet,  ^frowin;;' 
in  Palo  Alto  prairie,  alxiut  7  miles  from  Fort  Hrown.  After  waitin<r  a  lonj;- 
tinu'  I  wounded  the  female,  but  she  sailed  ofV  over  the  i)rairie  and  went 
down  amon<f  some  tall  j^rass,  wliere  she  could  not  be  found;  the  male  did 
not  come  within  <,nmshot,  thou<^h  he  rose  twice  from  the  nest  on  my  ap- 
proach. The  nest  was  a  sli;ihtly  depressed  platform  of  twi<is,  with  a  little 
}frass  for  liniufj.  The  ejjjj^s,  tiu'ee  in  nund)er,  were  rotten,  though  containiuf; 
well  developed  endtryos.  They  measured  1..S1  by  l."2!l,  1.77  l»y  \.'M\  and  l.SS 
by  1.33  inche.s,  respectively  [equal  to  about  4(>  by  ;5'2.S,  45  by  ,'53. S,  and  -47. >< 
by  33.S  millimetres]. 

"On  May  7,  1S7S,  ;\  seccnid  nest  was  found  within  100  yards  of  the 
one  just  mentioned  and  tlu^  parent  secured.  The  nest  in  situation  and 
construction  was  precisely  like  the  other,  except  that  the  yucca  was  hiffher, 
the  top  bein^j  about  1"2  feet  from  the  j^round.  The  efffis  were  three  in  luun- 
ber,  all  well  advanced,  l)ut  one  with  a  deail  e?nl)ryo.  They  measured  1.7S  by 
1.34,  1.82  by  l.'2f>,  and  1.73  by  1.32  inclies,  respectively  [e(|ual  to  alxmt  4r).'2 
liy  34,  4(].3  by  32.7,  and  44  by  33..')  millimetres].  T]w  {jrouud  ccdor  is  white, 
but  so  thickly  dotted  with  reddish  brown  as  to  ajjpear  of  that  color:  over 
these  arc  somewhat  heavier  markin<rs  of  deeper  shades  of  brown."' 

Amoujif  an  exci'cdin;rly  interesting  collection  of  birds,  nests,  and  efrjifs, 
made  by  Lieut.  Harry  ('.  lieuson,   Foiuth  Cavalry,   U.  S.  Army,  while  sta- 

■Prucoedinga  U.  8.  Matiuual  Mumiuiu,  Vol.  1,  187H,  |i.  15'.!, 


Mm 


THE  AI'liOMADO  I'ALCON. 


807 


liniH'd  at  Forf  lliiai'lmcii,  in  smitluTii  Arizona,  and  wliicli  hi-  <ji'nL'r(»u.-*ly 
liii'scntcd  tt>  the  I'.  S.  National  Museum  colk-ction  at  WasIiin;,'ton,  D.  I'.,  art< 
thrt'o  HC'ts  of  i'iii!;)*'  ot"  tliis  Falcon.  Ho  writes  nic  that  hi'  ioUnd  it  cxcised- 
infily  shy  and  diHi«'iilt  to  approacii,  hut  fairly  coinnion  in  that  vicinity. 
.\ccordiu;;  to  his  ohsorvations  it  often  ali},dits  on  the  {ground  when  pin-sued, 
and  preferH  the  open  plains,  covered  here  and  there  with  low  ines(juite  trees, 
yuccas,  and  cactuses,  to  the  more  mountainous  re<,'ions.  He  iloes  not  consider 
it  a  resident  throughout  the  year,  liut  he  observed  it  as  late  as  .January. 
Five  nests  were  found  Ity  the  lieutenant  durin};  the  sprinj^  of  1H87,  all  of 
them  placed  in  low  mes(iuite  trecjs  from  7  to  15  feet  from  the  fj^ntund. 
These  nests  were  apparently  old  ones  of  tiie  White-necked  Haven  {Curriis 
iiiiiitokuviui),  an<l  used  without  any  rejjairs  hein;,'  made  to  them.  A  ne.st 
tound  on  April  "Jf),  1HK7,  contained  three  younj^  birds,  which  were  taken  by 
liim  and  raised,  becomiiiff  (piite  tame;  one  found  on  April  2H  contained 
tiu-ee  fresh  efjff^s;  another  found  on  Jlay  f)  likewise  containeil  three  efjf>s, 
two  with  larj^e  embryos,  the  third  addled.  A  fourth  and  fifth  nest,  both 
found  on  Jlay  14,  contained  ea»'h  two  fre.sli  eg{,rs,  possibly  a  second  laying 
of  some  of  the  birds  previously  despoiled. 

Their  food  consists  of  small  rejjtiles,  mice  and  other  rodents,  grusshop- 
|)ers  and  insects  of  various  kinds,  and  occasionally  a  bird. 

The  usual  number  of  eggs  laid  by  this  species  .seems  to  be  three;  but 
nothing  is  known  about  the  length  of  incubation.  Nidification  conunence.s, 
occasionally  at  least,  by  the  latter  part  of  March,  continuuig  through  Ajiril 
and  the  first  half  of  May,  iuid  it  is  not  likely  that  more  than  one  brood  is 
laised  in  a  season.  It  seems  to  be  only  a  sununer  resident  in  the  United 
States. 

The  ground  color  of  the  eggs  of  the  Ajjlomado  Falcon  is  a  dirty  yel- 
lowish white,  and  this  is  thickly  sprinkled  with  reddish  and  chestnut  brown 
l)lotches  and  spots  of  various  sizes,  almost  completely  oljscuring  the  ground 
color.  In  one  of  the  sets  of  eggs  these  markings  are  very  fine,  nearly  of 
the  same  size  throughout,  and  of  a  delicate  reddish  l)utl'  color,  giving  them 
(juite  a  difierent  appearance  from  the  other.s.  .Judging  from  the  limited 
munber  of  specimens  in  the  collection,  their  variation  in  color  is  fully  as 
great,  if  not  greater,  than  that  lV>und  in  the  eggs  of  any  of  t)ur  Falcons. 
In  general  appearance  they  approncli  the  eggs  of  I''akv  ruaticolus  gyrfuko 
nearer  than  any  others. 

The  average  measurement  of  nine  specimens  in  the  U.  S.  National 
Museum  collection  is  Ah  by  '6h  millimetres.  The  largest  specimen  measures 
Ki.r»  by  35,  the  .smallest  43  by  35  millimetres. 

Of  the  type  .specimens,  No.  23001  (IM.  10,  Fig.  !)),  from  a  .set  of  three 
eggs,  was  taken  May  5,  1.SS7,  and  No.  23020  (I'l.  10,  Fig.  lO),  also  from  a 
.set  of  three  taken  on  April  28,  IH87.  Both  were  collected  by  Lieut.  Harry 
(".  IJenson,  U.  S.  Army,  near  Fort  Huachuca,  Arizona. 


;■■)(; 


!l 


1i'' 


i; 


ii 


308 


LIFK  HISTOKIKS  OK  KOUTII  AMIOKKJAN  HIKDH. 


i  1 


■r>-«i 


S-'tl?'>J^ 


105.     Falco  tinnunculus  Ijnn-«i's. 

KKSTKKI., 

Fnlco  finnunrulus  Linn-ici's,  HyHlonm  Niiturn',  id.  I(i,  1,  IT.'iS,  p.  !H). 

(H  -  ,  V  -  ,  R  I •.".'.  V     ,  V  :i.MM.) 

OKOdRAPillcAi.  RANOK:  Eiir(i|K',  Asia,  ami  Africa;  arcidciitiil  in  castorn  North 
Amorii'H  (Massacimsi'tts). 

Tlie  Kestrel,  (iiic  of  tlic  most  coiiiiiKtii  birds  of  prey  of  tlic  Old  World, 
is  jidiiiiltcd  lis  a  imd  of  our  fauna,  11  Hpecimcn  luiviii};  ln't'ii  shot  at  Stniw- 
lu'rry  Hill,  Naiitaskct  licacli,  Massacluisctts,  ScptcinluT  "_'!),  1SS7,  and  which 
is  now  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  Cliailes  H.  Cory,  of  Hoston,  iMussachnsetts. 

Mr.  Henry  Seelxdnn  says:  "The  Kestrel  breeds  in  almost  every  part 
of  the  I'ahearctic  re<?ion  and  is  e(»nnnon  up  to  latitutle  (!()''  N.  Farther  north 
it  rapidly  becomes  rarer,  and  north  of  tli(^  Arctic  circhi  its  appearance  is 
only  acciilental,  tliou;;h  thert^  seems  to  be  {iood  reason  to  Ixdieve  that  W'olley 
once  obtained  a  nest  in  Laplaiul  as  fai-  north  as  (!H^.  North  of  the  Alps  it 
is  principally  a  sununer  migrant,  but  in  the  countries  south  of  the  Maltic  a 
few  remain  duriuf,'  tlu^  winter.     South  of  the  Alps  it  appears  to  be  a  resident. 

"Mice  form  the  chief  part  of  the  Kestrel's  food;  but  occasionally  small 
birds  an!  taken,  althonjih  very  rarely  and  only  when  its  usual  fart?  is  waut- 
iiif;-;  frofi's,  moh;s,  caterpillars,  lizards,  and  earthworms  are  also  eaten.  *  »  * 
'I'he  Kestrel  appears  to  delay  its  nestin;;-  season  until  field  mic<'  and  insects 
are  plentiful.  It  jicnerally  l)reeds  in  the  thickest  woods  and  rarely  in  nests 
built  in  isolateil  trees.  It  also  rears  its  younji'  on  the  cliH's  by  the  seaside, 
and  some  of  the  Ix'st  places  to  seek  tor  its  e;i'j;s  aiv,  the  rocks  on  the  moors 
and  the  clitl's  of  limestone  districts,  'i'lu!  Kestrel  will  also  not  infrci|Uently 
lay  her  I'fi'jfs  in  holes  of  buildiiiji's,  notably  anion;;'  the  ivied  ruins  and  the 
CJothic  architectiu'e  of  cathedrals  in  company  with  Doves  and  .Jackdaws. 
When  the  e^'^s  nv*'  laid  in  the  cre\ices  of  rocks  a  little  ca\ity  is,  if  possible, 
scratched  in  the  soft  i-arth  or  vegetable  refuse,  or,  failing  in  this,  some  natu- 
ral cavit}'  in  the  rock  itself  is  chosen  in  which  to  dejiosit  the  e^i'^s.  In  the 
wooded  districts  a  Crow's  or  Magpie's  nest  is  the  usual  situation  chosen  by 
the  Kestrel  in  which  to  rear  its  youn;^',  and  sometimes  the  nest  of  a  Hin<r 
Dove  is  u.sed,  and,  more  rarely  still,  that  of  a  Sparrow  Hawk.  It  is  also 
worthy  of  remark  that  when  a  Ma;ipie's  nest  is  chosen  the  rooty  lining''  is 
usually  removed,  j)robably  I'roni  motives  of  (deanliness,  and  tlie  e^'^s  are 
laid  on  the  hard  lining  of  nuid.  As  incubation  adsances  the  pellets  con- 
tainin^r  the  refu.se  of  the  bird's  food  aci-unudate  and  serve  as  a  lining',  beauti 
fully  sctft,  on  which  the  e^ffs  rest  secure. 

"  Si.\  e;,''}^s  is  the  numl)er  usually  foimd,  althou;;h  in  some  cases  the 
numbiM"  has  been  seven,  and  in  others  only  foin*  or  live.  I'hey  are  rich 
reddish  brown  of  various  shades  upon  a  dirty  or  creamy  white;  ground. 
Most  eggs  of  this    bird    when  newly  laid  jjossess   a   purplish    bloom  which, 


Till',  Ki;sTi(i:i,. 


309 


however,  hooii  Cades  iit'ter  expoxiire  to  li^lif.  'i'lie  e;f^s  of  the  Kt'stnil  vary 
iVoiii  1.70  to  1.45  iiielies  in  h-iiuth,  iiiiil  rruiii  l.Sh  to  1.12  inches  in  Itreiulth 
|ei|ual  to  43.1  to  3n.H  in  lenirth  anil  tVoni  34.3  to  2S.4  Miillinietres  in  lireadth]. 
'Pile  I'eniah'  Kestrel  wlien  laying;'  does  not  always  deposit  an  ejij^'  each  suc- 
cessive day,  and  .sometimes  sits  npoii  the  tirst  e^jf  as  soon  as  laid.  Tlu* 
I'emaii^  hird  iiHiially  incnhates  the  eii';.>'s,  althoM^i'h  tlie  male  is  sometimes 
tound  upon  them.'" 

'i'he  ej;jfs  ot"  the  Kestrel  resend)le  those  of  onr  i'i^^eon  Hawk  \erj' 
closely,  althou";]!  a  trifle  smallei'.  'I'he  avera};e  measm'ement  of  thirty-nine 
of  these  e},'}jfs  in  tiie  II.  S.  National  Musenm  eollectiiai  is  ',\HI>  hy  32  niilli- 
metres.  'i'lie  largest  effjr  of  the  .series  measures  -11  hy  32.i"i,  the  smallest 
'M]S>  hy  30  millimeters.     None  are  li^ureil. 


lo6.     Falco  sparverius  iiiNN^: 


us. 


AMKIMCAN   SI'ARKOW    HAWK. 


F((U'(>  Kjiiirvcriiis  Li\\/i:i  s,  Hyslcma   Niitiirr.  cd.   Id,  i,  I7."»H,  !tO. 

(i{  i.f,  (•  ;u(i,  :w,,i.  \i  f-'it.  VMi,  «'  r.(is.  noit.  i'  ;j(M».) 

(iKoiiKAlMIICAl,    KANdK  :     Whole    (if    tciiipeiiite    NiMtli     AiMcrica,    anil     sonlli    (in 
winter  (Hily  f)  thi'on^^ii  Central  .Vnii'iica  to  niirtliern  Hoatli  .VnH'iii'a. 

This  liandsome  little  Falcon,  next  to  the  Culian  Sparrow  Hawk  the 
smallest  of  our  diurnal  Kaptoi'es,  is  pretty  jrenerally  distrihuted  over  nearly 
the  entire  North  American  continent,  excepting'  tlie  extreme  Arctic  portions 
tliereof,  l)reedin<r  from  Florida  and  tlie  (Suif  coast  to  the  shores  of  Iludsiai 
l'>ay,  and  in  the  interior  at  least  as  far  north  as  Fort  l{ae,  (Jreat  Slavic 
i.ake,  in  latitude  (i2  '  N.  Meyond  tiiis  it  does  not  apjiear  to  occiu',  otherwise 
that  eiK^'ji'i'tic  naturalist  and  eollectoi-,  Mr.  K.  MaeFarlane,  of  the  Hudson 
Hay  (!onn)aiiy,  would  certainly  have  met  with  and  reported  it.  On  the 
I'acilii^    coast   it    is   found    from   ('ape   St.   Lucas,   in    Lower  California, 


north 


th 


ward    to   Alaska,   where    it    appears    to  he    i-are,    liowe\er,    at    least     in    the 
interior  of  that  Territory. 

In  the  eastern    I'liited  States  it   is  not   nearly  so   ai)undant   as   throuifh- 

out   the   West,   where    I    have  found    it  a    common    suimner    resident    almost 


■vervwhere,    if   suitahle    timl)er    for 


iiestinji"   sites    was 


availalile.     Mr.  L.  M. 


Turner   did  not   notice    it    in    northern    Lalirador    and    the    Unirava    district, 


liiit  it,   is   k 


nown 


to   h 


a    summer    resident    of    Newfoundland,   Nova,  Scotia, 


and    New    Brunswick,  and    the    more   southern    portions   of  the    Dominion   of 
Uanada. 

In  winters  from  al)out  latitude  3S'^  S.  and  .southward  in  the  eastern  I'nited 
Stated,  as  well  as  in  the  Uocky  Mountain  I'ej^ioun ;  on  the  Pacific  coast  from 
ahoiit  latitude  41"  S.,  thoiijfh  stra<>-^lers  remain  in  .sludtered  and  faxorahle 
localities  at  still  hi<>her  latitudes  throu^rhout  the  countr 

'  llistiii'v  <>r  lli'ili.sli  Itinls,  IKSlt,  Vol.  1.  |i.  I.'i-rill. 


)■• 


'  I, 


310 


Lli'K  IIIHTOUIKH  UK  NOUTII  AMKlilCAN   ItllCDH. 


;  i' 


Liko  mortt  of  our  lluptorcs  the  Sparrow  Hawk,  I  lu-licvo,  rcMiiaiiiH  pairnl 
tlirouglioiit  life;  at  any  riitc  tlicy  ccrlaiiily  appear  to  lie  alreaily  ho  oh  tlicir 
rt'tiirn  I'rom  tlicir  winter  lioiiies.  'I'liey  usually  arrive  on  tlio  old  Itreedin;;' 
^'rounds  in  the  ceMtral  portions  of  their  ran^fc  aliout  tiie  middle)  of  Mareh, 
some  seasons  not  lefore  the  i)e;,nmiin^'  of  April,  and  at  later  dates  farther  to 
the  northward.  In  Florida  niditication  lie^ins  aiiont  the  middle  of  March, 
soniL'timos  in  tlin  last  half  of  Fehruary;  in  southern  Arizona,  southern  'i'exas, 
and  southern  California  aixiut  the  first  week  in  April;  in  tlu*  Middle  States 
from  April  Ift  to  May  10,  and  in  tlu*  more  northern  States  from  May  1 
.liuwi  1;  in  tho  Uo<'ky  Mountain  re;^ion  and  thence  westward  to  ()rej>i 
Idaho,  and  \Vashini;ton  rarely  before  M.iy  1'),  ami  usually  dininj-'  the  last 
part  of  this  month  and  tint  first  te<<  (hixs  in  •ftnie,  and  in  the  more  northern 
portions  of  its  rani^-e  durinj;  the  first  two  weeks  in  ,lune. 

Tl 


U'     I 


uost  common  nestiu<^  plac(>  of  the  S|iarrow  Hawk  is  in  holes  of 
trees,  either  natural  cavities  or  the  altanilone(l  exca\ations  of  our  larj>er 
Woodpeckers.  In  re^i'ions  where  such  sites  are  not  readily  ohtaiuahle,  it 
I'csorts  to  holes  in  sandstone  clifl's  and  (day  hiniks.  ( >ccasionall}'  a  piiir  will 
nest  in  some  dark  corner  in  a  liarn,  and  even  dovecots  have  lieen  known 
to  ))('  a|)propriated.  Such  an  instance  is  mentioned  in  the  "History  of  North 
i\nu'rican  Minis,  1S74"  (Vol.  in,  p.  174).  Several  oliservers  report  their 
nestinj^  in  Miijipies'  nests  in  the  West,  and  Mr.  H.  [{.  Taylor  stiites:  "Of 
tw(dve  sets  of  cf^^^s  of  the  Sparrow  Hawk  taken  this  yeai',  in  San  Uenito 
County,  California,  Ity  a  friend  and  myself,  idl  hut  two  were  f'ounil  in  Ma}"'- 
pies'  nests,  and  these  wei'c  placed  one  in  ii  hole  in  iui  oak  and  the  other  ' 
a  cavity  in  a  liank  on  the  Siui   Heiiito   [{iver."' 

While  sucli  nests  may  lie  resorted  to  in  certain  localities,  it  is  l)j 
means  a  constinit  hal)it  with  this  sp(!cies.  1  lielieve  there  are  few  places  in 
the  I'nited  States  where  th(^  MIack-l)illed  Ma^'pie  (/'/ra  pied  liinlsdiiird)  is  more 
aliundant  than  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Nez  I'ercc  IndiiUi  Reservation  in  Ididio 
and  the  Sparrow  Iliiwk  is  also  common  there,  yet  I  never  found  a  pair 
occupyin<f  a  Mai;i)ie's  nest,  idtliou;;h  the  ordinary  nestin;^'  sites  used  h^    it  are 


rare  on  accoui 


It  of  the  scarcitN'  of  liujic  timher.     Accordinj;  to 


souh'  oliserv 


ers 


th 


ire  also  said  to  occiisic 


)nally  occupy  open  nests,  hut  such  instances 
nist  be  very  rare.  .\Ir.  Lynds  .buu's,  of  Cilrinnell,  Iowa,  informs  me  thiit 
e  has    found    them    ia'eedinjf    in    open    nests,   usually    old  Crows'  nest.s,  and 


that  very  little    or    no    new   material 


IS     usei 


1,    the   old    liuiui''   1 


»ein<^  snap 


ly 


reiirranjred.  I  have  had  excellent  opportunities  to  stiuly  th(!  nestiuff  habits 
of  this  species,  anil  only  in  one  sinj^le  instance  had  I  reason  to  suspect  that 
iui  open  nest  wiis  used,  and  this  was  placed  in  the  extremis  top  of  a  tall  Cot- 


tonwood tree  on    Lapwai   Creek,   Idal 


lo,  and    was  uiaccessilih 


1 


saw  one 


of  these  birds  sittiu"'  on  the  edy-e  of  this  ne.st,  which  a 


PI 


repciitedly 
1  to  be 


)eai'e( 


was 


rather  a  frail  structure,   if  a  nest  at  all,  l)ut  it    is  very  prol»able  that  it 
madtf  use  of  more  as  a  perch  to  rest  on,  and  that  then*  was  a  cavity  some- 
where in  tho  upper  p;irt  of  the  tree  which   I  failed  to  notice. 


I  Uriiilliiili>(»iHl.  niid  OiiliijtiHt,  Veil,  xin,  IS-'H. 


•im ' 


ilW-'i: 


TIIK  AMKIilCAN  HI'AltKONV   HAWK. 


811 


Tlient  HitcMis  to  1)0  II  (Ti't'iit  (litlVrcDct^  in  tlic  iiiiiiiiut  of  lining  tlicir  licHtH. 
Strictly  s|i<'iikiii;<f,  tlut  S|mi'rt>\v  Hawk  ordinarily  iiiakt-H  no  nest,  il*'|iiiHitiiiir  itH 
fuf^s  on  wliatcviT  nil»i»isli  may  la*  found  in  tlio  liottoni  of  the  cavity  iiHcd. 
( >ccnsionally  tluf  *'iXii>*  'ini  laid  on  a  lew  IcavcM  or  Krassfs,  Hcarccly  dcMcrvinj^ 
tlio  nanio  of  u  nest.  In  sonu*  localiticH,  however,  the}  arc  credited  with 
i,'r('at»(r  encrjiy  in  this  resjiect  than  in  usually  tlu^  case.  Mr.  .1.  W.  IVestou, 
of  Uaxter,  Iowa,  writes  me  as  i'ollows:  "The  amoimt  of  dry  j^rass  and  leav«'H 
that  this  HpecicH  Homotinies  carries  into  a  iiollow  for  its  nest  is  |>rodi;i'iim«. 
In  one  cast*  ii  pair  .selected  a  hole  in  the  end  of  a  decayed  liranch  which  they 
tilled  with  tlio  dry  leaves  of  the  post  oak  a  foot  in  depth,  and  then  enou<rh 
;^Tass  on  this  to  fill  a  patent  hncket." 

Near  Camp  Harney,  ( )re^i'oii.  Sparrow  Hawks  are  very  ahundant,  and  1 
examined  a  f^reat  many  of  tiieii'  nests,  which  usually  were  very  accessilile,  the 
majority  lieiu^-  placed  iu  natural  hollows  or  the  excavations  made  )>y  ('(iliij)lr.s 
iiifrr  or  Mil<nii'r/>is  liin/iKihis  in  junipers,  from  ft  to  If)  feet  from  the  ground. 
In  nearly  (fvery  instance  the  four  or  live  e^jus  were  laid  on  the  few  chips 
usually  found  in  the  lioltom  of  these  iau'rows  or  on  tlu*  decaved  wood  and 
ruhliish  in  the  natural  cavities  which  had  accnnuilate<l  therein. 

Dr.  .lames  (!.  Merrill,  I'.  S.  Army,  found  it  nestinjf  on  ledj^es  and  in 
holes  of  clilfs  and  cut  hanks  in  Montana,  the  hinls  lireedini.f  alonj;'  the  lovvei' 
streams  usually  layiu'^'  live  e;4'j^'s,  while  those  i'ound  iu  the  mountains  ocu- 
erally  laid  hut  lour.  Kveu  when  persistently  disturbed  the  Sparrow  Hawk 
will  return  to  tlu;  sauu)  nestin;^'  site  from  year  to  jear.  'I'hey  art*  dilif>-eut 
layers,  usually  depositiiif^'  a  second  set  and  occasionally  a  third  should  they 
lo.se  the  first. 

Mr.  (J.  J.  Penuock  states:  In  the  sprinif  of  1H72  threo  sets  of  iiv(*  ej><is 
each,  evidently  from  the  same  Uiiir  of  hirds,  were  taken  at  int«'ivals  of  ten 
days  each,  from  a  partly  decayii.-  "Instuui  tree  in  southeastern  I'einisylvania. 
iu  the  sprini^  of  1H7.'{  tho  sauio  pair  ol  i»irds  i)rol)ai)ly  occupied  the  old  iie.stinj^' 
site  aj^ain,  and  on  April  24  a  set  of  fiv(i  ('}^f;s  was  taken;  on  May  (!,  another 
s(?t  of  four,  and  on  May  '2',i  tin*  nest  contained  four  more  e<><rs,  two  of  which 
were  taken.  On  May  "JK  another  e}f;r  had  heen  dep(»sited,  makinji"  fourteen 
cfffTs  laid  l»y  the  sanu»  bird.  The  last  varit'<|  <ireatly  from  the  first  ({fffs  laid, 
heiujf  nuu'h  smaller;  the  ji'rttatest  diU'ereuce,  however,  is  in  their  color,  the  last 
ej^'f'S  (the  smallest)  heiujf  but   sli<ihtly  marked,  and  one  was  almost  white."' 

Incubation  la.sts  about  three  weeks;  the  yonn;^'  when  lirst  hatched  are 
covered  with  fine  vvhitct  (h>wu  and  their  heads,  as  is  the  case  with  most 
youn^  birds  of  pri^y,  are  nearly  as  larji'c!  as  the  remainiufi'  part  of  tin*  body. 
Moth  parents  assist  iu  incubation  and  are  very  solicitous  in  the  care  of  their 
family.  No  other  birds  are  allowed  to  come  in  the  vicinity  of  their  nest 
at  su(tli  times  without  subjectiu;''  themselves  to  a  vicious  attack,  and  it  makes 
no  ditference  if  the  intruder  has  j^reatly  the  advantaf^e  in  size,  as  they  will 
attack  a  Swainson's  or  a  Hed-tailed   Hawk  as  readih'  as  anv  other  bird. 


'liulletiiiNuttall  Uriiitliulngical  Cliili,  Vol.  Ill,  Ih7h,  |).  U. 


m 


ii 

*  ff 

! 

1 

\ 

!mi| 

M^ 


Ml 


f".  !'f(!'! 


I    ■ 


l^'-i- 


!i.|:i 


I.":!? 


'.I* , 


'hi 


812 


LIFE  IIISTOUIFS  OF  NOliTH  AMKKICAN  KIUDS. 


,,     L    '1 


I  3ii'!S- 


Ustially  but  oi»o  brood  is  raised  in  ii  hciisoii.     Sometimes,  liowevor,  fVesli 
ogf^s  of  this  species  ai'(*  found   so  late  in  tbe  st^ison  that  it  seems  as  if  two 


brood 


s  nn 


■ht 


ib 


now 


and   then    be   liatclied.     Mr.   Franlv   |{ol»inette,  of 


Washinji'ton,  District  of  (!ohnid»ia,  foinid  a  set  of  live  fresii  o<f}^s  of  tliis  specie: 
as  latt*  as  the  iii'st  week  in  Anyiist,   ISSil. 


The  iiestinj'  sites  vary  ifreatlv,  as  has  ah'eadv  i)een  mentionei 


I.      I  1 


lave 


seen  tlieir  nests  h'ss 


tl 


lau 


4  feet  from    the    i>roimd,  and    anain   in    the   (h-atl 


tops  of  pine  trees  fully  HO  feet  and  more  up.  Oaks,  sycamores,  cottoinvtioil 
and  buttonwood  trees,  ])ines  and  other  conifers,  larjit'  willows,  chestnuts,  and, 
in  the  interior,  junipers  furnish  them  favorite  sites,  and  where  1  have  prin- 
cipally observed  them,  they  are  not  at  all  shy  and  usually  allow  themselves 
to  be  closely  approached.  In  the  West  they  are  ofteiier  founil  in  the  narrow 
strips  of  timber  borderin;f  th  '  streams  or  in  the  s<'attered  juniper  j^rovcs  found 
in  tin*  foothills  than  in  the  heavier  forests. 


Mr.  II.  W.  Ilenshaw  tells  me  of  a  ])eculiar  iiu'i<lent  re^su'diufi-  this  spec 


les 


which  came  under  his  oliservatioii  in  t\\o  spriii;^  of  1,SS4,  while  collectinji'  in 
the  vicinity  of  Colorado  Springs,  CNtloi-ado.  lie  foun<l  a  nest  of  tiiis  little 
Falcon  in  a  low  jiine  stump,  not  more  than  4  feet  fron\  the  <i'round.  'i'he 
female  w.  on  the  nest,  her  tail  partly  stickiufi'  out  of  the  hole.  As  the  1»irii 
could  not  1)1^  dislodjjcd,  and  he  did  not  want  to  pull  her  out  by  the  tail,  he 
left  her.  Coming  ity  the  place  aj;ain  sonu'time  later  in  the  day,  he  found  her 
absent  and  saw  on  examinatitin  that  the  nest  contained  several  ejijis  which 
weri^  just  ready  to  hatch,  some  of  tlu>  ej^n's  beinji'  chippe<l,  and  the  younj;' 
about  to  enu'r<;e  from  the  shells.  W'ishiiiji'  to  procure  a  couple  of  younji'  birds 
just  hatched,  lu^  did  not  di.sturb  the  nest  any  further  that  day,  l)Ut  to  his  sin- 
prise  on  visitinjf  it  the  next  niorniufi',  the  burrow  was  empty  and  no  imlicatioii 


were  visi 


ble  t( 


o  itro 


\i'  that  it  had  been  di 


es|)oiled  bv  aiiv  predatory  aniina 

1  h 


1.      N. 


e  vicnntv,  and  lie  caim 


sifi'ii  of  empty  or  lirokeii  shells  was  to   be  seeir  in  tl 

to  liie  conclasion  that  the  parents  them.selves  had  made  the  chanf>e,  and  carried 

the  efi'^s  or   yoiin^-  to  some  other  suitable  liurrow,  a   numlier  of  which   were 


avail 


ibh 


e  III  the  immediate  vicinitx 


liat< 


While  ill  search  of  food,  tiiese  handsome  little  Fiilcons  frecpiently  arrest 
their  swift  tli^'ht  instantly,  hoverin<f  suspi-nded  over  the  spot  where  their  prey  is 
sujiposed  to  be  found.     Their  loml  consists  principally  of  small   rodents,  ^rrass- 


lonllel•^ 


M'l 


:nlll  (I 


ler  insects,  and  larva"  of  xiiriniis  kinds;  lizards  and  small  snaki 


ire  also  eaten 


tl 
by  tl 


lein,  and  occasion; 


en  other  proveiwler  is  scarce,  es| 


••ially  in  winter,  small  birds  have  to  siiH'er.  ( !ra.<shoppers  when  attainaiile  form 
the  lailk  of  their  fare,  and  it  is  amusing-  to  watch  them  catch  and  dispose 
of   the  latter,    handling'    them    as   expertly  as  a   sipiiirel    does   a    nut,   and    no 


sooner  lias  one  lieeii  caujf 


s«'ize 


lem    wi 


th    t 


leir 


flit 

tal 


iiid   swi 


(wed  than  tliev  are  after  another.     Tlie\ 


oils 


boti 


,'llil 


e    on 


Ih 


and  on  the   uroiiiid 


After  <;'or;;iii<f  tlieiiisel\-es,  tlie\  return  to  some  favorite  perch  on  a  dead  limb 
ol'  a  tree  staiidiiij;'  on  the  ed<;('  of  a  prairie  '.ir  meadow,  or  to  the  top  or  the 
cr  issbars  of  a   telefi'ra])h  pole  and  sometiiii'  -  to  the   wire   itself.      In   the  West, 


TFIK  AMKKIUAN  SPAKKUW  HAWK. 


313 


whore  tlu>s(>  little  Hawks  are  ahtindaiit,  every  siieli  ])()le  in  si^^lit  stretcliiii<; 
across  a  prairie  may  sdinetimes  Ite  seen  t>e('n|)ie(l  l»y  this  or  some  lar^fer 
speries;  they  appear  to  he  very  attractive  to  all  the  Kaptores,  atlonlinj,'  them 
an  nnohstructeil  view  of  the  surronn(liii;;s.  Now  ami  then  this  specii's  is 
char}>e(l  with  molestinjr  a  yoinij;-  chicken,  viiich  may  |)ossil)ly  he  true  in 
rare  instances,  l»nt  I  am  inclined  to  Ix'lieve  tiiis  to  i)e  in  most  cases  the  work 
ot"  the  little  Sharp-shinn(i(l  Hawk,  with  whic'i  it  is  ol'ten  confounded  by 
the  avera<re  farmer.  Their  c(MnnM»n  call  note  is  a  shrill  "kee  liee,  kee  hee  " 
rejx'ated  several  times. 

The  nnmher  of  ej^fjfs  laid  hy  this  species  seems  to  vary  from  three  to 
seven;  the  latter  numl)er  is  rart%  however,  five  and  four  l)einji;  the  number 
most  commonly  found.  I'ersonally  I  have  examined  some  forty  nests  of 
this  species,  and  in  no  case  hav(>  I  found  over  live  ej^f^s  to  a  set.  riie)" 
are  deposited  at  intervals  of  a  day.  Tlieir  shape  varies  {j^reatly,  the  ma- 
jority ran;>iii<;  from  a  rounded  ovate  to  an  oval,  and  a  few  may  he  called 
ellil)tical  ovate.  A  very  peculiar  shaped  set  in  tlie  IJ.  S.  National  Museum 
collection   I    would   call   Idmit  cuneiform. 

'I'he  "ground  color  of  these  ef^^^s  raufifes  from  a  ])ure  clear  white  in  a 
few  instances  to  pah^  l)utV  or  cream  color  in  tiie  majority,  and  to  a  l)ri^ht 
cinnamon  rufous  in  a  few  others.  'I'hey  are  spotted,  blotched,  marbled,  and 
s])rinkled  with  ilifferent  shades  of  walnut  brown,  chestnut,  cinnamon  rufous, 
and  ochraceous  in  various  patierns ;  freipiently  these  markinj;s  are  conflu- 
ent, ])redomiuatin<f  in  some  sjtecinu'us  on  either  end,  in  others  they  are 
lieaviest  in  the  center,  forming;'  a  wreatii.  Mixed  amonj^'  the  various  tints  a 
few  ejifi's  show  handsome  lavender  colored  shell  markinj^s.  Scarcely  any 
two  sets  are  exactly  alike,  lu  some  the  marking's  are  rej^ular  and  minute, 
in  others  they  are  coarse  and  bold,  and  occasionally  a  spe<'im(Mi  is  entirely 
unmarked,  bein<>-  pure  white  tin-oujihout.  1  have  found  two  sucii  eu-^s 
amoufi'  first  sets. 

'ilie  averajre  measurements  of  a  series  of  one  hundred  ami  sixty-nine 
(.uus  in  the  V.  S.  National  .Museum  collection  is  .'{,"»  i)y  'i!*  millimetres. 
The  liirfjest  t'^i^'  measures  .'{11  by  ',)2,  the  smallest  .'51  by  "JX  mdlimetres. 
Both  extremes  were  taken   by  myself  near  ('amp   Harney,  ()re;;on. 

Of  the  type  specimens.  No.  17:»l*ll  (I'l.  lo,  Ki;--.  II).  from  a  .set  of  live, 
was  taken  by  Mr.  W.  A.Cooper,  near  Santa  Cru/i,  California,  May  il,  1S7'>; 
No.  -JOdMS  (Tl.  10,  Kij.'.  1(1),  from  a  set  of  live;  No.  -idCHt  (i'l.  H>,  Kijr. 
14),  from  an  incomplete  set  of  three;  No.  •2Wi:\  (IM.  lit,  Ki^s.  12  ami  lo), 
two,  from  a  set  of  loin',  were  all  taken  near  Camp  Harney,  t  h'e^'on,  on 
May  2:\  and  21,  1S7.".,  and  .lime  1,  ISTo,  respectively.  No.  20f;(;o  (IM.  I0. 
Fi^-.  i;{),  is  from  a  set  of  llvt-  taken  near  Korl  Walla  Walla,  Washinijton, 
May  22,    ISSI.     All  are  from  the    llendire  collection. 


Hi 


m 


SI' 

li'  ■ 


314 


LIFE  UISTOUIBS  OP  NOHTU  AMKKICAN  BIRDS. 


107.     Falco  dominicensis  Gmelin. 


<i  :i 


C'UHAN    .SrAKUOW    HAWK. 

Fidco  dominicensis  Omelin,  Systeiua  Niituni'.  i,  17SS,  ^85. 

(B  — .  C  — ,  R  4v>l.  C  r,UK  U  3(J1.) 

Geooraphical  range  :  Isltiiuls  of  Ciibii  iiiul  Haiti ;  accidental  or  casual  in  south- 
ern Florida. 

The  Cubiiii  SpiUTow  Iliiwk  clainis  11  placo  in  our  iivifiuma  on  tlio  strenj^th 
of  rttrii<^«,flerrt  Iiaviii}^  Ixmmi  tiikoii  in  Florida,  it  is  a  nuich  darker  colored 
bird  tliiiii  our.s,  the  breast  and  sidc^s  l)»fiiitj  a  doe|)  rutous  color  tliroug'Iioiit, 
and  it  is  a  common  resident  of  the  Islands  of  Cul)a  and  Haiti. 

Dr.  Jean  Gundlach  says:  "The  (Juban  Sparntw  ilawk,  locally  known  by 
the  name  ot"  'Cernicalo,'  is  a  connuon  bird  in  tlie  Island  of  Cyul)a,  especially 
almndant  about  the  l)orders  of  plantations,  and  is  occiisionally  nu^t  witli  in  the 
forests  as  well.  It  would  not  be  an  easy  matter  to  find  a  locality  iMivered 
with  a  few  jjalms  or  otluM'  trees  without  .seeinj>'  tlie  little  Cernicalo.  Tliey 
are  generally  met  with  in  pairs;  are  peaceably  disposed,  l)ut  will  not  tolerate 
any  others  of  their  kind  on  tiieir  clio.seii  ranjj^e,  wliich  is  s<»mewhat  limited. 
One  may  ol)serve  tlicm  percheil  either  on  some  lind*  of  a  tree,  the  j>;able  or 
roof  of  a  l)uildinff,  or  on  a  palm  h^af,  on  tlu!  lookout  for  prey,  which  consists 
l)rincipally  of  lizards,  <^rasshop|.tn's,  and  other  insects,  wiiicli  are  cauj^iit  by 
rushing  at  tliem  with  arrow-like  swiftness,  scan^^ly  j,  movement  of  the  wirtgs 
l)eing  visiide.  It  is  astonishinj'-  how  kiHMi  their  siglit  is,  as  they  seem  to  observe 
(piite  small  ol)jects  at  considentlde  distances.  Small  birds  are  also  caujiht 
and  eaten,  and  I  have  .seen  tiiem  al>out  sundown  successfully  chas(^  bats. 
They  may  also  be  seen  almost  daily  during  tlie  evening  twilight  engaged 
in  catching  the  large  sphinx  moths. 

"During  the  mating  season  thoy  often  call  and  fee<l  each  other,  and  play 
together  in  aerial  ev(dutions,  circling  about  high  in  the  air,  then  rapidly 
descending  and  rising  again.  Whih^  liuntiug,  one  of  these  birds  may  ttften 
be  noticed  to  suddenly  arrest  its  tiight  and  hover  for  a  moment  or  so  over  a 
certain  point,  tluMi  suddenly  dart  <lown  on  its  prey,  or,  if  it  has  disappeared, 
resume  its  li^mt.  After  eggs  have  been  laid  or  tlu-  young  liatcli(»d,  no  large 
l)ird  is  tolerated  about  th"  neighl)orhood;  Turkey  Vultures  and  Herons  are 
always  chased,  being  especially  <»buoxi(ms  to  them. 

"The  eggs,  from  tlu'ee  to  five  in  uund)er,  are  laid  during  March  or 
AjumI,  and  usually  deposited  in  the  ludlow  of  a  tree,  a  hollow  palm,  or  a 
cavity  in  a  wall  or  cliff.     No  regular  nest  is  made."' 

The  eggs  of  the  ("uban  Sparrow  Ilawk  are  exact  couiirer|)arts  of  those 
of  our  own  species,  witli  the  exception  that  they  are  somewhat  smaller.  An 
egg  in  the   IJ.   S.   National   Museum  collection,   taken   by    I'rofes.sor  I'cwy   in 

Miiiiriial  nir  (>riiiUi<>l<>Kiv,  Vol.  xix,  I"?!,  pp.  :I7;I,  :I74. 


TUli  CUBAN  SPAKUOW  HAWK. 


315 


Cuba  in  tho  spriiifr  of  ISfiO,  inciisuros  32..')  by  27  milliinetrps.  Two  otliors, 
I'olk'ctcd  by  Dr.  .h'iiii  (Jundlach  in  the  sprinff  ai'  isfja,  mi'a.sure.s  33  by  2!» 
and  32  by  2'J  niillinietres.     None  are  fiifured. 


lo8.     Polyborus  cheriway  (JACQiriN). 

AirUi;«ON's    C'AKACAUA. 

Fidro  rheriwny  Jacquin,  BoitrilKc  zur  Ocscliiclilc  dcr  V(">k(1.   1784,  17,  Tab.  4. 
hthjbttmn  iheriway  Cabanis,  in  Srliomlmi'^k,  (liiiiinii,  in,   I.S4,s,  741. 

(B  45,  C  :{ii:i,  R  4;':!,  C  bWtt,  U  'MVi.) 

OEOoUAPnrcAl,  ra\<iE:  Souflicrn  bonlor  of  tlic  Unitt'd  States  (Florida,  Texas, 
Arizona),  and  Lower  (/'aliroriiia ;  south  to  northern  South  Anierifa,  Ki-ujidor,  and 
(iiiiana. 

Tliis  Iiandsonu-  bird,  better  known  tbrou<,fliont  its  ranj^e  nn  the  Cara- 
cnra  Kii<;le,  is  {••cncrally  a  constant  ri'sident  wherever  found;  this  at  h'ast  i.s 
tlie  case  in  southern  Te.xas,  and  also  in  southern  Arizona,  wliere  I  saw 
tlieni  in  midwinter  as  well  as  during-  the  sununer  months.  It  breeds  in 
tliese  localities,  and  also  in  Florida   and   Lower  ('alit'ornia. 

(Japt.  IJ.  F.  (Joss,  who  had  excellent  tipportniiities  to  observe  these 
oirds  at  \arious  points  on  the  (lidf  coast  of  southern  'i\'xas,  writes  me  as 
follows:  "I  found  this  binl  (piitt^  abundant  in  tlie  timber  alonj;-  the  (Jiiif 
coast.  Their  nests  were  <i'enerally  found  in  open  spots  in  the  woods,  where 
the  trees  were  low  and  scatterin;^',  and  oidy  a  very  few  resorted  to  the 
heavier  forests  to  breeil.  The  t-arliest  date  on  which  I  fonntl  them  nestii)<jf 
was  ^larch  4,  the  latest  on  April  21.  The  ne.sts  were  fi'encrally  placed  in 
low  trees  from  .">  to  27  feet  up,  usually  from  S  to  12  feet  from  tlui  {ifoiind. 
These  were  lar<>'ely,  some  of  them  wholly,  composeil  of  broom  weed,  an 
annual  shridt  jirowin;;'  altont  2  feet  hijjh.  This  plant  remains  standing;- 
throujfh  the  winter  and  dies,  and  the  twijis  are  easily  broken  olf  in  the 
sprinji'.  This  material  was  piled  up  in  a  slovenly  way  in  a  ci'otch  or  on 
a  horizontal  limit,  until  a  roii<>h  nest  was  formed;  some  of  these  were  i,uite 
deeply  hollowed,  others  slifihtly  .so;  liiey  looked  unshapely,  and  many  were 
inseciu'ely  placed,  as  I  found  several  tilted  oxer,  so  that  the  ei>';;s  had 
rolled  out. 

"Hrown  Pelicans  bred  in  j;rea'  numlters  on  an  island  in  the  Lajjuna 
.Madre,  otf  the  coast  of  Texas.  V"  .  •>  these  l>irds  were  returiiinji'  to  their 
itreedin;,''  ;.;round,  with  |iouches  filled  with  lisli,  the  ( "aracaras  woidd  attack 
tlit'Mi  until  tlu'y  dis^^orj^ed,  and  tlien  ali;;Iit  and  devour  their  stolen  prev. 
These  attacks  were  made  from  above,  by  suddenly  dartinjjf  down  on  tlm  Peli- 
cans with  shrill  screams  and  strikin<>;  at  them  witli  their  talons.  I  am  not 
certain  as  to  whether  they  cau^iht  any  of  their  prey  before  it  reachefl  the 
^fronnd.  I  saw  this  maneuver  re])eated  a  nundier  of  times  by  a  |tair  of 
these  birds    that    nested    on    this    island    and    l)v    others    that  came  from  the 


r 


m 


m 


1^ 


^I I '  ,  ■  J 
A6i'!'3-',., 


316 


LIFK  IIISTORIKS  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


slioro.     Tlioy  did    not  nttiick    out<jf(>injr  birds,  but  invariahly  waited    for    tlic 
1  as  soon  as  tlu'so   were  over    land    (so  that  the  contents 


nu-onnn);   on(ts,  am 


tit'  their   ponehes  shonhl  not  tall  in  the  water)  tliey  iinunced  on  them. 

They    were    not    especially  shy,  hut    rarely  came  within    shootinjf  dis 


tance,  and  were  j^enerallv  silent  on  the  l)reedi 


n<4'  jifrounds, 


Imt 


sometimes  as 


they  left  the  nest  they  uttered  a  proloni^cd  cacklinj;-  note, 


'Mr.   Herbert    Hri>\vn  informs  me 


The  Canicaras   are   c( 


tmmon  a 


bout 


ucson,  A 
le  sunnnc 


rizon 


I,  in  the  vicinity  of  slan<fhter  houses.     On  a  hot  day  din-i 


ny 


r   they    can    be    .seen    fretiiiently    standinji;'  on    tl 


le    ground  in    tin 
a<ro    I    bousi'ht    threi 


shade  of  bushes  near    wlunv  they    feed.     Some    years 

young  ones  from  a  I'apago  Indian,  who  took  them  from  a  nest  in  a  sahuara 

cactus,  about    K!    miles    s(Uitli\vest    of  town.     I    kej)t  them    initil   they  were 


full 


"Town 


tl 


lev   were  extremelv   vicious,   am 


1    would  make  a    1 


iissiii"-  noise 


tUK 


kind 


1  strike   out    with  their    feet    wluMiever    approac^hed,    notwithstaudir.g    the 


ness 


that  was  siiown  them.     This  was    their    favorite  method  of   settliii 


dispute 


was  mm 


th 


s  amoii"'  tlKMUselves 


Tl 


ley  could    in 


Hict 


ii    verv  uylv  woum 


aiK 


I    1 


h  mon*  iitVaiil  of  their  feet  than  their  beaks 


Accordiii"'    to    Air.   \\'ill 


iain  Lloyd  they  are  very  rare  in  Concho  ami 
Menard  ('oimties,  Texas,  nesting  from  thi^  last  week  in  April  until  May 
20.     The  nests  here  are  usually  placed  in  oaks  or  pines  at    a    height  of    IS 

feedintr  l)irds,  thev  are  very  fond 


to  oO  feet.     He  ai 


'y 


Altl 


louu'M    carrion 


of  live  fish  and  frogs.  I  have  seen  them  fishing  repeatedly  in  Soiiorii, 
Mexico.  In  Oonclio  (louiity  I  have  seen  them  hunting  prairie  dogs,  in 
1  onc(»  showing  a  high  degree  of  intelligence.  One  was  hidden 
behind  a  tu.ssock  of  grass  whih^  the  other  danced  liefore  a  young  lamb,  trying 
to  lead  it  from  the  place  where  its  mother  was  grazing  t(»  where  its  companion 


couples,  am 


was 


hi.1.1 


en. 


Tl 


le    ruse    was    nc 


arly  successful,  as  the  lamlt  iiegaii  to  follow, 
but  the  dam,  anxiously  watching,  finally  called  it  back. 

The  nest  is  large  and  ctmipact,  with  a  dejitli  of  4  or  o  Inches.  In  one  case 
at  least,  in  Concho,  they  used  tlie  same  nest  for  two  successive  seasons." 

Mr.   Nehrliiig  savs:    "It  is    a    showv    liinl    and    its    flight    is    extremely 


eleifant  amf  (iim 


Alth 


louj^li  verv  shv, 


am 


builds   its    nest    in    trees    nut    far    i\ 


1   not   easily  approached,   it  ot'teii 


'om 


re  as  harmless 


Turkev   MuzzanLs.     The    nest 


farmhouses.       'I"he    farmers  sa\'  they 
is    iisiiallv   from  "io  to  ,'{(1 


feet  above  the  ifroiind,   and   is    liiiilt    of   sticks,   sometimes    lined   with   liits  of 


cotton   am 


1    Sp 


lanish    moss;    the    cavitv    is    verv    s 


hall 


ow. 


Often    the    bini^ 


commoiilN'    single    im 
toirether  on  carrion."' 


lividiials,    are     to     1 


te 


iliserxed     with     V^lltures    feedili' 


Dr.  James   C.   Merrill,   I' 


.\rmv,    referring    to    this  species,  sa\': 


have  seen  a  CiU'acara  chase  ■,\  jack  rabbit  for  some  distance  through 
open  mesipiite  cha|iarral,  and  while  tliey  were  in  sight  the  l)ird  kept  within 
a  few  feet    of   the   animal   and    constantly  gained  mi   it  in  spite  of  its  sharp 


turns  and  bounds.     If  one  Itird  h 


iii^'ht    a    snake  (ir  field   mouse  its  com 


Hiillrliii   Nnlliill  Oiiiilli.il"i,Mial  ('lull.  V.il    \  it.  1--.',  p.  I7:i. 


AUDUBON'S  CARACARA. 


317 


rliii. 


panions  tnat  may  hap|)('ii  to  siu!  it  at  oiuus  pursue,  and  a  cliaso  follows, 
very  diticrfut  tVuiii  wiiat  is  scc-n  aiuon^''  tnu!  V^ilturcs.  'i'lie  iii'sts  aro  Imlky 
plati'onns  of  small  hninclu^s,  with  a  slijrht  dcpn'ssion  lined  with  lino  twi<;s, 
roots,  and  j^rasscs,  or  s(»metiiuos  altoffi'thcr  without  linin;i' ;  they  are  placed 
in  trees  or  on  the  tops  of  hushes  at  no  jrreat  heif^lit  from  the  ffround.  Moth 
sexes  ineuhate.  I  have  not  found  mon^  than  two  ej.''<jrs  in  one  nest,  and. 
these  are  laid  at  intervals  of  three  or  four  days.'" 

In  soutliern  Florida  tla*  nests  are  usually  placed  on  tht*  tops  of  the 
oal)baf;e  palmettos,  nidiiication  l)e<rinninnf  the  lirst  week  in  April.  In  South 
America,  according;-  to  Mr.  Darwin's  statement,  it  nests  occasionally  in  ditl's. 
With  us  it  does  not  seem  to  do  this,  their  nests  hein^  usually  found  in  tree.s 
of  various  kinds,  palmettos  and  sahuaras  (^(Icri'Ks  i/iiiiiiitnis).  A  nest  hroujjht 
to  ]\[r.  lirown's  notice  in  Arizona  was  placeii  in  a  larj^e  I'alo  Verde  tree, 
which  containeil  tliree  nearly  fresh  ejfj's  on  May   1,    ISHIK 

I  noticed  the.se  hirds  frequently  ahout  the  outskirts  of  my  cam])  on  Ril- 
litto  Creek,  near  Tucson,  Ari/.ona,  durinj;'  the  eighteen  months  I  was  stationed 
tlieri",  from  ( )ctolier,  1S71,  to  March,  1S7;$.  Tliey  were  jfenerally  nam  in 
pairs,  fora^rin;^'  for  sucli  kitchen  refuse  as  they  coulil  find  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  camp.  .\lthou;;-h  I  never  allowed  them  to  l)e  molested  in  any  way,  they 
were  at  all  times  exceedinji'ly  shy  and  dillicult  to  appi-oach  closely,  scarcely 
ever  comin;;'  within  ran^i't^  of  a  shotgun.  A  <j;'reat  part  of  their  time  seemed 
to  be  spent  on  the  •rroiuid,  walkinj;-  around  in  search  of  food,  and  I  believe 
that  a  fi'dod  deal  of  their  lunitin^i'  is  done  in  this  way.  Their  fond,  besides 
ral>l)its  and  small  rodents,  consists  largely  of  lizards,  Itectles,  j;rasslio|)pers,  and 
snakes.  1  saw  uue  of  these  l)irds  en^aji'ed  in  (piite  an  encounter  with  a  jjoud 
sized  snake  which  had  partly  coiled  it.self  about  its  neck,  both  bird  and  snake 
struji'ji'linji'  for  a  few  minutes  at  (piite  a  lively  rati'.  Tlu;  Oaracara  had  the. 
best  of  tlu^  iiji'ht,  however,  and  before  I  could  j^'et  to  tlu^  place,  the  bird  was 
olV  with  its  (piarry,  the  snake  still  .sfiuirmiu",'  and  twi.stinff  about  in  its  talons. 
I  was  disappointed  in  not  beinji'  able  to  learn  tlit^  species  to  which  it  l)(f- 
lonii'ed.  (hi  bui  a  sinj^le  occasion  did  I  see  more;  than  a  ])air  toj^'ether;  this 
was  on  June  20,  1H7"J,  when  a  party  of  four  were  .seen  feediuf'-  a  short  dis- 
tance below  my  cam]). 

Nidiiication  be^^ins  in  southern  Texas  sometimes  as  early  as  the  middle 
of  Februarv,  Itut  usuallv  al)nut  the  tirst  week  in  .March;  in  utlier  localities 
fi'enerallv  not  until  the  be;,nnninji'  of  .\pril,  and  in  Arizona  altout  the  latter 
part  of  th(^  month.  But  one  Iti-ood  is  raised  in  a  season;  incubation,  as  with 
the  inajoritv  of  the  IJaptores,  lastin^i'  proliably  about  four  week.s.  Moth  sexes 
incidiate,  and  the  e;;j;"s  iU'e  deposited  at  intervals  of  several  days.  They  are 
usually  two  oi'  three  in  numlter,  the  smaller  sets  bein^  somewhat  more  fre- 
(pient.  '{'he  shell  is  comparatively  smooth  and  not  as  thick  as  is  usual  anion;;- 
the  larger  Raptore.s.  The  e^i'^i's  are  rounded  ovate  in  shape;  the  ground 
cohtr  when  visible,   which  is  not  often  the  case,  is  creamy  white,  and  in  the 


r  i':i 


-U 


I": 

m 


I  'fi 


I  Proceedings  U.  8.  Natiiiuul  MiiHeiini,  Vul.  i,  ltJ78,  p.  153. 


^' 


318 


LIFli  IllSTOUlES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BUIDS. 


i 
»   1 


nifijority  of  spociim-iiH  is  ciitiri'ly  liiddi'ii,  tlie  t'}j<!f  appciiriii}?  to  Ite  of  ii  uiii- 
iforin  nifous  cimmiiioii  of  diMcri'iit  slimU-s,  soiiif  of  tlio  darker  approiicliiii^j 
vinacoous  rufous.  'I'liis  is  aijfaiu  overlaid  with  invjjular  Idotclies  and  spots  of 
dark  choc(date,  (darct,  l)rown,  and  hurut  uiuljor.  Most  of  tlieso  t'j^gs  arc 
lioavily  marked,  a  few,  however,  only  sHjjfhtly,  and  in  these  the  markings  are 
usually  small  and  more  regular  in  outline;  a  few  are  unspotted,  and  although 
the  ground  color  is  not  visible  it  is  entirely  overlaid  with  an  even  colored  cin 
namon  tint.  Others  look  clouded,  as  if  smeared  with  the  c»doring  matter,  and 
a  single  specimen  from  Cape  St.  Lucas,  Lower  C'alift)ruia,  is  a  uniform  creamy 
white,  and  spotted  throughout  with  fine  dots  of  reddish  chocolate  not  much 
larger  than  pin  points. 

The  average  mi  isurement  of  thirty-three  specimens  in  the  U.  S.  National 
Museum  cidlec^fion  is  (!l)  by  47  millimetres,  'i^ius  largest  egg  (abnormally 
large),  fi'om  Comal  County,  Te.xas,  measures  7")..')  by  ,'14.5,  the  next  largest 
(Wi  by  4H  millimetres.  The  smallest  measures  af)  by  44.5  millimetres,  and 
comes  from  Matamoras,   Mexico. 

Of  the  type  specimens  selected  to  show  the  more  conunon  styles  of  mark- 
ings, No.  2145!),  two  eggs  from  the  same  nest  (IM.  H,  Kig.s.  1  and  2),  were 
collected  in  Comal  (Joimty,  Texas,  March  7,  lH7(i,  and  are  from  the  Uendire 
collection;  No.  22r)HS  (IM.  11,  Fig.  iJ),  a  single  egg  taken  near  Corpus  Christi, 
Texas,  March  4,  1SS2;  and  No.  22r)!»2  (IM.  11,  Fig.  4),  from  a  set  of  three 
taken  at  the  same  place  February  15,  1HH4,  \y^''"«'  ol)tained  in  exch.ange  fmm 
Capt.  H.  F.  Goss,  Pewaukee,  Wisconsin. 


log.     Polyborus  lutosus  HiniiWAY. 

(ilAIl.M.ri'K    CAK.VCAKA. 

PnhjhorHS  lutosus  Kii)(iWAY,  Hiillctiii  U.  S.  (JcDj^raiiliicjil  .•iiid  GtMilojfjciil  Survey  of 

lilt!  Ti-rriliii-ii's,  No.  (I.  M  ser.,  Fchruury  H,  ls7ti,  45!). 

(B  — ,  V  — ,  R  K'4,  C  — .  U  .ti;:}.) 

QEooRAPHirAL  UANiiE:  GuiuliiUipe  I.slaiul,  Lower  California. 

The  (luadalupe  Caracara,  a  nuu-li  paler  and  browner  coloreil  species  than 
the  prece<ling,  was  and  possibly  still  is  a  resident  of  tlie  above  mentioneil 
island,  which  is  situateil  .some  220  miles  south  Ity  southwest  of  San  Diego, 
(jalifornia,  and  is  described  as  being  about  15  miles  in  length  and  5  miles  in 
width,   and  has  until  recently  Ix-en  occupied  as  a  goat  raising  station. 

Dr.  Kdward  Palmer,  one  of  our  Western  pioneer  naturali.sts,  was  th«  rirst 
ornith(dogist  to  visit  this  island  in  1H75.  This  visit  resulted  in  important  dis- 
i'oviMMi^s,  not  less  tiian  eight  new  species  of  land  birds  l)eing  added  to  oin- 
avifauna  through  his  explorations  then',  and  among  them  the  one  now  under 
consideration.  Acconling  to  his  observations  the  "Quehdis,"  as  these  birds 
were  called  l)y  the  iidiabitants,  were  abundant  on  every  part  of  tlu^  island, 
and  n(t  bird  could  be  a  more  persist(tnt  or  more  cruel  enemy  of  the  poultry 


iV 


Ml 
1 ' ' 


THE  GUADALUrK  CAltACAllA. 


319 


and  doniestic  animals.  IIo  Hays:  "It  is  ctiiitimially  on  tlu;  watcli,  and,  in  spiti> 
of  every  prucautidn,  ofton  snatclios  its  proy  i'nnn  tlm  very  dours  (»f  tlio  Iiousi's. 
Tho  destruction  of  tiiu  wild  goats  is  not  so  great,  as  these  animals  are  better 
able  to  protect  themselves  than  the  tame  ones.  No  sooner  is  one  kid  bom,  and 
while  the  mother  is  yet  in  labor  with  the  second,  than  the  birds  pounce  uj)on  it, 
and  should  tho  old  one  be  able  to  interfere,  she  is  as.saulted  also.  No  kid  is 
safe  from  their  attacks,  and  should  a  number  bo  together,  the  birds  unite  their 
forces,  and  with  great  noise  and  tiai)ping  of  wings  they  generally  manage  to 
separate  the  weakest  one  and  dis|)atch  it.  *  *  *  These  birds  are  cruel  in 
the  extreme  aiul  tho  torture  which  is  sometimes  iuHicted  upon  these  defense- 
less animals  is  jjainful  to  witness.     «     *     * 

"Ilundreils  of  these  birds  have  l)een  destroyed  by  the  inhai)itants,  both 
with  poison  and  iirearms,  without  any  ntticeable  dimiiuUion  of  their  nund)ers. 
i'hey  are  said  to  lay  three  eggs,  speckled  like  those  of  a  Gull.  When  sur- 
prised or  wounded  they  utter  a  loud  harsh  scream,  sctniethiug  like  that  of 
the  Bald  Eagle.  In  fighting  among  themselves  they  make  a  curious  gab- 
Iding  noise,  and  umler  any  sjx'cial  excitement  the  same  sounds  are  given 
forth,  witli  an  odd  motion  of  the  head,  the  neck  being  first  stretched  out 
to  its  full  length,  and  then  bent  backwards  until  the  head  ahnost  rests  upon 
the  back.  The  same  odd  motions  are  made  and  similar  noises  uttered  when 
the  birds  are  al)out  to  make  an  attack  upon  a  kid.  Hesides  the  principal 
sources  of  food  supply  already  indicated,  the  birds  luive  other  means  of 
subsistence ;  they  eat  small  birds,  mice,  shellfish,  worms,  and  insects.  To 
procure  the  latter  they  resort  to  plowed  fields,  where  tlu^y  scratch  the 
ground  almo.st  like  domestic  fowls."' 

Ten  years  lat(!r,  in  January,  ISS"),  when  Mr.  Walter  K.  Hryant  visited 
the  i.sland  the  inunber  of  these  liinls  had  very  materially  decreased.  At  a 
still  hiter  (hite,  in  his  "  f .'atalogiu'  of  llie  Birds  of  Lower  (California,"  pub- 
lislied  in  the  Proceedings  of  tlie  California  Academy  of  Sciences,  second 
series,  \'ol.  II,  1SS!»,  p.  2X2,  Mr.  iiryant  states:  "So  effective  has  been  the  work 
of  extermination  carrieil  on  again.st  this  bird  that  Dr.  Edward  Palmer,  who 
first  discovered  them  in  lIS?.'),  says  that  he  visited  the  island  this  year 
(1S8!))  and  did  not  see  a  single  individual.  He  tells  me  that  when  he 
landed  fourteen  years  ago  the  'Quelelis,'  as  they  are  known  there,  were  so 
numerous  and  Ixild  that  men  were  obliged  to  stand  (tver  the  Angora  goats 
with  sticks  to  protect  them  from  attack,  |)articularly  the  kids  which  were 
not  defended  by  their  mothers.  The  short-haired  kind  will  drive  off  the 
liirds,  so  Dr.  Palmer  says  froui  his  observations;  and  now  that  man  has 
abandoned  the  island,  1  cherish  the  hope  that  a  pair  at  least  may  still  be 
living,  and  that  some  future  explorer  may  succeed  in  finding  the  unknown 
eggs  and  give  us  an  account  of  the  nesting  habits  of   this  peculiar  species." 

Their  nesting  habits  and  eggs  probably  differeil  but  little  from  those  of 
the  allied  species,  Audubon's  Caracara. 

>  lla}<leu'ti  Survey,  1876,  Uullotiu  No.  3,  pp.  VJi-VJb. 


n, , .  I 


.1  I 


H 


i 


320 


LIFE  lIiaTUUlES  OF  NOltTII  AMERICAN  151KDS. 


;  ! 


no.    Pandion  haliaetus  carolinensis  ((imkmn). 

AMKlilCAN   OSPItKY. 

Falro  edrolincusis  Omelin,  Systi'iuii  Niitiirii-,  i,  i,  17HH,  ■J(;,'(. 

Pandion  hdlidi'liis  viir.  mrdliiif ii.sis  lliixivvAY,  Proceiidiiifjs  Acadumy  Natural   Sci- 
encus  I'liihulolpliiii,  Dtrciiiljcr,   1870,   14;i. 

(B  ti.  C  :)(l(t,  It  Iv'S.  C  .Vid,  U  ;iiil.) 

GEO(iRAPHic'Ai.  KAN'iiE:  TiMiiporato  iuid  Iropiciil  Aiuorica  in  goiiurul ;  north  to 
Hiulsou  Biiy  and  Alaskii. 

Tl»e  Amoriciin  Osprcy,  cnmiiioiily  calliMl  tlm  Fish  Hawk,  broods  in  suit- 
iildo  localiticss  tlinmfilioiit  tlio  ciitiro  llnitcil  States,  anil  Ijcyond  onr  honU-rs 
as  far  north  as  Labrador,  tho  shori's  of  Hudson  May,  and  in  tho  interior  of 
Hritish  Nortli  America,  where  it  has  l)een  foinid  on  tlie  Mackenzie  Uiver, 
near  tho  Groat  Slave  Lake,  by  Mr.  li.  I*.  Woss,  in  aI)out  latitude  ()2" ;  Itut 
inasnuich  as  that  careful  observer,  Mr.  |{.  .Ma(d''arlane,  failed  to  notice  it  in 
tiio  Anderson  Hiver  and  Barren  (Jround  re^nons,  it  is  (|uestional)Ie  if  it 
occurs  fartlior  north  there.  In  Ala.ska  it  is  well  known  to  attain  a  con.sid- 
oral)ly  hij^hor  latitude,  its  e<,'<;s  liavin;;-  boon  secured  at  Fort  Yukon  by  Mr. 
,].  Lockhart,  as  well  as  ]}y  Messrs.  S.  .Jones  and  J.  Sii)biston  on  other  points 
of  tho  Yukon   Hiver,  in  about  latitudi*  (!7''. 

In  these  northerti  rej^ions,  as  wi'll  as  throu;;h(iut  tiie  }X''*'i'tor  part  of  the 
United  States,  it  is  only  a  sununer  resident,  arrlvin^f  alon;;:  the  shores  of  the 
Chesapeake  Hay  aliout  the  middle  of  .March  and  correspond  in  jjly  later  north- 
ward. In  Florida  and  tlie  (Julf  States  it  is  a  constant  resiih-nt.  In  manv 
localities  the  Osprey  may  i)o  .said  to  IiicimI  in  colonies,  numbers  of  thoni  nost- 
iuff  in  do.se  proximity  to  each  other. 

Mr.  W.  W.  Worthinji'ton,  well  known  as  a  close  and  accurate  ol).server, 
writes  me  as  follows:  "Almost  invarialdy  on  the  20th  ilay  of  March  tho  Osprey 
arrives  at  lion;;-  I.slaml  ami  is  reckoned  as  the  first  hari»in}i('r  of  the  breakinnf  n\) 
of  winter  and  of  settled  spriuff  weather.  .\t  first  a  .solitary  individual  will  b(( 
seen  circlin<f  slowly  over  some  creek,  in  eajicr  search  of  his  first  finu}'  meal  in 
his  suuuiier  home.  In  a  few  days  they  become  abundant  and  at  once  .set  to 
work  to  re]>air  any  damage  their  nests  may  have  received  from  the  ]»revious 
winter  Itlasts,  tor  they  occupy  the  same  nests  year  after  year. 

"At  Plum  I.sland,  where  there  are  not  enou<fh  suitable  trees  to  fj^o  around, 
many  pairs  nest  on  the  j^round,  on  the  tops  of  sand  dunes,  in  such  cases  depos- 
itiuff  the  ei^jrs  on  the  sand,  the  nest  consistinj.^'  of  a  lew  sticks,  bunches  of  sea- 
wee<l,  and  pieces  of  various  kinds  of  rul»l)ish  arranjred  in  a  circle.  In  other 
cases  tho  ne.sts  are  l)uilt  up  several  foot,  the  hei;,dit  in  all  probability  beiii};- 
re<rnlated  by  the  nuuiber  of  years  the  nest  has  been  occupied  and  tlu^  auiount 
ad(h'(l  to  it  from  year  to  year.  In  all  other  localities  where  I  have  (deserved 
those  birds  breedinji'.  they  nest  in  trees,  both  in  deep  woods  and  exposed  situa- 
tions, oxcei)tinff  in  a  few  instances,  whore  an  unusual  nestiufr  place  was  cho.sen, 


THK  AMKUIOAN  OSI'UKY. 


321 


I'itlior  on  the  cross  bar  of  a  tclfj^rapli  pole,  on  a  lai';fi)  rock  in  (Janlincr's  Bay, 
or  on  an  luuisctl  cliinincy  oF  an  occupied  dwcllinff-lioust'. 

"Tlio  inaturialH  usutl  in  nost  hnildin;^  consist  principally  of  larj^c  sticks, 
small  dead  brandies,  and  dry  seaweed.  I  have  fonnd  a  sheep's  sknll,  old 
shoes,  the  dried-np  remains  of  a  duck,  a  larj,ai  stone,  and  other  o(M  thing's  in 
their  nests.  Three  (•^'•gs  are  usually  laid  durinfr  the  first  week  in  .May,  and 
are  hatched  in  about  throe  weeks.  The  yn"?,'  'i''«-'  *it  'i'''<f  (covered  with 
whitish  (h»wn  and  are  fed  on  thtt  chan;^el(!ss  diet  of  tlu;ir  pantiits — lish, 
which  are  torn  up  and  frivdi  to  them  in  suitable  si/.eil  pieces.  Tliey  jjrow 
rapidly  anil  .soon  feather  out  similar  to  the  ol.l  birds,  'i'he  Osjtreys  are  very 
solicitous  for  the  safety  of  their  efjfgs  and  youn;f,  and  with  loud  scrisams  th((y 
will  dart  within  a  few  feet  of  an  intruder;  one  instance  has  come  to  my 
notice  of  their  actually  attacking  the  collector,  a  young  friend  of  mine  who 
was  ascending  to  the  nest  of  a  pair  of  th'  se  birds,  when  one  of  them  struck 
him  on  th<'  back  and  nearly  knocked  him  from  the  tree. 

"It  is  a  connnon  hai)it  of  the  I'urjde  (Jrackles  to  ne.st  in  crevices  of  the 
Osprey's  nests,  and  I  have  examined  as  many  as  half  a  dozen  of  their  nests  in 
one  belonging  to  an  Osprey.  [  have  also  olwerved  the  European  llon.se  .Spar- 
rows taking  advantagif  of  these  nesting  sites.  The  Ospreys  remain  with  us  just 
altout  half  the  year  and  depart  for  the  .south  al)out  the  20th  of  September." 

.Mr.  iV-  ses  H.  (Jrifling,  who  has  kindly  collected  a  line  series  of  these  eggs 
for  the  r.  S.  National  Museum,  .several  of  which  are  fignred  in  this  work, 
informs  me:  "Tlie  earliest  date  on  wliicli  I  took  a  set  of  eggs  of  the  Osprey  on 
Shelter  Island,  was  April  24,  IHT'.I,  the  latest  June  7,  1H82.  The  first  .set  con- 
tainecl  three  fresh  eggs,  the  last  .set,  two,  slightly  incnl)ated.  They  rai.se  but  one 
lirodd  in  a  season,  but  will  lay  a  second  set,  usually  of  two  eggs,  if  the  Hrst 
one  is  taken.  They  nest  generally  in  trees  at  a  height  of  from  K  to  (10  feet.  I 
have  seen  their  nests  in  the  tops  of  cellars,  the  various  species  of  oaks,  hickory, 
jioplar,  i)nttonwooils,  tupelos,  wild  ciu-rry,  i)lack  walnut,  and  pear  trees.  From 
one  nest  mi  (iardiner's  Island,  New  York,  1  took  sets  of  four  eggs  in  two  con- 
secutive! .seasons;  and  in  other  nests  I  have  seen  four  eggs  one  season  and  three 
the  next,  li!  tlie  early  .spring  they  freijuent  the  .salt  creeks  to  tisli;  later,  mo.stly 
the  bays  and  deeper  water,  where  they  catch  meidiaden  or  moss  btnd<ers.  On 
<  !arilinei''s  and  t'lnni  Islands  this  species  may  safely  Ite  said  to  l)reed  in  colo- 
nies, while  on  Slielter  Island,  and  otiier  localities  near  it,  the  nests  aw.  scattered, 
sometimes  on  isolated  trees  and  again  in  woods  and  swani|)s.  In  the  latter  case 
ii  tree  larger  than  the  surrounding  ones  is  chosen.  1  have  .seen  ui'sts  in  such 
sMinll,  low  trees  that  they  could  be  reached  while  standing  on  the  ground." 

•  .Mr.  Charles  S.  Shick  says:  "The  Fish  Mawk  is  one  of  the  mo.st  famil- 
ial' of  the  Uaptores  of  southern  Xew  .b^rsey.  Cape  May  (Jounty  is  noted 
Inr  its  many  wooded  islands  lying  between  the  mainland  and  ocean,  and  they 
alforil  these  birds  a  congenial  home.  They  are  very  altnndant  on  Seven- 
.Milo  Beach,  and  several  hundred  |)airs  have  nested  on  this  island  every 
season.  It  is  interesting  to  watch  the  Fish  Hawk  obtaining  its  food.  Sail- 
JG'J57— Bull.  1 21 


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892 


lilKK  HIHTOKIKS  OF  NORTH  AMKUIt'AN  HIHDS. 


11  3  '  .1 


mff  iiloiiff  fri)tn  r»<)  to  1()()  left  iiImivc  the  waliT,  with  its  keen  cyt*  it  ciiii 
easily  st-o  iiiiy  lisli  swimiuiii;f  clnsc  to  tlic  siirl'iifc  of  llic  wiilcr,  mid  iis  soon  as 
it  8008  itH  quarry,  HtopH  it8  ili^Hit,  rcinaiiis  siis|iciiiicil  motioiilcss  in  the  air  tor 
a  moinciit,  closes  its  wiii;;s,  ami  tlicn  dai'ts  downward  like  an  arrow.  It  dis- 
a|)|H>ars  inidcr  the  watei-  tor  a  tew  seconds,  and  when  it  liscs  ami  a^iaiii 
takes  winff  a  sliinin};,  wri;;<ilinfr  lisli  can  he  plaiidy  seen  in  the  jiTasji  of  its 
])()wertnl  talons.  It  is  a  curious  fact  that  this  liird  will  never  carry  the  fish 
with  the  tail  to  the  front.  .Many  times  havi^  I  seen  them  turn  the  fish 
around  in  miil  air.  The  nest  tVom  which  I  sent  you  the  handsomely  markeil 
Bet  of  ejjff^s,  taken  on  May  12,  |H!»0,  was  placed  in  the  top  of  a  dead  cedar 
about  r)()  feet  from  the  jjjround.  It  was  composed  of  larj,^'  sticks,  dead 
branches  of  trees,  pieces  of  driftwood,  and  oyster  jjrass,  neatly  linc<l  with  fine 
sedjife  grass,  cow  dung,  nnid,  and  cedar  Imrk ;  it  had  been  occupied  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  About  75  feet  away  from  the  nest  was  a  platform  on  another 
old  stump  of  a  tree,  which  at  one  tim-'  had  also  serve<l  as  a  n(\st.  This  tlie 
male  evidently  used  as  a  feeding  p«'rch,  as  beneath  it  a  (piantity  of  scales, 
bones,  and  skeletons  of  fi.sh  were  scattered  about,  mainly  thos(^  of  the  com- 
mon menhaden  or  moss  bunker.  Quite  a  ninnber  of  the  nests  here  are  lined 
with  lisli  bones  and  cow  dung." 

Juilge  J.  N.  Clark  writes  me:  "(1iu'  curious  fact  in  reference  to  the 
Osprey  I  noticed  here  on  two  occa.sions,  was  the  building  of  nests  late  in 
the  summer,  either  for  ne.\t  yeai''s  occupancy  or  for  resting  in  during  the 
season,  long  after  bree(ling  rime  was  o\er.  One  such  nest  was  used  the 
next  spring;  in  tlu^  other  case  the  bird  was  shot.  Another  strange  thing  to 
me  is  that  experienc(^  seems  to  tea«'h  nothing  to  these  binls.  I  live  about  2 
miles  from  the  sea.shore,  and  one  of  the  matters  of  daily  observation  is  to 
Hee  an  Osprey  wearily  bringing  a  heavy  fish  from  the  sea  and  passing  on 
toward  the  woods  where  invariably  one  or  more  Hald  Kagles  are  waiting 
to  seize  the  Jin-y  it  brings.  A  few  futile  ellorts  to  escape,  a  few  notes  of 
remonstrance,  and  it  surrenders  to  superior  prowess,  and  again  returns  to  the 
fishing  grounds,  only  to  repeat  the  same  weary  round  over  and  over  again. 
It  often  has  the  appearance  of  Ix'ing  purposely  (h>ne  for  the  accommodation 
of  'His  Majesty  the  King  of  Hirds.' 

Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony  writes  me  that  the  Fish  ITawk  nests  on  the  ground 
as  well  as  on  cliff's  along  the  coast  of  Lower  California,  lie  says:  "Near 
San  (Seronimo,  Lower  California,  I  found  about  a  dozc^n  of  their  nests  on 
April  20,  1HH7;  all  of  which  were  built  on  the  ground  or  on  small  ledges  of 
vock — none  were  over  4  feet  in  height — consisting  of  larger  ])iles  of  kelp  and 
liea  gra.ss,  etc.  Some  of  these  nests  contained  eggs  from  fresh  to  heavily 
incubated,  and  otheis  young  bii'ds  .several  days  old. 

"On  St.  Martin  Island  I  have  found  young  (lying  about  liy  April  1"_*,  ISSK, 
while  other  nests  had  young  just  hatched  or  fresh  eggs.  Nests  on  this  island 
were  phu^ed  on  the  ground,  excepting  a  few  eases  wliei't*  the  birds  ha<l  taken 
advantage  of  low  bushes,  raising  them  2  feet  or  so.     On  Cerros  Island,  Fish 


TIIK  AMIOUICAN  OSi'UEY. 


323 


TTiiwks'  ii('.st«  wen!  vc'ry  t'omiiKHi;  l»iit  line  lli<(  clilFs  iiiiil  incky  IcdcrcH  luid 
liccii  tiikmi  ii(lviiiit;i}?(*  of,  iiiiiiiy  of  wliicli  worn  iiiiuuH's.-iiltlc,  iiml  all  uuuv  or 
IcHs  (liiliciilt  to  rciu'li." 

Tlic  Osprcy  f^ciici'ally  iicsfs  in  tlwi  topn  of  frccM  of  various  kinds.  In  tlin 
Wost  I  liavd  found  tluiir  uosfs  mostly  in  very  tall  pinos,  tiui  tops  of  wliitli  had 
lit'cn  l»rok(Mi  oil'  durinjjf  ii  storm.  Sucli  troi^s  wcro  always  solofttMl  in  pntfcr 
(»nco  to  tiny  (»tli(M"s,  (!Von  if  timy  wen!  some  distanccf  from  a  l)ody  of  watcM' 
'V\\{>  n(i.st  was  invarialily  placod  on  tlat  very  top  of  tlin  Inokcn  stump.  Occa- 
sionally I  liav{!  seen  one  in  a  cottonwood.  On  the  liittlt^  iu-d  liivcr  in  cen- 
tral Arkansas,  Mr.  (Jault  informs  mc*  tliat  tlic  Fish  hawk  nests  iii  holes  in 
th(!  sandston«'  hlutVs  alonj;'  that  sti'cam,  and  1  hfive  seen  them  usinjf  siniilai" 
locations  on  tlu^  Upper  (!olund)ia  RiviM'  in  \Vashin;jton,  where*  no  timlier  is 
found  in  close*  proximity  to  tin*  river. 

Tho  most  pictiu"es(iue  nesting;  site  of  the  Osprey  I  ever  saw  was  located  iu 

of  Snake   Hiver,  Idaho.     Ri'dit  on  the   verv 


ll 


le  mil 


1st  of  the  American    V 


lirink  of  those,  anil  about  one-third  of  the  way  across,  the  seethin}^  volume  of 
water,  c,on(iii(Ml  hero  l)etweeii  frowniii},''  walls  of  basalt,  was  cleft  in  twiiiii  by  a 
rocky  obstruction  which  had  so  far  withstood  the  ever  erodinj^  (Uirrents,  and 
this  was  capjied  with  a  slender  and  fairly  taperiiijr  column  of  rock  rising' directly 
out  of  tlu!  swirlin^f  and  foamiii;."-  whirlpool  below.  On  the  top  of  this  natural 
monument,  whose  apex  appeared  to  me  to  be  scarcely  2  teet  wide,  a  pair  of 
Ospreys  bad  placed  their  nest  and  were  reariiiff  their  youiif''  amidst  the  never 
ceasinnr  roar  of  tla*  falls  directly  below  them.  '^Plie  nests  are  often  rather 
small  con.siderinijf  the  size  of  the  l)ird,  ami  usually  not  over  IS  inches  in  outer 
diameter.  Nests  which  have*  been  in  iis(!  tor  a  number  of  years,  however,  are 
often  (piite  bulky  and  very  firmly  built,  in  order  to  withstand  the  stroiij^ 
ffales   to  which  they  an*  freipieiitly  ex])osed. 

Mr.  .Manly  Hardy  found  a  nest  of  this  species  on  a  liifjfh  bInfT  placed 
between  three  stumps;  tlu*  nest  was  a  lari,''e  one  and  constructed  principallv 
out  of  shreds  of  cedar  bark;  it  contained  two  fully  {frown  youiif;.  Anotlu;r 
n(*st  found  by  him  was  placed  on  a  bare  ledire  of  rock  just  above  hii'li  tide. 
This  was  constructed  entirely  of  kelp  stalks  and  contained  oius  young  bird  just 
able  to  fly. 

In  central  Florida  nidilication  is  said  to  be<fin,  some  seasons  at  least,  in 
.fanuary,  and  jn-obaldy  earlier  still  in  the  southern  portions  of  the  State,  and  it 
continues  into  Marcli  and  the  be>finning  of  April,  while  in  the  more  northern 
parts,  like  St.  .lohns  and  Putnam  Counties,  iiccordinjr  to  Dr.  William  L.  Ralph's 
observations,  tlu*  Os])r(*y  rarely  nests  before  Marcli  1,  and  usually  in  tlie  latter 
|)ifrt  of  this  month.  Mr.  (J.  J.  I'emiock  found  s(*veral  ne.sts  of  the  Osprciy  near 
St.  Marks,  Florida,  containiii<;  fresh  efjf<;s  in  tlu*  first  week  of  April,  IHSi). 
'riiese  nests  were  all  jjlaced  in  lii{;h  trees,  pines  or  cypress,  and  all  but  out*  in 
liviuff  trees.  In  Lower  ( "alifornia  the  iiestiuj;'  season  l)ejiiiis  in  February  and 
lasts  until  the  i)e<riiminii'  of  May.  In  northern  Idaho  I  usually  found  full  sets 
of  fresh  ('{jf^s  the  first  week  in  l\Iay,  the  same  lioldinj;"  jjjood  in  Orejjfon  and 
Washiuffton.     (Mi  the  middle  Atlantic  const  they  also  commence  layinj^  about 


824 


LIKK  IIIHTOHIKH  OK  NORTH  AMKlilCAN   lilHDH. 


i 


'i: 


i\w 


HJllMlf 


iliifc;  ill  Afiiiiic  alioiif  llic  latter  iiart  id'  Mav,  ami  in  Nova  Scotia,  as 


w 


I'll  as    ill  iIm^   iiitt'rior   ut'   Alaska,    imt   until  .liiiii',    nraily   Ik'sIi   (■;;'<;s  liavin;; 


l)f('ii  taken  liy  Mr.  .1.  Lmkliart,  at   l<'(irt  Viikiai,  on  .Inne  21. 


Tlie  food  oC  tlie  ( )s|irey  cniisists  entirely  of  tisli,  wliieli  are  caii^lit  as  already 


lescri 


l>e.|, 


anil  these  are  usnalh'  the  m 


li-i  t<  M    1^1  n 


les,  sue 


as  are  selilian  nseii  loi 


I  I'l 


the  talile.  In  Kloriila  they  live  almost  entirely  on  eattish,  ami  on  the  interior 
lakes  ami  streams  of  the  I'acilic  coast  snlisist  to  a  j^reat  extent  on  suckers,  ami 
fr«4iiently  on  some  of  the  smaller  species  of  salmon  ami  wliitelisli  (('(inniniiis). 

Hut  )i  singlit  lirooil  is  raised  in  a  season.  Incniiation  is  said  to  last  alioni 
twciity-oiui  (lays,  but  i  am  inclined  to  helieve  that  it  is  nearer  tweiity-eijilit. 
The  usual  iiiimlter  of  e^rs  is  three,  occasionally  only  two,  and  seldom  four; 
they  are  amoiiff  the   handsomest  of  tliosct  laid    \ty  the    l{a|itore.s,  and  sulijecl 

'i'liey  are  de|iosit»Ml  at 
oiij;-  and  minutely  ;,n'anulateil. 


to  an  endless  variation  in  color,  markinu's,  and  si/.i 


II 


itervals  of  one  or  two  davs  and  tl.o  sliell  is  sti 


'{'he  e<i';;s  of  the  Osprey  vary  j^reatly  in  shape,  raii<i'iiifi'  from  an  ovate  to 


either  a  short,  rounded,  elliptical,  or  (doii^jate  o\ate.     The  <ri'ound  color  is  ii^ 


u- 


ully  ii  creamy  white,  and  this  is  sometimes  so  eveiiK    and  rei>iila 


rly 


overlaiil 


with  pi^fiiient  as  to  jfivo  it  a  butly  <•!•  \iiiaceous  a|)pearaiice.  Now  and  then 
a  specimen  is  found  showiiif;  a  uniform  cinnamon  rufous  or  ferriij;'inous  color 
throiiyhont,  without  any  indications  of  blotches,  thus  stron^fly  resemi)lin;^'  eer- 
tiiiii  types  of  efffrs  of  the  Kalcinis.  The  markinj;s  show  an  e(piall\  wide  ranjic 
of  variation,  both  in  amount  and  size.  The  majority  of  e^^^fs  are  heavily 
blotched  and  spotted,  but  ;;enerally  more  thickly  about  the  larj^a-r  end,  and 
those  iiiarkiiiffs  iuchule  nearly  all  tlu^  dill'ereiit  .shades  of  brown  and  vinaceoiis 
red.  In  some  eff^is  lavender  and  pearl  ^ray  shell  markiiiffs  prcdoniinate,  but 
in  th«i  majority  of  specimens  before  me  thes((  are  either  few  or  entirely  ab.sent; 
the  lieantiful  vinaceoiis  red  tints  found  in  .some  of  the  e<,f},^s  of  this  species  when 
fresh  become  darker  with  a<fo. 

The  averajjfc  measurement  of  sixty-nine  specimens  in  tlii^  U.  S.  National 
Jluseum   collection   is  (;•_'    by    K!   millimc^tres,    the   larjrest  i'ln-;,  from  ('a)ie  St. 


I 


ucas, 


r 


ower 


(lalif 


oriiia.    mei 


■luriii"-    CtH.'t    by    4!l.r»,    the   smallest,    takcMi    on 


Sovcn-Mile  Heach,  (Jape  May  (Joiinty,  New  .Fersey,  MSt  by  42  millimetres. 

Of  the  typ«!  specimens  .selected  to  .show  some  of  the  many  .styles  of  rolor- 
Rtion  and  inarkiiifrs,  No.  "iOTOK  (1*1.  lo,  Vh^.  IT),  from  a  set  of  three  e}i<^-s,  Men- 
dire  collection,  was  taken  by  Mr.  A.  II.  Justice,  near  Cape  May,  New  Jersey, 
June  1,  IH?').  No.  2;}:»(ir)  (JM.  11,  I'V  '">),  fi<»m  a  set  of  four  e^-<,fs;  No.  2.'{!t()7 
(IM.  11,  FifT.  (1),  from  a  set  of  two,  and  No.  ^IVMi'.)  (i'l.  II,  Fi;.-.s.  7  and  S), 
two  specimens  from  u  set  of  two,  were  collected  on  Shelter  l.>ilaiid,  New  V^iU, 
.May  7,  iSitO,  by  Mr.  Moses  H.  rJrifHnj,^  (and  especially  select,  d  fr- 
number  for  the  |)iiri)ose  of  ilhistration);  No.  2.'5II74  (I'l.  11,  Vlji  !•) 
of  two,  was  taken  by  .Mr.  Charles  S.  Shick,  on  Seven  Mil 


New  Jersey,  May  21,  1S!»(».     The  other  egji'  of  this  .set  i?^ 


lear 


b 


May 

.torn  I 


reddish  brown  color  throughout,  and  resembles  one  of  the  ,  ,  pes  of  I  dIi/Ikdiis 
(•lirriirtifi  (V\<i.  .'V  I'l.  11),  very  much,  but  cannot  be  fi<,nired  from  wni  "f  space. 
A  normal  colored  set  of  three  eggs  had  been  previously  taken  from  tin.-  nest. 


TUU  AMEUICAN  UAKN  OWL. 


325 


Family  STHKJIU^K.     IUkn  Owlh. 
III.    Strix  pratincola  Hhnai'aktk. 


AMKKICAN    HAKN    OWI., 


Slrl.v  imtlincola  Bonapahtk,  ()coj{iii|.liii'iil  ami  (NuiiimriiUvi'  List,  IHMS,  7. 


(15  ir.  ('  :mi,  K  :iiM,  ('  n;i,  r 


.) 


(iK(iiii{Ai>iri('Ai,  itANiiK:  riiiti'il  Htiitcs  ^ci'ii(<nilly  (I'lirt'i'  iKiftliw.inl)  itiiil  Mt-xicu. 

Tlic  iHirtlicni  limit  nf  tlic  hrccdiii;,''  riiii;f('  of  tlic  Hani  Owl  cxtciHls  tVoin 
alxiuf  latitiidf  4(1''  .'JO'  (Kliishiiiji',  liOiijf  Islaml,  Xcw  York)  wcsfwanl  tliniii;;!! 
llic    Middle    States,   l»iit    eiiiii;>'  sniitliward    tliese   i>ii'ds  heeoine  inure  aixl   more 


aliiiiidaiit,    and    mirth   of   latitnde    tl  '    it    c 


an   oi 


ilv    1 


)((    consK 


lered 


as   a   rare 


stra;ij;ler,  tliniij^li  it  is  proltalile  that  a  pair  may  hreed  now  and  then  in  favor- 


hie  I 


ocalities    at   a    sotnewliat    hiiiher    latitnde.      It    ha  <  heeii    met   with    i 


u>ar 


Hamilton,  sonthern  Ontario,  ( 'anada,  at  Sanit  St.  .Marie,  .MirliiH;an,  in  Wis- 
eonsin,  and  Minnesotiv.  In  tlitf  New  Mn^iland  States  it  lias  Ixmmi  taken  in  (!on- 
necticnt  and  .Massaehnsetts.  It  is  nut  iincoimnoii  in  Kansas  and  |)ortioiis 
(d' southern  Ntdnaska.  <  )n  the  I'acilic  coast  it  lireeds  Irom  Oalit'oriiia  soutli- 
I,  and  aeeordinj;-  to   Dr.  (Jooper  its  ranj;-e  extends  tliroiij>'li  ( h'e^^oii  to  the 


wan 


•nth  of  the  ( 'olnmltia    \i\ 


\er  in 


latit 


nile 


Hi 


I    I 


ia\('  ne\cr  met   wit 


It   in 


southeastern  ( h'e;;on,  southern   Idaho,  and    laa'thern   Nevaihi,  mid  if  it  occurs 
at  all  in  theses  rej;ions   it   must   lie  rare. 

The  Harn  Owl  is  oiu^  of  the  most  useful  and  harmless  liinls  of  pre\',  siih- 
sistiiiji'  almost  eiitireU'  on  noxious  \-erinin,  sncli  as  oi-nnnd  s(piirrels,  rats,  pocket 
jiophc-rs,    mice,    and    on    shrews,    hats,    t'roj^s,    small    rejitiles,    <>-rasshoppers,   and 


heetk 


\'er\'    rai'el\-   small    hinis    are    caiieht    hy    them,   and  occasio 


yoiiiio-  rahhit  varies  the  usual  hill  of  fare,  i.ooked  at  from  an  economic  suind- 
point  it  would  he  dillicnlt  to  point  (Uit  a  more  n.sefnl  hird  than  this  Owl,  and  it 
deservi's  the  fullest    protection,   lint,   as  is  too  often  the  case,  man,  wiui  should 


lie  its  liest  friend. 


is  !"'eiiera 


Ilv  tl 


le  worst  enem\    i 


t  h 


is  to  conteni 


I  witi 


I,  anil  IS 


ruthlessly  destrovcd  li\  him  partly  on  acconnt  of  its  odd  appearance  and  liiieh' 
colored  phimafi'e,  lint  ofteiier  from  the  erroneous  helief  that  it  destrovs  the 
farmer's   poultry. 

It  hunts  diiriii}'-  the  evening;-  and    throii^ihont    the   iii;;ht,   when   its  rather 

is 


iiecl 


iliar  screamiii;;'    may    he    freipieiitly   heard.      Diiriii;;'    the    day    it    remaii 
iiidileii  either  in  natural    hollows  in  trees,  cavities  in  the  perpendicular  hank  of 


some  ravine  or  t 


Till',  1 


iiirrows  111 


tl 


le   "•nilllHl 


ihand 


oiieil    iMiililiiiu's,  I 


ihl 


miiiiim' 


shafts,  church  steeples,  barns,  or  similar  retreats.  In  fact  it  does  not  ohject  to 
iiiiide  near  hiiinan  hahitatioiis  and  freipU'iitly  nests  in  the  very  center  of  cities 
of  coiisideralih'  si/e.  Its  flijjht,  althoiij;li  accompanied  hy  coiisiderahle  Happing' 
of  the  wiii^s,  is  entirely  noiseless,  and  the  capture  of  its  hiimhh-  prey  is  thus 
gieatl}    facilitated.     'The   niimlier   of  rats,   mice,  and  other  noxious  vrTiniu  re- 


m 


'•'■ 


i' 


m 
m 


i^i;^;f;^,VV,, 


iui 


326 


\A\'K  IIKSTOIJlHa  OK  NORTH  AMKHICAN  IUI!I>S. 


(juirod  by  a  pair  of  thoHO  Owls  to  focd  tlu^ir  family,  usually  cousistiu};  of  from 
fivo  to  sevcu  younj^,  is  almost  iu('n'(lil)l(>,  auil  I  am  ecrtaiu  exciH^ls  tlic  caii- 
tufcs  of  a  flozcii  cats  for  tlu^  samn  jjcrioil.  Tlu!  youujf  owlets  arc  always 
huii^iry  ami  will  cat  tlicir  owu  wcijjlit  in  food  daily  and  even  more  if  tliey 
can  p't  it. 

In  the  southern  nortions  of  the  United   States  the  l?arn   Owl   is  resident 


tl 


U'OU"' 


por 
liout    the    year,  ami  at    times 


somewhat  jifreffarious    dunnjf  the  winter. 


.Mr.  H.  W.  Kvcrmaim  states  that  he  .saw  a  tlock  of  more  than  fifty  amon«f  the 
oaks  in  the  Canada  de  Larj^o,  a  few  miles  from  San  Ihienaventura,  Califor- 
i.ia,  and  I  hclieve  it  is  inon'  altundant  in  southern  California  than  in  ni\' 
other  ]tortion 


of  the   Tnitcd  States.     I   met  with   it  several  ti 


tl 


mes  ni  the  neiuh- 


liorhood  of  Tucson,  Arizona,  where  they  w<'re  lather  rare,  hut  they  .si-cm 
to  !)<>  ])retty  ^jfcnerally  distrihuted  over  this  Tcrritiuy,  where  they  usually 
live    in    ahandoned    mininii-    shafts    and    pmspect    holes.     Mr.    Ilerlicrt    llrown 


writes  nu' 


that 


he    mt 


t   with   live  ot    these  hirds  in  an  abandoned  mine  at  a 


dentil  of  ')(>  feet       1   sa 


w  one 


activciv  en!'a''('d    in  huntinif    aloii"'  the    banks 


of  Killitto  Creek  duriuf^'  a  cloudy  day  in  December,  1S7"_*,  and  in  April  of 
tlu'  .same  year  saw  another  on  (piite  a  lirif'iit  sunny  day  bein^'  chased  l»y 
either  a  )»air  of  common  Crows  or  W'hitc^-necked  Uavciis.  In  this  vicinity  1 
believe  they  iiest  mostly  in  deserted  burrows  of  liailji'crs,  at  any  rate  more 
than  once   I   saw  them  sittinji'  in  the  mouth  of  such  biirrow.s. 

Their  nestinji'  sites  are  tiuite  variable  and  include  all  sorts  of  places,  such 
as  natural  hollows  in  trees,  holes  and  cavities  in  clay  banks  or  cliffs,  burrows 
under  ground  enlarj^ed  to  suit  their  needs,  in  the  sides  of  old  wells,  aban- 
doned miniiij;'  shafts,  dovecots,  barns,  church  steeples,  etc.,  and  sometimes, 
thoiif>li  rarely,  in    perfectly  exposed    and    unprorected   situati 


ons,  suci 


as 


th 


Hat  roof  of  an  occupied  dwellinjj-hoiise  in  the  midst  of  a  villajic.  .Mr.  W.  (). 
Kmerson,  of  jlaywards,  California,  writes  me:  "A  pair  of  iJ.ini  Owls  lu'sted 
the   |iast    season  (If'Sll)  on    the    l>are   tin  j-oof  rnimiiifi'  around   a  i-npola  of  a 


iiemliitoi 


hb 


louse,   w 


hici 


I    W) 


suiToum 


led   b 


tv    a    low    rainnti 


Not    less   than 


tw«'iity-four    ('jjii's   were    laid    and    none    of   them    were   taken    away    at    any 


time. 


Tl 


lere  was  no  iicsiinn-    material    on  wliieli  the  ('}X<>:>*   were   p 


ilaced. 


not 


IS  It  was 


even  ii  siiijile  twi;^',  ami  they  naturiilly    rolled   around   on  the   roof, 
impossible   for   the    bird   to   covt'i-   them    all.       When    taken   down  finallv    and 
examined,   it   was  found   ihey   were    ail    rotten,  caused, 
tense  heat  from  the  sun's  reflection  on  the  tin  roof" 


doubt,   bv    the  iii- 


W 


lere 


hoi. 


in    clay   banks    alon^i'  rivers    and   the    si 


les  of 


ravines    are 


used,  or  the  deserted   burrows  of  <>'roiiiid 


qil 


rrels  or  larjier  rodents,  thev  are 


eiilar;;ed  to  suit  their  needs,  :ind  the  liirds  live  in  them  the  \ear  round,  carry 
ilifi'  most   of  their  litod   to  these  places   to  be  devoured   iit   leisure. 


in   .Houthern   t'alif'ornia    nidification    \u"^'\\ 


is  occasiniiallv    as  early 


di 


11- 


11   a 


nary,  and  while  usually  but  a  sin^^le  brmul  is  raised  In  these  birds  i 
season,  now  and  then  they  will  rear  two.  ,Mr.  V.  Ste|ilieiis  iiif'oriiied  me  that 
II  pair  hatched  a  lnood  of  six  yoiin<»'  in  .lanuary,  j.s.s.'i,  jM  St.  isiiliel,  Cali- 
fornia, and  on    .March    "J."!  the   bird   was    sillinji'  on  ii  secniid  set  ni'  ten   eji'^rs, 


Hil"^*-' 

■  ., 

RWS    ^'  ' 

B^*'^ 

M^ii  '-1 , 

'1 

to"J';\ 

m;t  ' 

h 

Mil  '' . 

'i. 

fn^iS  .' 

^^ 

TUB  AMKIUCAN  HARN  OWL.  327 

iisiiifj  rlio  siiiiM'  site,  a  ilovccot  in  tlic  hiini.  In  soutluTii  Tt^xjis  tlic^  "tcfjiii 
layiiiH'  almiit  tlic  latter  part  (tf  Fcltniary  or  tlu^  Itcfriiiiiiii;^  of  March,  aii«l 
(•orr('s|i(>iuliii;>ly   later   iiortlnvanl. 


no 


IIK 


At   Wasliiii^jtoii  (lily,  District  of  ("!oliim1tia,  whore  tlu*  Flarii  Owl  is  by 
aiis  rare,  they  l»c;,nii  iiestiii;f  iVom  the  last  wcitk   in  April  to  about   the   lOtli 


.!•  M 


ay,  aiK 
cilv    limits    ihiriii;' 


I    I    kiio\vr  lit'  at   least  three   hrooils   having  Iteeii  raised  within  th 


season    of    ISKO.      A    pair   of    these   Owls    havo    l)een 
nestin;^  otf  ami  on  for  vears   in  ont;  of  the  towers  of  the  Smithsonian  Institu- 


tion  hiiililin^,  ami  occupied  this    site  a<;ain  during  tlic  sprinir  of    IStK),   rear- 
iuff  a  family  of  seven  youn;(.     As  tlie  supply  of  these  birds  in  the  zoiiloirical 


d 


collection  now  lormin^  at  the  nationid  capital  consisted  <if  but  a  sin<rle  speci- 
men, which  had  been  kept  in  confinement  then;  for  some  months,  tlat  younir 
abov«'  mentioned  were  taken  from  thc!  nc^st  before  tiiey  wtire  (piite  n-ady  to  th- 
,md  placed  in  the  ca^e  with  the  one  already  there;  she  at  once  adopti^l  the 
orphans,  and  cared  for  and  fed  them  as  dili<rent!t'  as  if  tluty^  had  been  her  own. 
The  liarn  ( Kvl,  strictly  speidvinj;'.  m;dies  no  nest.  If  occupyinj;'  a  natural 
(•avit\  of  a  tree  the  ejijjs  are  |)laced  on  the  iiibiiish  that  may  have  accuundated 


iit  the  bottom;   if  in  a  bank,  thcv  are   laid 


on 


tlu^  I 


tare  'rrouml  ami 


Muono'  tin 


pellets  of  fur  and  smidl  bones  ejected  by  the  parent.s.      I"Ve»|Ui'ntly  (piitcf  a  lot  of 
such   material   is  found    in  their    burrows,   the  e;>';rs   lyinif  o 


III   aiKt   ainoii<>- 


tl 


IIS 


refuse.     Incubation  usually  commences  with  the  tirsi  ei^o-  laid,  and  lasts  about 


llu'ee  weeks. 


'I'l 


IC  c 


re  .ilmost  invariably  foiiiul  in  dilfertMit  sta;res  of  de\cl- 


ipmeiil  and  yoiin;;'  m;iy 


be  i; 


Mind  in  the  saine  nest  with  t'resli  v^iX'*- 


!iotl 


I  sexes 


assist  ill  inciiliatioii,  and  the  pair  max   be  sometimes  foiiiul  sitting'  siih^  b\'  side, 


each  w 


ith 


a  iiorlion  o 


f  tl 


C    CMMS     ,„,. 


ler  Ih 


liesidi's  the  pce\  isli  scream  alrcinly  mentioned,  they  utter  at  times  a  feelile 
(|iii'riiloiis  note  like  "ipiiiek-ipiiick,"  or  "iiek-iiek,"  somidinjf  somewhat  like  the 
call  of  the  Night  Ibiwk  {('Imnlrilrs  r//f////m««.s),  fn^pieiitly  repeated,  only  not  so 
loud.      Like  most  ( )\vls,  lhe\  siiaji  their  mamliiiles  when  dislurlied,  producing'  a 


I'l  of  clickin 


oiiml;   at   other   times  Ihey  make   an  iinpleasai 


It   li 


i.ssmif  noise 


like  that  of  escaping  steam,      hiiriiig  the  daylimc  lliey  are  sleepy,  sad  looking, 
birds,  lull  alert  and  acti\c  cnoMi^h  at  ni<;'lit. 


In 


I  disposition    thcv    arc  aim: 


ibh 


sclilom 


fiii'ht 


III"'   c; 


-h    ..tl 


icr,   even  wliei 


feeiliiiff.  Their  (piai'i'N',  if  small,  is  lirmly  graspeil  with  one  loot;  when  larger, 
like  a  {(ood  si/.ed  Norway  rat,  the  iiinl  sta:ids  upon  and  holds  it  lirmly  with 
both  feet,  tearing  it  gia.liially  to  piec.'s,  nearly  always  beginning'  with  the  head, 
which  appears  to  be  the  part  m.)sl  liked. 

The  average  nmidier  of  eggs  laid  iiy  this  spei'ies  is  from  lixc  to  seven,  sel- 
.loiii  less.  I,arg'er  sets  containing  iVoiii  nine  to  ele\'eii  eggs  are  l»y  no  means 
uncommon,  it  is  (piestionable,  however,  if  every  egg  in  such  large  .sets  is 
usually   hati'lied. 

In  .sliapi^  the  v.iriX'^  are  mostly  ovate,  a  few  are  elliptical  ovate,  and  a  single 


soecimeii 


l)cf. 


•re  me  is   elongate  .i\alc 


Tl 


ley  are   pure  i 


lead 


wliil(*  ill  color,  tlie 


shell  is  (iiielv  granulated,  and  they  arc  decidedly  more  pointed  than  «>wls'  ey;y;s 


in  yeiiera 


■'  J=!ii:! 


It, 

I"; 


328 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


Tlie  average  measiiroinent  of  twenty-seven  s|)eciinens  in  the  IJ.  S.  National 
Museum  edllection  is  42.r)  l)y  'i2J}  millimetres,  tiie  larir»fst  eg<i^  measuring  47.;") 
I)V  XM>,  the  smallest  40.')  by  27.5  millimetres. 

The  type  s|)eeimen,  No.  20(127  (PI.  12,  Fig.  1),  selected  from  a  set  of  five 
from  the  Heiulire  eolleetion,  was  taken  April  4,  lS7(j,  near  Santa  Cruz,  (Jali- 
fornia. 


4h.  ■'■  H 


'm 


Family  HUHONIDJC.     Hornkij  Owi-h,  etc. 
112.    Asio  wilsonianus  (Lks,sun). 

AMKKIt'AN    U)\(J-I:AKKI)    tnVL. 

Ofii.i  ii'il<in))i(innit  Lksson.  Tniiti- <r()i'iiitli()l()>;it«.  IH'U.  110. 
Asio  wilsonidiiii.s  CouKS.  Clii'ck  List,  od.  i,  \HH-i,  .SI,  No.  i7i. 

(B  51.  C  :W().  R  -.m,  C  4r-.>.  U  ;J(w;.) 

OEOoRAPHirAU  KA.vciE:  Whoii."  of  ttiiuperuti'  North  Ainorica ;  south  to  the  table- 
laiiils  of  Mi'xicn. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  American  Iiong-eare(l  Owl  covers  the  United 
States  in  gcMieral,  but  it  is  perliajjs  less  al)nnihiiit  in  tlu^  South  Atlantic  and  Oulf 
States  than  in  the  central,  northern,  and  western  portions.  It  likewi.s*!  breeds 
north  of  our  border  frt)in  Nova  Scotia,  New  Hriinswick,  and  southern  Cnnadii, 
west  to  the  provinces  of  .Manitoba  and  Saskatchewan,  wiiere  it  is  reported  as 
conunon  in  the  woods  skirting  the  Saskatcliewan  plains.  Hero  it  reaches  lat- 
itude .'')4°  N.,  and  probably  .still  farther  north.  ( )n  the  I'acific  coast  it  is  met 
with  from  Lower  ('alifornia  ami  .\ri/,ona,  north  tluougii  California,  Oregon,  and 
Washington,  and  extending  well  into  |{ritisli  C(i|nMil)ia.  It  is  equally  common 
throughout  the  Uocky  Mountain  region. 

From  the  nocturnal  hal)its  of  the  iiong-cMred  ( )wl  it  might  bt?  entirely  over- 
looked for  \cars  by  the  aver.ige  oljservcr,  e\cn  in  localities  whercf  it  is  fairh 
conunon;  wh<-reas  another,  thuronghly  familiiu'  with  its  haunts,  would  have  no 
dilHculty  in  detecting  its  presence  at  any  time.  Kxcept  dming  the  mating 
season  it  is  lather  ii  silent  Itird,  and  the  few  notes  which  i  liavi-  heard  them 
utter,  when  at  cii-ie  and  nut  m<i|  sted.  are  low  tuned  and  rather  pleasing  than 
otherwi.se.  (hie  ni'  tliese  is  a  soft  i.aied  "wiidiniik,  wu-hunk,"  slowK  ;iiid 
several  times  repented,  which  feally  >ciiiiids  iniicji  better  than  it  Inoks  in  print : 
another  is  n  low  twittering,  whistling  note  like  "ilicky,  dicky,  dicky,"  ipiile  dif- 
feriMit  from  anything  usually  expected  from  or  iittriiiiited  to  the  ( )wl  famih.  In 
the  early  spring  they  hoot  somewhat  like  a  Screech  ( )wl,  and  may  lie  otteii 
heard  on  ;i  still  evening.  Inil  their  notes  are  more  subdued  than  those  of  the  hitter. 

Mr.  .1.  \V.  i'reston,  of  Unxter,  lowii,  writes  nie  that  one  of  their  notes  resem- 
bles the  "me-ow-ow-ow-ow"  of  a  cat.  .\iiotlier  is  a  subdued  "hoo  lioo"  or 
"oo-oo,"  otteii  uttered  for  lioiirs  dining  the  mating  time.  .\t  a  distance  this 
sounds  something  like  the  lowing  of  a  cow.  lie  further  stnles:  ".\t  the  nest, 
when   disturbed,   the   female  rullles   her    feathers.   Hies  to    the  ground,  cm\es 


Till';  AMUUICAN  LON(i-HAIli:i)  OWL, 


329 


her  wings  over  lu3r  lit^sul,  sprcails  lii-r  tail  and  I't-igiis  laiiit'iu'ss,  (Iniggiii};  lu-r- 
seH'al«)njf  on  the  h-avcs,  ; 


\w  tnntf  snaiinniu-  her  niant 


111*! 


cs,  niakni"'  a  raiM>in<>' 


nnirte  as  it"  two  stici< 


s  wero  s 


tmuk  tductiicr.     Sh('  will,  at  such  times,  also  n 


lew 


lilieacat;  it' followed,  she  niakt^s  Ium- way  in  a  direction  opposite  to  the  nest. 
Wiiile  this  i)ert'orinanc(3  pro<>resses  the  male  is,  perhajis,  giving  vent  to  his 
feelings  by  fluttering  about  and  scpiealing  like  a  halt-grown  rat  in  a  trap,  oi' 
nuitt(M'ing  a  mournful  "hoo-maa-maa-voo"  in  a  subdu<'d  tone.  I  have  otter, 
mistaken  the  notes  of  this  l)ird  for  those  of  human  lieings.  On  April  .'5,  1SK(!, 
I  took  a  fresh  laid  egg  of  the  l^ong-eared  Owl  from  a  nest  of  Crow's  eggs,  and 
the  parent  of  tlu;  latter  did  not  secMii  to  mind  tlie  intrusion." 

Although  1  have  examined  (piite  a  number  of  the  nests  of  this  Owl  (some 


forty). 


ni  varioti 


s  parts  of  the  West,  I  have  never  found  the  parents  as  denion.stra- 


tivcf  as  Mr.  I'reston  savs  tliev  are;  and  in  not  a  sinjile  instance  did  either  o 


•f  th 


Itirds  Hy  to  the  groiniil  when  driven  from  the  nest  and  feign  lamen(;ss,  or  make 
nmch  noi.xe  except  that  produced  l»y  tile  snapping  of  tlie  mandibles.  'i'he 
female  would  simply  ruHle  her  feathers,  fly  into  a  neighl)oring  tree  or  soiue 
den.se  bushes,  and  watch  my  |troceedings.  ( )n  rare  ocasions,  sluf  would 
utter  a  sound  resend>ling  the  spitting  and  mewing  of  an  angry  cat      Like  the 


Uaru  Owl,  thev  are  ino(fensiv( 


anil 


naruness 


birds 


tl 


nid  on  tue  wnoie 


far 


liel 


lelicial    tiian    otherwise.      KulK     three-fourths  of  their  food   consists  of  the 


dents 


■Is,   el 


.1 


fr( 


smaller  rodents,  such  as  ,s(purrels,  chipmunks,  gophers,  and  mice;  irogs  also 
form  a  coiisideraitle  part  of  their  food  where  these  batrachians  are  plentiful. 
<  tccasionally  they  make  a  meal  of  a  small  bird  or  a  young  raiiiiit,  liut  this  is 
the  exception  and  not  the  rule.  While  by  no  means  devoid  of  courage,  1  iloiild 
if  the\'  e\('r  molest  iioulti'N'  or  aiiv  ot'  our  "ame  birds,  and  if  an\'  of  the  remains 
of  the  latter  are  found  in  their  stomachs  it  is  more  likely  that  they  have  picked 
up  a  bailly  wounded  bird,  or  oiu^  that  hail  been  shot  and  not  recovered  by  the 
hunter.  The  smaller  rodents  are  swallowed  entire,  and  the  indigestible  parts, 
consisting  of  bones  and  fiir,  are  suliseipieiitiv  ejected    in  the  form  of  jiellets. 


This  applies  to  the  ( )wl  family  in  gc 


nei'i 


■Nceptilig  possilily  the  little  Klf  Owl. 


In  the  more  settled  portions  of  the  countrv  their  nests  are  found 


iteciiluou> 


nil!   esergreell  Wi 


lis 


•<wampy  as  we 


boti 

as  hi<i'h  and  ilr\  locations 


but  usually  at  no  great  disianci'  from  water;  and  the  gloomiest  and  densest  part.< 


tt   the  forest 


s  are  jfenerallv 


•ted   ii 


ir    nesting  site; 


In  the  tlimly  settled  | 


II  ir- 


tions  of  the  West,  they  freipieiilK   nest  in  (|uile  open  and   exposed  situations,  as 


I  cimiii)   I 


if  wil 


lows  or  a  siiii 


pir 


e  saiilmi:'   or  m 


th 


lower  siirulibeiN 


i)or- 


deiiiig  small  streams   or  springs.     The    height    of  the    nests   t'rom   the  ground 


aries  consideraiiK    in    dilfereiit 


•tion>.      Ill    the    majoritv    of  cases    it   is   not 


oVer  •_'(•   feet,  rarely   over  .'M,  and   in  the  West   not  infrt'tpieiitly  as  low  as   id 
and   iJ  feet. 

The    Long-eared   ( >wl    rarelv  constructs  a   nest  of  its    own;    usuallv    the 
hist 

and  lined  with  a  little  dry  grass,  a  1 
latter  mas    nearlv  :ilwa\s  be  seei 


year's  iiest  of  a  Crow  is  slightK   repaired  by  being 


e\\    I 


lead 


lea\  es. 


and 


anu'llli''  on    the   outside  ol 


liiiilt  up  on  the  sides 

feathers;    some  ol    the 

f  the  nest,      Fully 


EU 


,1' 


i:Ht;i 


M 


Vi!' 


m- 


uw 


'M> 


I. 


■'H 


m 


m 


880 


LIFE  IIISTORIKS  OP  NOUTn  AMEUICAN  BIRDS. 


three-f<)Uil]»s  of  i\w  nests  fimnd  by  mo  ((('cupictl  hy  flicse  Owls  were  those  of 
the  (!row.  Only  a  very  few  \v«fr(!  cviih-iitly  Imih  hy  the  hh'ds  themselves. 
One  sueh  found  near  Camp  Harney,  Orejfon,  on  April  4,  1H77,  was  plaeed  in 
a  thick  hush  of  dry  willows  about  10  feet  from  the  <jrounil.  This  was  tol- 
erably well  built,  composed  externally  of  small  sticks  and  spiijrs  of  willows 
and  aspens.  Some  of  the  latter  had  Iteen  peeled  by  beavers,  which  were  com- 
mon in  the  vicinity,  and  they  were  still  ;:reen  and  |)liable;  these  fresh  looking- 
.sticks  drew  my  atte  ition  ti)  tlie  nest,  which  I  mistook  for  that  of  a  Kaven  or 
Crow.  The  imier  c  ip  was  al>out  .'>  inches  deep  and  lined  with  dry  jrrasses  and 
feathers;  it  contained  four  fresh  e^'i's.  An  occasional  pair  when-  .\Iajfpies  are 
plentiful  will  now  and  tiieii  use  one  of  their  nests,  and  natural  cavities  in  dead 


trees  are  also  sometunes  used,  'n  mountamous  rej;ioMs  tliey  JU'e  sai«l  to  nest 
occasionally  in  ditfs.  Most  of  the  nests  found  by  me  were  placed  in  ratln-r 
open  situati(Hi.s,  in  small  willow  thickets  alonjf  some  stresun,  or  in  an  isolate<l 
diunp  in  a  swampy  meadow,  or  on  some  hillside  near  a  sprinjr,  but  u.suully 
not  far  distant  from  othei'  tliickt'ts.  'i'lic  most  exposed  nest  I  ever  saw  was 
found  <»n  April  21,  1S77,  near  C.imp  Harney,  and  it  contained  six  ej^fjs  on  tlie 
jtoint  of  hatchinji'.  It  was  evidently  an  old  Hawk's  nest — most  likely  Swain- 
son's  Hawk — |tlaced  in  a  small  and  very  open  scra;;jiy  jimiper  'uish  not  over 
fi  feet  from  tln^  ufround;  tliis    liush   stood   entircK    li\    itself   and   w 


promiiu-nt    mark   on   the  point  of  nn   extensive 

It 

tl 


<  quite  a 
auclirush-covered    table-land. 


.f  tl 


•rrtw  near  tin    edjje    ot   tlie   rim    rock    tormmv   a    perpei 


k    f. 


diciili! 


!iti 


am 


lere    were    no   other   trees  or 


bush 


)f  aii\    si/.e  witliin  a   mile  of  it.     This 


m 


st  was  ill  plain   view   from    all    sides   and    could    be   seen    several    hundred 


varus  awav. 


•wis 


bl. 


.1 


dd) 


■d  t. 


I  hese  owls  .seem  certamlv  uior<>  sociahle  ami  peaceaitly  (lis|»o.se(l  toward 
enci'  other  than  !{aptores  in  <i-eneiiil,  as  I  have  more  than  once  found  as 
many  as  three  pairs  nestin^r  within  a  narrow  strip  of  iiiishes  not  more  than 
loo  yards  in  len^'th  and  itorderiii'r  a  small  creek.  ( >n  iiiiother  occiision  I  found 
a  jiair  of  Lon<jf-eared  owls  occupyiiifr  a  cavity  in  an  old  cottonwood  stump 
n(»t  over  12  teet  \i\<x\\\  a  Ued-shafted  Kliiker  had  that  season  excavated  a 
burrow  directly  over  that  of  the  Owl's  ami  the  two  entrance  holes,  although 
on  ditlerent  sides  of  the  stiim]i,  were  not  more  than  'J  feet  apart.  The  birds 
seemed   to  live   in   pelted    hiirmonv   with  each  other. 

constiint    residents    wherever  found,    altlioiijih 
1    in   winter  .'is  diiriii"'    the    remainder  of  the  \-ear, 


1    b.d 


leve 


Owl 


they  ari^   not  as  often    seei 


anil 


tl 


ley    may    migrate    to   n    certain    extent    m    severe    seiiMtns. 


.Mr.    duliiis 


lliirter,  of  St.   !<ouis,  .Missouri,  informs  me  thiit  on  .lamiar\    .'SO,   Is7.'),  a  Hock 


of   alitait  thirty  of   tl 


lese 


bird 


s   were   seen 


bv   I 


inn    restiiii''    m    one    tree    in  a 


swampy    |)ltice    in    the    .Mississippi    'ottom,    and    thiit    they    reiiiiiiued    in    the 

nei^rhborh I  for  sevcrid  da\s. 

<  >n    Felauary  2.'{,    lH7i.   I   saw  iiltonf  fifteen   of  these  binls  sittin^i'  close 
toocther  on  a    small    mesi|iiite   tree  in    a  dense   thicket    in    the    Uillitto  ('reek 


bottom,  near  Tucson,  Ari/.on 


The  ftict  that  occasioiiidly  sucli  numbers  are 


Heen   together  huiks  .is   if  the\    did   ;it   times  mi'-riite 


^  ^-m 

|| 

THE  AMKKICAN  LONG-EAKHl)  OWL, 


331 


Tlicir  liuiitiii}?  is  doiio  iilmost  onfirt'ly  at  nif^lit,  wliilo  tlio  »liiy«  aro  Hpout 
in  Hliiidy  iiiitl  diiik  |)liu(><,  anion;;  tlu!  heavier  and  douHor  nndcr^n-owtli,  or  in 
Itusliy  trees  in  the  nei^diiiorliood  of  water. 

In  tlie  daytime,  partirnlarly  on  a  hri^dit  srnniy  (hi\',  tiie  Lon^'-eared  Owl 
will  allow  itselt'  to  he  closcK'  approaeh'.'d,  and  on  discovering  the  intriuler 
will  try  to  make  itself  look  slenih-r  and  Ion;,'  hy  pressin^r  tlie  feathers,  which 
are  nsiially  somewhat  pulled  (nit,  close  to  the  hoily  and  sittin;>'  very  erect, 
and  still.  It  nii;;ht  in  such  a  |)osition  l»e  readily  mistaken  for  a  part  of  tlm 
liinl)>  upon  which  it  may  lie  sittin^r. 

Occasionally,  while  on  the  ;;round,  for  instance,  and  hein^r  suddenly  dis- 
tiM'hed  at  a  meal,  they  throw  themselves  into  (piite  a  dillerent  attitmle — one 
of  defiance,  makin;;  tliemselves  look  much  hnj^cr  than  tla  y  really  are,  and 
presenting;  a  lierce  and  i'orniiilahle  front.  I  nearly  steppeil  on  one  of  them 
once  while  it  was  liusily  eii^'a^^'ed  in  killin;;-  a  ^^round  stpiirrel  which  it  evi- 
dently had  just  cau;;lit.  The  Osv!  was  sitting;'  l>y  the  side  of  a  tallen  pine 
tree  and  as  !  stepped  over  it  my  foot  was  plantecl  witliin  12  inches  of  tim 
hird;  sh»^  evidently  had   not   heard  me  approaciiin;;',  nor   had   I  any   idea  of 


ler   presence    un 


til  almost  on  her,  and  was  consecpieiitiy  alioiit  as  nnich 
startled  as  tlm  l»ird  it.self,  owin;;  in  \y.\\t  to  the  instantaneous  transformation 
that  took  place  before  my  eyes.      All   at  once  she  seemed  to  expand  to  sev- 

-ht 


era 


1    t 


unes    tier    normal   size;    ever\- 


featli 


er    raised    and    standing;'   at    a    ri 


aii;;le  from  the  liody;  the  wiii^^s  were  fully  spread,  thrown  up,  and  oliliipiely 
liackwaril,  their  <»utt'r  ed;;('s  touchin^i'  each  other  over  and  liehind  the  head, 
which  likewis(^  looked  alinormally  lar^ic,  and  this  sudden  clian^i'e  in  appear- 
ance, comliined  with  the  lii.ssiun'  noise  which  she  uttered,  made  it  appear 
a  \('r\'  formidalile  object  at  liist  si;>lit.  I  presume  she  intended  at  lirst  to 
staml    her    ^ironnd,  but    chan^iin;;    her    mind    (piickly  and    collapsing!'    to  her 


.fl' 


normal  size,  tiew  oil,  leavin;!-  tier  fpiariy 


behind. 


The   Lony-eared  Owl  nests  rather  eail\-.      In  the  southern  portions  o 


f  its 


ran;;e  nidilication  commencc^s  sometimes  in  the  latter  part  of  Kebruary.     iMr. 
F.   Stephens    took   a   set   of   six   ejjf^js    from    an   old    ("row's   nest    in   southern 


California  on   March  ■_»,  isTIt,  tl 


le  ear 


liest 


date  known  to  me 


in  the 


.Mid.lh 


Slates  it  ma\-  bcM-iu  layiiiL;-  in   the  latter  part  ot'  .Marcii,  but  more  often  about 
the  lirst  week  in  April,  and  in  late  seasons  sometimes  not  until  the  lirst  week 


III 


M 


IV. 


These    dates    hold 


il    also    for  ( )re<>uii,   Washiimton,    and    Idaho. 


In   Montana   they   rarely  iie;>in  to  lay   before   May    I. 

1  lielieve  that  liiit  a  sin^jle  brood  is  raised  in  a  season.  Incubation 
usually  commences  with  the  lirst  e;;;;  laid,  the  e^^^s  beiiitf  depositetl  at  inter- 
v.'lls  of  a  <lav  or  two.  If  the  lirst  set  Is  taken,  a  second  and  somewhat  smaller 
one,  and  even  a  third  is  laid,  fre«piently  in  the  same  nest.  Inciiliatioii  lasts 
.about  three  weeks;  the  joun;;  are  co\eied  with  tliiik  ^••rayisli  white  down 
when  lirst   hatched  and  are  usually  of  dilleient  sizes,  showing;  that  tln-y  are 


lu 


it  all  hatch  d  the  same  day. 


iiMiii;;:  f  1' 


h 


m 


iitii'i' 


,ij^ 


332 


MFK  IlISTOKIRS  OF  NOllTn  AMKUICAN  IWUDS. 


'riu'  i'iXii^  vary  from  tlircc  to  six  in  mmilici".  Sets  of  (ivc  iirc  most  ol'tcu 
foiniil,  aiid  occiisioiiiilly  one  may  coiitain  seven.  Six  is  the  larfjest  nmnlier 
1  have  personally  foinul.  Tiiey  are  jjure  white  in  color  ami  oval  in  shape, 
ami  the  shell  is  smooth,  tine  ly  ••i-annlated,  ami  lathei'  jilossy. 

The  avera<i^e  measnreMient  of  one  hundred  an<l  tln'ee  specimens  in  the  V.  S. 
National  Miisenni  collection  is  Id  l)y  .'{•_'.'>  millimetres,  tlii'  larj^est  e<>';;'  meas- 
urinj>'  4'M}  hy  IVAJt,  the  smallest  'MJ>  hy  .'U  milJinu'tres. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  "jOdir)  (I'l.  1"_'.  Ki^-.  •_'),  selecteil  from  a  set  of  five 
ef^jrs  from  the  Hendire  collection,  was  taken  Ity  me  on  .March  1(1,  ISS-J,  near 
Kort,  Walla  Walla,  Washin^fton.  This  is  the  earliest  date  on  which  I  have 
found  t'gi^n  of  this  species;  and  incubation  had  .-dread}'  lie<j;iui. 


113.     Asio  accipitrinus  (I'ai.las). 


suoi{T-i:,\i!i:ii  OWL, 


i.i- 


NIri.r  (tccipitriiiii  Pai.las,  Ui'isc,  Uiissisclicii  HiMclis.,  I,  1771.  ■\.'>!>. 
A.sii)  tirciiiilrnui.s  Nkwto.n  .iiiil  Yakkow.  Hritisli  Minis,  ed.  1,  i.  is^'i.  Ifi.l. 

(li  .v>.  ('  :i-.'l.  \{  :I!m;.  c  jt:(.  IT  .ic.r.) 

nKooKAHllicAi.  KANdK:  hiiitirc  wcslci'ii  licmis|ilicrt',  f\i'c|it  (iiilaiiat^iis  and  part 
of  the  West  Indies ;  ■•ilsi)  nearly  lln'nii,t;liiiul  llie  caslei'a  lieniisjiliere,  exceptiie;  Aus- 
tralia, etc. 

The  hreedinjr  ranji'e  of  the  Short-eareil  ( )\vl  within  onr  borders  extends, 
as  far  as  known  at  present,  lln'on;>'hi>iit  the  miildle  portions  (d'  the  l^iited  States 


from  about    latitude  .'I'.l      nortliwai'd    tin'ouu'li   tlie    Domii 


d'  Canada  to  ih 


Arctic  i'e<>ions,  v  li>re  Mr.  b'.  .MacKarhuu^  met  with  it  cpiite  conmionly  in  the 
Anderson   Ui\ci'  coiuUrv  up  to  latitude  (it*  . 

On  the  I'acilic  coiist  it  is  known  to  breed  from  southern  ()rei>-on,  in  the 
vicinity  <d'  Camp  Harney,  altout  latitude  12  ,  tln'ou;ih  Washiuf^ton,  Idaho,  and 
Mritish  Cohnidiia  to  northern  Alaska;  and  it  is  not  im|)robable  that  it  may 
sometimes  l)i-eed  in  ( 'aliforni,-!  and   Nevaija. 

In  the  uortliern  jiortions  of  its  ran;;('  it  is  oidy  a  sinnmer  visitor,  mij^ratin^- 
south  in  winter.  It  is  more  than  likely  tliat  it  breeils,  occasionally  at  least,  in 
suitalth-  localities  alou^'  the  Itorders  of  the  extensiNc  marshes  on  tin-  .seacoa.st  of 


the  South  Atlantic  States.      \\\  far  tli 


ater  numlMr  id'  these  birds,  however. 


breed  north  of  onr  Ixa-ders. 

in  its  j^eneral  haitits,  the  Short-eanil  ( hvl  differs  considerably  from  mo.st  of 
the  other  niemlxMs  of  this  family  found  with  us,  in  Itenijr  not  nearly  so  nocliu'- 
iial  and  in  freipn-ntin^^'  thi^  more  open  ctamtry;  for  while  most  td' our  Owls 
inhabit  tindtered  re^'ions,  this  species  shuns  such  sections  and  rarely  even  ali<rhts 


Ml  a  tree 


It 


s  iiome  is  amidst  the  rank  "'rasses  or  weeds  nsuallv  found  alonir  the 


borders  of  lakes  and  sjoiiji-hs  in  the  open  prairie  conntrv,  \\  hei'e  it  hides  during;' 
brifihl  sunshiny  ilays.      If  the  sky  is  cloiideil,  this  (Iwl  may  be  fre(pienlly  seen 


huutiii<>'  in  the  eai'lv  mornin<>'  or  evening'  ami   sometimes  i 
(lav,  am 


the  middle  of  tin 


I   at   such   tinn-s   it    flies  \erv   low,   not    nmre  tii:m   a    few    feet   from   thi 


TIIK  SHOItT-BAUEI)  f)WL. 


333 


^rroiiiiil,  wliit'li  it  ciircrully  scans  lor  its  IhiiiiMc!  Jmcv.  Its  tlij^lit,  is  r(!iiifirkiil)ly 
oasy,  {fraccfiil,  and  |H'rt'('<'tly  noiseless,  very  similar  to  that  of  tlio  Marsh  Hawk, 
but  accompanieil  with  nioru  flap|iin}i;  of  tlio  \vin;>s.  On  uccount  of  tho  great 
length  of  thi)  latter  it  looks  whilo  Hying  nnich  larger  than  it  really  is. 

Kroni  the  fact  that  theso  Owls  ar(!  generally  seen  in  pairs  at  all  seasons  of 
the  year  it  is  very  }»rol)alili!  that  they  remain  mated  through  life.  Dinin;- 
tho  winter  of  1HH1-'H2  a  pair  of  theso  hints  took  up  their  permanent  (piar 
ters  near  an  inelosnro  in  which  several  hundred  tons  of  hay  were  stacked 
within  the  limits  of  the  military  post  of  Fort  Walla  Walla,  Washington.  These 
hayricks  were  j)laced  under  open  sheds,  and  the  lanes  lietween  each  stack 
formed  the  favorite  hunting  grounds  of  these  birds  and  fm'nished  them  an 
altundanco  of  mice.  As  shooting  was  absolutely  ja'ohibited  in  this  vicinity 
and  the  bii-ds  were  nincr  molested,  they  Itecame  (piite  tame,  flying  within  .'{ 
or  4  feet  of  the  sentinels  on  duty  theic   at   night.     One  of  my  men  informed 


me  o 


f  tl 


ns,  an( 


I  I 


visited  the   places  several  times    to  watcli    their   actions.      In 
cloudy  weather  they  might  be  se<'n  flying  in  and  out  between  the  haystacks 


(lnrm<i:  the 


th 


g' 


eater  part  of  the  dav,  but  when  it 


tl 


was  clear  tnev  onlv  made  tlien 


ly 


th 


aj>pearanc((  about  sundown.  Ih'}'  generally  flew  close  to  the  gr<amd,  not 
mori'  tlian  i\  let  v.  al)ove  it;  their  prey  was  caught  without  ajjparently  arrest- 
ing their  fiiglit  an  instant,  and  then  cariied  on  top  of  ouc  of  tho  stacks 
)resume  it  was  devoured  at  leisuic.      During  the  day  they  remained 


wliere 


I 


hidden  among  the  tall  weeds,  wirt^  grass,  and  iiishes  growing  in  a  marsh  close 
to  the  corral.  Asich;  from  a  faint  s(pu'ak,  which  might  have  lieen  that  of  a 
mouse  when  suddenly  pounced  on,  1  heard  no  note  that  might  be  attrib- 
uteil  to  them. 

The  food   of  the    Short-eared  Owl   consists  almost    exclusively   of  small 


rodents,  such  as  meadow  nuce   an< 


(1   gopli 


lers,  as  well  as  grasshoppers,  insects 


of  \arious  kinds,  and  occasionally  a  small  bird.  Like  the  Harn  and  Tiong- 
eared  Owls,  it  deserves  tin*  fullest  protection,  being  far  mort^  benelicial  than 
otherwise. 

In  the  southern  |iarts  of  its  range  in  the  East,  uiflification  is  said  to 
begin  sometimes  in  March,  usually  in  Ajiril  and  again  not  until  the  begiiming 
of  May.     In  the   .\rctic    regions    it  does    not   conunenctf    until  the  latter  part 


uallv  about  the  first  week  in  .lune,  and  occasi 


of  May,  ns 

Mr.   W.  J.   Fisher  taking  a   set    of  five  ejij-s    on 


oni 


a   moi 


th  lat 


Kndiak    Island,    .Maska, 


July  12,  ISS-J.     Incubation  had  advanced  about  one-half  in  thest; 


While  in   the    I'iastern   States  these   birds  ma\'   nest. 


bef 


ore 


stated. 


er, 
on 


ni 


AJarch  and  earl)'  April,  in  the  West,  when-  1  found  tlxii'  nests,  in  Idaho 
and  Oregon,  as  well  as  in  Washington,  they  do  not  as  a  rule  begin  laying 
liet'ore  the  last  week  in  April,  and  generally  aiiout  the  lirst  week  in  May. 
The  first  nests  1  fountl  of  this  sjMtcies,  two  in  number,  near  l''ort  Lapwai,  Idaho, 


tund,   one   in  the  center 


was  on    May  (>,   1S71.      Moth   wei'e  placed  on   the 

of  a    tall    linnch   of  rye    grass,   the  other   by    the  side  of  one  of  these,   and 

Itotli  wore  well  hidden.     These  tall  bunches  of  grass  grew  with  others  amidst 


m 

II 

.|:l;:fc, 

hi!': 


iu: 


11 


.'{34 


lill'K  MISTOUIKS  OF  NOIiTH  AMKIIICAN  lilKDS. 


i   '. 


I    1 


my 


'ii 


Hinall  Itiislu's  mid  Wfcdf*  on  a  little  kiioll  in  tlic  cfiifor  of  a  bofj<ry  jjlacc  on 
a  grass  (lovcrcfl  hillside,  near  the  head  of  Tom  Hell's  Creek,  al»oiit  4  miles 
east  of  tlio  ])ost.  IJotli  nests  \v«'ro  in  similar  situations  on  opposite  sides  of 
the  carton,  and  not.  over  half  a  mile  from  each  other;  they  wer<'  simply 
slight  depressions  not  more  than  2  inches  deep,  lined  with  pieces  of  dry 
grass  aial  a  few  feathers  from  the  birds.  One  of  tho  ne.sts  eontaine(l  f<an' 
eggs,  two  of  which  were  slightly  ineuhatc  1;  in  tho  otlier  ono  there  were  three 
eggs,  which  were  fresh. 

Both  males  wen^  hidden  in  the  tall  grass  close  l)y  the  nest,  and  aside 
fr(»in  an  angry  snapjung  of  their  mandihles  they,  as  well  as  the  femnle.s,  nanle 
l)ut  feeltle  demon.stratinns  in  detense  of  their  nests,  merely  circling  arouiul 
anil  alighting  near  hy  while  I  was  in  the  vicinity.  One  of  the  birds  uttered 
a  weak  whistling  sort  of  note  two  or  three  times,  tlu^  others  were  silent  l)Ut 
ke])t  holiliing  their  heads  up  and  ih)wn  an«l  Hnai)piiig  their  mandibles  at  the 
same  time. 

At  Camp  Harney,  Oregon,  two  of  their  nests  were  fonn<l  in  similar 
situations  on  side  hills  in  the  last  week  in  May,  lS7fi,  b(»th  containing  three 
nearly  fresh  i'lXii'*,  ii"d  two  others  in  the  following  year,  on  May  I  and  Mav 
4.  The  last  one  Wiis  placed  in  the  center  of  a  thick  but  short  bunch  of 
grass  on  tlui  level  open  prairit!  directly  south  of  the  |)ost  in  daily  use  as  a 
drill  groniul.  I  know  that  sonu'  of  tlu'  men  while  drilling  nnist  have  re- 
])eateilly  passed  within  a  couple  of  feet  of  this  nest,  if  not  directly  over  it, 
without  flushing  the  bird.  It  was  finally  discovered  by  one  of  the  lieutenants, 
whose  horse  almost  step]ied  on  the  bird.  This  nest  contained  three  eggs,  two 
of  which  were  broken  either  by  the  hoof  of  the  horse  or  by  the  bird  in  its 
su(hlen  start.  It  .seems  strange  that  this  |iair  .should  have  chosen  such  a  site, 
as  the  drilling  e<rtainly  eommencid  before  any  of  their  eggs  had  i)een  laid 
and  was  continued  diiily,  except  on  Sundays.  None  of  the  nesting  .sites  fiamd 
b\'  me  were  resorted  to  again  either  during  that  or  the  succeeding  year. 

In  Kan.sas  and  Neiiraska  they  liiy  about  tlm  same  tinu'.  Mr.  II.  A. 
Kline  foun<l  a  nest  <»f  this  species  on  May  17,  lHS;i,  in  Nebraska,  containing 
eight  eggs.  It  was  ])laced  on  the  ground  and  «'onsisted  of  a  lot  of  dry  prairie 
grass  and  hollowed  out  '_'  inches  in  depth,  lie  says:  "My  dog  wiis  ranging 
a  short  distance  in  front  of  me  when  he  was  suddenly  attacked  by  one  of 
these  Owls,  which  wjis  .soon  joined  i»y  the  other  (the  male),  and  together  tlasy 
succeeded  in  driving  him  from  the  held.  They  w<adil  swoop  from  right  to 
left  and  sfrik(*  him  on  the  back  with  their  wings.  Not  being  used  to  such 
treatiiu-nt  by  any  member  <if  the  feathered  tribe,  he  beat  a  hasty  retn-at,  fol- 
lowed b\'  both  birds,  aial  after  chasing  him  souu^  distance  they  returned  to  na^ 
and  manitested  great  displeasui'i;  by  swooping  very  close  to  me  and  snapping 
their  mandibles,  as  niiiiiy  Owls  do  when  angry."' 

Mr.  K.  S.  Williams,  of  (beat  Falls,  Montana,  writes  mc"  that  he  found  a 
nest  of  this  species   containing   six    eggs  n«;arly  ready  to    hatch  on  tJune  \',\, 


'()riiitbolot;iiit  iiinl  OiilngiHl,  Vol.  vm,  ISHll,  Nu.  s,  p.  la. 


TiiK  hiioi{T-i:aui:i)  owl. 


335 


IHSn.  Tlio  tu^st  WHS  pliucd  ill  ii  slijflit  Imllow  siiiTuiiiirlcil  l»y  hiiiicli  prarts, 
ami  it  <'onsist«Ml  of  a  few  Mcaltcrcil  straws  ami  ("(fatluTS  tVniii  tlui  Itinl. 

A<'('(ir«liii{r  to  Mr.  \V.  II.  Dull,  U.  S.  Ooast  Survey,  this  spccii's  is  rt'si- 
tlfiit  ami  not  uiicoiniiioii  in  lliialaska,  Alaska,  ami  it  is  .saiil  to  hi-cod  in 
hiiiTows  in  the  },'roiinil,  iisnally  on  tlif  siilc  of  a  stt'f|t  Itank.  'V\w  liolo  is 
horizontal  ami  tlio  inner  end  usually  a  little  hi^liei-  than  the  eiitranei^  and 
lined  with  dry  ffViiss  and  t'eather.s,  'I'liose  examined  i»y  him  did  not  (ixceed 
2  feet  in  depth. 

On  the  Atlanlie  eoast  Mr.  W.  K.  D.  Scott  I'onnd  it  hreedinp  at  Lon^r  Heaeli, 
New  Jersey,  takinj,''  a  set  of  seven  partly  ineuliated  e^rjjs  on  dune  l'H,  IST.'J,  and 
tho  Niitioiml  Miiseinn  «'ollection  contains  a  .set  of  six  taken  hy  Mr.  'riioinas 
Heosley,  near  Cape  May,   New  dersey,   in    l,S(;il. 

It  is  nri'cjrjirioiis  at  times,  Dr.  Mlliott  ('ones  oh.servinj;  a  ;;allierinj;  of  from 
twenty  to  thirty  on  the  Colorado  l{iver,  near  Mojave,  Arizona,  and  1  have 
seen  small  parties  of  tiv(»  or  six,  itroltaltly  the  old  and  yoiniff,  aloiijr  the 
marshes  of  Malheur   Laktt  in  <  >repoii. 

Ineiiliatioii  prohaldy  lasts  ahoiit  three  weeks,  and  oiflinarily  Itnt  a  siiiffh) 
brood  is  raised.  The  e^i'^fs  are  usually  from  four  to  seven  in  iiuml)er,  rarely 
more,  ihoiijjh  if  Indian  and   Kskimo  testimony  is  to  he  relieil  on,  they  lay  as 


manv  as  tt'ii  ami  even   twelve,  hut  thi 


S     IS 


searcelv  pro 


liaid. 


Tl 


lev  are  wlute 


in  color,  with  a  very  faint  creamy  tint  percejitihle  in  most  of  the  specimens; 
the  shell  is  smooth,  liiiely  ji'iannlated,  and  not  as  liisfrons  as  are  the  e;r;rs  of 
the  preceding;  species.  In  shape  they  vary  from  oval  to  elliptical  ovate,  and 
a  few  are  nearly  ('((ually  ]ioiiited  at  each  end. 


Tl 


le  av-erau'e   ineasiirement  ol   lilt\-six  (■'••'rs  in 


the  r.  S.  Nat 


loiial 


Ml 


iseiim 


collection   is  ;{!l   liy   .'{I    millimetres,  the   iarj^esl   ejrj^  measiirin;,''    IJ   hy    .'{"J,  the 
smallest  'M.'t  hy  'J!!. a  miHimelres. 

The  type  .specimen,   No.  l.'iHL'l  (IM.  1-',  Ki<r.  ."5),  selected  from  a  set  of  five 


ejrjrs,    w 


as  taken  June  30,  IHd,'),  hv  Mr.   U.   MacKarIa 


lie,   Ileal 


AikI 


erson    l\iver 


Fort,  Arctic,  North  Americi 


114.     Syrnium  nebulosum  (Fokstku)- 

i«AUui:it  iiwi.. 

SIri.r.  iirhnlnsn  FoKSTKH,  Pliilosopliical  'rriiiisaitions,  x.vii,  177v',  ;!«(!. 
Syniiiiiii  iichiiliisinii  Hoik,  jsis,  is-,'s,  .'Ji.'!. 

(H.Vl.  C:i-.':!.  H  :;!•;,  ('  ITii.  i:  inis.) 

I  Okoijk,vimiu'ai<  k.vnok:  Kiistcni  North  Aini'i-i<'a;  nnrlli  In  llic  luiirr  simtlictn 
Hritisli  proviiK'cs;  .smitli  to  (}cori^i.i  and  iinrtlicni  Texas:  wcsl  incastci'ii  Xcliraska  .-iiiil 
Kansas. 

The  raiipe  of  the  Haired  Owl,  next  to  the  CJreat  Horned  Owl  the  laif^est 
of  this  family  hreedin^j  within  our  holders,  extends  iliioiiir||  that  portion  of  the 
United  States  east  of  tlu!  Mississippi  N^illey  from  (}eor;jia  northward  to  the 
southern   i  order  of  the    Dominion  of  Canada  .south  of  latitude  ftO"  N.,  where  it 


386 


LIFE  MIHTOIIIKS  OF  NORTH  AMKUIOAN  HIBDS. 


luiH  boon  mot  with  in  Novm  Smtia,  tlio  sniiiliorii  piirtsof  tlio  proviiicos  df  Qiiclioc 
and  ( )iitiini)  iiinl  suiitlicaslcrii  Maiiitnlia.  Westward  it  icaclics  Miiiiu'snta,  I<i\va, 
Missouri,  tlio  ousti'iii  parts ot' Xoitruska,  Kansas,  tlu?  Indian  'rorritory,  and  noitli- 
castcrn  Texas.  Iv\c('ptin;jf  in  tiie  more  iinrtlicrn  parts  nt'its  iaiif(o  it  is  a  cnnstant 
resident  and  liieeds  wlierever  tnund. 

Tlio  IJarred  Owl  is  readily  distin;,niislied  tVnni  tlie  (Jreat  lliirnecl  ( (wi  i»y  its 
soniowliat  smaller  size,  eonspicuons  nanided  liead,  dne  tu  tlie  ahsenee  of  ear 
tiil'ts,  its  jrreenisli  yellow  heak,  and  handsome  dai'k  eolored  eyes.  In  the  central 
and  southern  parts  of  its  ranj^e  it  is  tpiite  connnoM,  IVeipu-ntin^r  mostly  the  heavy 
timhered  and,  preferalily,  swampy  traets  near  water  eourses,  and  sptMHlinj;  the 
days  jjeuerally  in  natural  hollows  of  trees  or  in  dense  shrulihery.  Kike  most  of 
the  liirds  of  this  family,  it  is  noetin-nal  in  its  hal»its,  hut  nevertheless  sees  well 
enough  and  even  oerasioiially  hinits  in  the  daytime,  especially  dnrin^r  dondy 
weather.  I  lielievc^  that  Owls  in  },'eneral  prefer  to  remain  hidden  dnriii},'  the 
daxtime  on  account  of  attractin;;-  the  attention  of  neai'ly  excry  featheied  iuhah- 
itaut  of  the   vicinity,  who  instantly  attack  and  annoy  them   in  every  possihh- 


manner  th«^  moiu( 


Mit  tl 


lev 


ive  their  I'etreat? 


The  Hi^jht  of  tlu^  Mancfl  Owl,  lik<'  that  of  other  memhei's  of  this  family,  is 
oas\',  and  though  (piite  swift  at  times  it  is  perfectK'  noiseless.  .\  rapi<lly  passiiii; 
shadow  distiiU'tU'  cast  on  the  snow-covered  iri'oimd  is  often  the  sole  cause  of  its 
I  vesence  lieiu}^  betrayed  as  it  ;,dides  silently  l>y  the  hunter's  camp  lire  in  the  still 
hours  .if  a  moonlifrht  nijiht.  I''ar  ofteuer,  however,  it  announces  itself  l>y  the 
imeai'thlv  wierd  call  notes  pecidiar  to  this  species,  which  surpass  iu  startlin;^- 
etl'ect  those  of  all  other  Owls  with  which  I  am  familiar.  It  is  necessary  to  listen 
to  such  a  vocal  concert  to  fully  appreciate  its  many  iieauties,  (?)  as  it  is  impossi- 
ble to  ^I'ivc  an  accurate  descri|(tion  i 


i>f  th 


iiiri 


(Is  trv  to  outdo  one  anothei 


.f  th 
th 


sounds  produced  wiu-n  a  pan*  or  more 


Tl 


.Mr.  d.  \V.  I'reston,  of  Maxter,  lowa.  writes   me  as  follows  on  this  subject: 

and    .sonu'times   easil\'    mistaken  tor    those    of  tla 


leu'  notes   are    varuible 


the  human  voice.     The  liase  upon  which  thev  work  is  a   'lioo-hoo,'  or  'too-too. 


btit   th 


■ivllaltles   are   moi|itie<l  and  interchan'''ed  at  itleasui'e.      Mere  area.f( 


I'VV 


hat 


samples,  taken  down  as  uttereil  by  one  of  these  liirds  while  dose  to  it:  'lb 
hoo,  ho-ho-ho-ho-ho,  hoo-hoo-too-too,  to-to,  too-o.'  .\iiiither  call  is  somewl 
like  this,  'too-too,  to-to,  to-to,  o-o'  and  still  another,  'haw-haw,  Imo-lioo.'  Now 
and  then  a  coarse  mocking''  lau<;'h,  very  humanlike,  may  lie  heard,  and  ajraiu 
this   is   clian;ied   to  :i    mournful    wail.     Sometimes  their   notes  are    all   <'Ut    up 


am 


1  iitt 


ered  in   "i-eat  haste,  with   seeminylv  no  cause   for  these  violent  outburst.- 


I   distiu'lied   a    yoiui;;'   bird  once,  causiuj;  one  of  its   parents  ;jreat    uneasiness. 


It 


IS      UUIIOSSI 


ilile    t< 


sci'iii( 


the   notes    Utter- 


d     I 


>V     I 


t    at    tl 


ns    tmie;    thev 


were  rendered    in  a  sididued  umttei'in;,''  and  complaininu'  strain,  parts  ol'  which 
.sounded  exactly  like  'old-fool,  old-foo|,  dou't-do-it,  don't-do-il.'" 

The  Harred  ( )\vl  is  not  iufrecpiently  heard  calliiifj  iu  the  daytime,  more 
particularly  durinji'  cloudy  weather  belbre  ii  storm,  these-  sounds  emanatinji- 
usually   from   tluf  most  dismal  and  ;^loomy  parts  of  the   forest.     In  the  earl}' 


P'^T 


Till':  KAlUtlOI)  OWL. 


337 


•'vciiiiiff  and  tliriiii;f|i(iiit  flui  u\n\it,  «'S|icriiilly  diinii},'  i\w  matiiif^  scasnn,  tliuir 
VMcal  ('Hurts  aro  so  iHTcciitilily  iiicrcastMl  tliat  twit  i»r  tlircti  iiuliviiliuils  may 
sii('('(M'il    ill   pniiluciii}^  siK'li   a  slartlin;,'   variety   of  sounds  as   ti»  lead  to   tlio 


d  1 


ItnUMl    looso    111     tlltl  IICI(r|l 


iit'lict'  tliat  a  small   army  of  tlicsi^  liirds  liud  Ixiuii  ti 
horliood. 

WliiK)  tliu  linrn'd  ()\vl  is  not  (initc  as  liarmlcss  a  bird  as  tin!  tln'co  \)vv 
ci'diiiff  H|)('<'i(!s,   wiicii  impartially  jiidj^cd  it  do««K  far  iiioro  jjood   tlian  Iiarm 

h 


am 


1    many  of  tlio   depredations   of  tim  (Jieat    Horned   Owl   are  err 


■oiieouslv 


cliarfjod  to  it,  owiiij,'  to  the  slij,dit  ditrereiico  in  sizo  hetwcHiu  tlieso  birds.  From 
a  careful  examination  of  ninety-live  stoiiiaclis,  made  under  tlio  direction  of  I  h'. 
('.  Hart  Merriam,  in  cliar}r()  of  the  Division  of  ( )rnitholo;fy  and  Mammalo;ry, 
V.  S.  Department  of  Aj^ricultiire,  it  appears  that  only  three  contained  poultry; 
twelve,  other  birds,  amoiifr  tlutiii  two  Screech  and  one  Saw-whet  Owl,  but  no 
jramo  birds;  while  forty  contained  mice;  iiftecii,  other  mammals,  ainonjr  the 
latter  but  very  few  ral)bits  ami  sipiirrels;  four,  froi^s;  nine,  crawfish;  two, 
fish,  and  sixteen   wen;  empty.     This  is  certainly  not   a   l)a<l  record. 

Mr.   Frank  Holies,  who  recently  piililished  an  exccedinjily    inferestin;r  and 
in.stru('tiv(f    article    on    "IJarred    Owls    in    Captivity,"    drawin;,'    attention    to 


leciiliarities   o 


f  th 


s(f    birds,   which    oiilx"  a  tlioroiijfh    lover   ot    natuiij    would 


notice.  Hays:  "'riiey  iced  also  on  snakes,  earth  worms,  ^^ra.sshoppers,  dilferent 
species  of  laietles  and  tlies.  They  not  only  drank  wafer  freely,  but  took  pro- 
loiijr,.(l  )»iiths  whenever  fresh  water  was  jriveii  them.  Their  tank  was  oik^  foot 
and  a  half  lonji',  a  foot  wide,  and  ten  inches  ilce|i.  Their  reflection  in  this  com- 
piiiafively  deep  and  tlaik  pool  greatly  aimised  them  for  a  time.  •  ♦  *  With 
l.'-reat  interest  in  the  result  I  placed  nine  live  perch  and  bn-am  in  the  Owls' 
tank  one  moriiin;^  when  tlu'V  were  about  tlireif  inontlis  old.  They  had  never 
.seen  fish  before.  As  the  liffht  played  upon  tlm  red  fins  and  bri;flit  scales, 
the  Itirds'  c'X<'ifement  was  amusin;,'  to  sec.  In  a  very  short  time,  however, 
they    plun;red  feet  foremost    into    the    water,    and    with    almost    unerriiii;  aim 


aiicet 


1    tl 


H'    Victims    wi 


th  tl 


leir    talon 


IlK 


I  Hew    out    with    them.     Then    the 


head  was  crushed  at  its  juncture  with  the  backbone,  the  spines  were  bitten 
into  Jelly  and  tlio  fi.sh  was  swalloweil."'  Kvery  pajic-  of  this  paper  is  full  of 
interestiii<;  information,  ))ut  want  of  space  forliids  additional  (piotatioiis  there- 
i'rom. 

Fxcejjt  durinj,'  the  matin;,''  and  breeding'  season  the  Haired  Owl  is  an 
unsocial  liinl,  spending;  the  •(•rcater  jiait  of  the  year  in  solitude  and  resentiii;f 
all  intrusion  of  its  kind,  'i'liroii^dioiit  the  ^^reater  part  of  its  ran^re  the  mating 
sea^ion  begins  about  the  first  week  in  l''ebriiary,  occasionally  a  week  or  two 
earlier  or  later,   according  to  latitude  ami  season. 

The  Harred  Owl  ^feiierally  nests  in  natural  cavities  of  trees,  preferaldy  in 
i|ens(!  and  swampy  woods,  and  such  as  are  in  the  vicinity  of  water  courses, 
chestnuts,  poplars,  oaks,    American 


lind 


ens,  eh 


walnut, 


■ivcamores,  niaiih 


ill 


willows, 


birch,   and  sweet  {rum    trei's   beiii;;'   most  often   selected    for   this   p 


ur- 


L»«957— Bull.  1 2-' 


lAiik,  Vol.  Ml,  April,  l-!K»,  I.]..  101-IU. 


888 


I, IKK  IllsntUIIOS  <>!•'  MOUTH  AMKKICAN  lUKDH. 


poHO.     A  HiiitiiMi*  nitn  oiico  tiikcii  |ioKK«'Hsinn  of  is  fciiiicidiisly  luM  from  yciir 


to  y 


car,   no 


iniitlcr    liow  pfrsiKlt'iilly   tint    Itinl.s  niiiy   lie    rohlicd  of  tlicir  ^•^J.'•^ 


or  youiijf.     Only   wlicii    wiu-li  a  mfo  is    not   to   Im<  olitjiinnl    in    tlic  vitinily  ol' 


th 


icir  choHtMi  hointt  m  an  old  |[asvl<'H  or  Crow's  nest  ina<l*t  iih*<  of.  IT  tliis  is 
not  snOiricnliy  liiilky  it  is  )|ri'|ifnci|  Ity  tlnowin^  out  tiif  iniitT  ami  liner 
material,  as  well  as  tlie  lining,  slionld  tlieie  Im*  any.  Tliey  rarely  add  any- 
thing to  a  nest,  uidess  sueli  t'eafliers  as  I'all  Iroin  tlie  l)ody  of  tlie  inenliatiny^ 
l)ird  can  lie  eallefl  ailditions.  'I'lie  haned  Owl  rarely  hnilds  a  nest  of  its  own; 
n  cavity  heiii;;  selected  tlie  c^'ifs  art*  simply  depositeil  on  tlic  rnliliisli,  cliips 
of  dei-ayed  wood,  Hn<l  dried  leaves  wliicli  may  have  aciimiidaled  therein. 

In  t!ic  nioro  southern  parts  of  its  raiij^e  it  nsnally  coniineiices  laying  in 
Feliniarv,  while  in  the  Midflie  States  it  generally  liegins  from  alioiit  the  second 
week  in  March  to  the  first  week  in  April.  It  is  sometimes  inflneiiced  liy  the 
condition  of  the  weather.      Kveii  in   the  southern    New    Kimland    States,  near 


N 


orwii 


h.  ( 


olillectlcll 


I,  Mr.  ('.  I..  I 


(awsoii   has  occasionalK'   foiiiii 


.1   Ih 


'III  nesting 


ill  Kelirnary,  and  has  taken  their  eggs  lying  on  a  solid  cake  of  ice,  liotli 
from  holes  and  open  nests  in  trees  when  the  ground  was  covered  with  a 
foot  of  snow. 


Ihit  a  single  lirood   is  rais<'d    in 


ho  tak 


en,  a  secoi 


id,  and  even  a   third. 


season.     Should    the  first  set  of  eggs 
laid,  the  hist  ireiieraliv 


IS  occasion 


Hinaller  in  niimlier  tlian  the  first.  The  female  .seems  to  attend  mostly  to  the 
duties  of  incnhatioii,  which  lasts  from  three  to  four  weeks.  When  so  engngcd 
slio  is  loth  to  leave  her  treasures,  and  occasionally  has  to  lie  dislodged  liv 
forci',  uttering  her  jirofests  eillier  liy  an  angry  snapping  of  her  inaiidililes  or 
by  a  hissing  noise  from  a   limli  close  liy. 

'I'lie  niimher  of  c'fgs  laid  \aries  from   two  to  four;  sets  of  thret*  seem  to 


lominatt!    slightlv   over   the    smaller    niimlier.    while    four    are    ran 


<l  set  of  fi 


.1- 


pro( 

IT.  S.  Nntional    Museum   collection   contain 

lorted   in    Iowa    in    April,    IHIIK.      In    three   of   these   specimens   the   holes  are 

much  larger  than  in  the  remaining  two,  and   if  really  all   taken  at  one  time 

the   first   eggs   were   prolialily    laid    at   a    coiisideralile    interval    from    the   last 

Ordinarily  they   are    deposited    evcrv    third    day.      Like   all    ( twls'   eggs   tlie\ 

are  pure  white  in  color,   the  shell   is  more  or  less  granulateil,   slightly  rough 

to  the  touch,  and  not  very  gloss\-.      In  shape  they  are  oval  or  rounded  o\al. 

The  av(M'age  measurement  of  eight \-t wo  of  these  eggs  is  l!t..'»  hy  42.5 
millimetres;  the  largest  specimen  nieasun-s  fio.")  liy  II,  the  smallest  41  liv 
37. r>  millimetves.  The  latter  from  a  set  of  two  (the  other  lieing  of  tin*  nor- 
mal size,  lit  liy  l.'l  millimetres),  was  collected  liy  Mr.  < '.  L.  IJawson  in  New 
London  County,  Connecticut,  on  March  20,  IM!I(»,  and  is  really  a  runt  egg, 
but  coiitaine(l  a   well  formed  yolk. 

The  type  specimen,  \o.  206.'{,'5  (Heiidiri'  collection),  from  a  set  of  three, 
was  taken  liy  Mr.  O.  Peck  in  Hlack  Hawk  County,  Iowa,  March  2,  IHIH. 
It  is  figured  on  PI.  12,  Fig.  4. 


TUB  KLOUIDA  KAUUUI)  OVVU 


115.     Syrnium  nebulosum  alleni  Kiikiway. 


■'I.DUIDA    IIAUUKII    IIWI.. 


Stri.r  nrhiilnsn  nllrni  RintiWAV,  I'liHccdiii^^M  V.  S.  Niitioiiiil  .Miihi'Uiii.  ill,  Miirch  27, 

IHSO,  H. 

(B-.  t'-,  H;iiir»(,  (M;r,  u  -mh,,.) 

ORMdRAPHICAI,   HANUK:    Suiitli     Atlillltic    ilUil    (iilll"    roust     r<>>,'iiill    of    fho    Ullilcil 

Sliiti's,  I'i'oiii  i'iihIi'I'ii  .South  (!iii'oliiiH,  Onoi'gitk,  lunl  all  of  Kloriilii  west  to  N()utlu>tiHt>'rii 
ami  (■(MilfHJ  Tt'xas. 

Tlid  Florifla  HaiT«M|  Owl,  a  slijjlitly  "larkcr  culitrcfl  liiid  than  tin*  lac- 
('('(liii^,  was    tii'st    ilcscriiinl    I'riiiii    s|MM'iiiiciis    taken    in    h'lnriila,    aii<l    is    now 

known  to   lilt   coMiinon   in   the   heavily   w leil    liuttoni   lanils  ol'  sontheastern 

ami  eenti'al  Texas  (Lee  ('oinity),  anil  it  has  also  lieeii  takeii  at  Gainesville, 
(luokd  (!(»nnty,  near  the  northern  liuriler  of  that  State.  All  the  Harred  Owls 
tonnd  aloii^  the  iiitervenin;>'  (inlf  eoast,  in  the  southern  portions  ot'  Alaliaina, 
.Mississi|i|ii,  anil  lionisiana,  sonlli  of  latitmle  .'!!  ,  are  ilonhtless  referable  tu 
thix  race.  Its  known  raii^e  has  rerently  heen  likewis««  exteiiileil  nluii^  the 
.\llantie  cuast.  .Mr.  .1.  K.  Iteneiliet  shot  a  speeiinen,  which  is  now  in  the 
I'.  S.  National  .Mnsenni  collection,  nn  .Iinie  I,  IHUI,  near  ( Jeoryfetowii,  Smith 
('arolina,  in  flni  northeastern  |iart  of  the  Stale,  which  is  perleclly  typical, 
ami  he  says  that  this  Owl  is  ipiite  connnnn  in  that  vicinity.  It  may,  there- 
lore,  lie  lookeil  for  thrc>ii;;hiMit  eastern  (}eorjria  ami  the  jri-eater  portion  of 
eastern  Soiitii  ('arolina  as  well,  ami  as  these  Itirils  are  constant  resiilents 
whertner  fonml  it   is  reasoiiaido  to  |)rt^sinne  that   tliey  also  hreeil  there. 

The  lialiits  of  the  Florida  race  appear  to  he  very  similar  to  those  of  the 
connnon  Marred  ()wl:  like  the  latter,  it  freipients  the  densest  forests  of  the  bot- 
tom lands,  iiestin;;',  howmer,  almost  exclusively  in  hollow  trees  and  stumps, 
such  as  oak,  pine,  cypress,  and  ;;um  trees,  while  in  Florida  they  make  use 
occasionallv  of  hollow  cabba^'e  palmettos,  the  e<r^s  bi'iii;r  |;ii,|  nii  such  rubltish 
as  may  be  toumi  at  the  bottom  of  the  cavity  or  on  the  bare  wood;  open  nests 
in  trees  are  only  used  on  very  rare  occasions.  These  sites  are  usually  situated 
at.  a  lieijrht  of  from  !."•  to  ."lO  feet  from  the  ;;i(>und  and  rarely  hi^rlier. 

Dr.  William  ii.  Ualph  writes  me:  "'i'lie  Florida  liarred  Owl,  thoiinh  nmcli 
less  inimeroiis  now  than  tormeily,  is  still  very  abinidant  in  the  tnifrei|neiiteil  dis- 
tricts, and  not.  uncommon  e\'en  in  the  more  settled  portions  of  St.  dohns  and  I'ut- 
nani  ( Nainties  in  that  State.  Durin;^  the  lirst  few  years  in  which  I  visited  these 
loc'alities  they  were  so  abundant  that  at  times — when  they  were  malin<^  I  think 
—  I  have  heard  nearly  a  hundred  calliii},'  at  once.  The  call  notes  of  the  Florida 
iiarred  Owl  are  abiait  the  same  as  those  of  the  northern  bird.  These  notes  con- 
sist of  three  .syllables,  wdiich  sound  like  'who,'  'ah,'  and  'whack,'  but  they  aro 
often  jriveii  in  such  dilVerent  tones  that  it  appears  as  if  they  uttered  moro. 
Their  usual  iioto  is  a  loud  sin^^le  'who-ah.'  Where  several  birds  are  tojrether, 
sometimes  in  tlio  midst  of  almost  a  perfect  silence,  one  would  bc;fin  with  'who- 


]]' 


lM,l|!I 


■m. 


Ai 


i  ? 


::li4k'i 


lii 


,-.^- 


hi 


3:^» 


340 


LIFK  lUSTOUlKS  OF  NOitTU  AMEUIUAN    1111*1)8. 


wliu-who-wlio,  will >-wlii>-wh(>-wlii>- who,  who-ali.'  Tlu'ii  aiiotluT  wnuM  iinswcr 
ill  till!  siuiu!  not)',  anil  [tcrliaps  si-vrral  otliiTs  in  liirn.  Attrr  lliis  nitti-  liail  Ikh-ii 
fjivi'ii  Ity  si'vi-ral  l)irils  in  succi'ssion,  another  woulil  iitti-r  a  rail  liki-  'ah-ah-ah- 
wlio-ah,'  or  |M'rha|)s   'wlm-ah,  whack-whark-wlwu'k,   who-oM-aii,'   whifli  woiihl 

hanlly  In-    lii'^^uu  licloi thi-rs  woulil   join   in   suiTi'ssivcly,  sunn-  utti-riii;;  tin- 

Hist  noti's  anil  sonic  tin-  si-roml,  until  it  woiiM  simmii  as  it'  i-v.-iy  Irci'  in  the 
noi;rlilnirlioi)il  lieiil  oim  of  tlirsi'  ( )\vls.  At'ti-r  a  I'l-vv  sitoiuIs' fuiitinnanii'  at  its 
{greatest  hi'i^flit,  this  rai-ki-t  wouM  yrailually  ilir  away  until  then!  was  almost  a 
pi'il'i'i't  silciiri'  ai^ain,  whirh  v.kuIiI  last  lor  a  t'l-w  ininnti-s,  ami  thru  llif  Owls 
woulil  l»i';;iii  to  rail  oiht  mi>ri'.  I  hini-  m-vrr  lnsinl  anythin^f  that  coulil  i'i(nal 
one  of  tlii'so  ( )w!  I'uni  iTts  <»f  I'urmiT  ila\s,  ami  nrvrr  rxprrt  to  a^rain.  it  was 
not  till'  ill-;;!'!-!'  of  iioi-''  that  iiiai'i-  then!  iii-ruliar,  for  I  iia\'i>  lii-ani  as  niiirh  or 
iiioM'  in  till'  liii'i'iliii;,'  |il;u-!-s  III'  wati-r  liinjs,  Init  a  wii-nliu-ss  that  is  imli-si-rilt- 
ahlc.  li  was  iiat  a  i-oinmon  m-riirrriu-r,  liow>  vi-r,  to  hrar  so  many  of  llii'sc 
hinls  ('aniii;,^  to;f!'tli!-r,  hut  oniy  at  tiini-s  iluriii;;'  tin-  inatiii;,'  si-asoii,  ami  in 
isnlati'il  plai'i's.  'i'liry  aii'  [lartirulaily  artivo  ami  call  im»rc  on  hriy;lit  inomi- 
li;flit  ni^flits  than  in  ilark  om-s.  It  alsn  sci-ms  as  if  all  tin-  c^r^'s  of  these  liinls 
whose  nests  1  have  foiiii'l  wen-  laiil  iliiiin;^'  the  iiiooiili^rht  niyhts  nf  .Ir mary 
ami  Keiauary. 

"  I'liis  <  )wl  is  tile  noisiest  of  any  with  vhieh  1  am  taiiiiiiar,  initrli  iiion^  so 
tliaii  its  iinrtherii  relati\e,  am!  is  ofteiiest  lieanl  iliirin;;  the  inatin;r  season, 
rarel .  while  iiieiihatin^r.  n' "1  "  '  \<'iy  i  tteii  'liiriii;;  the  remaimler  of  the  year. 
Konnerlv  tlu-M'  liinls  were  \.v\  mim-,  ami  liiniii;^'  my  first  visits  to  this  locality, 
some  years  a;.'!),  I  liaxe  known  tlieiii  tn  utter  their  calls  frmii  the  root'  of  the 
houso  ill  wliicli  I  livi-il  as  iiuium  I'ln-'ily  as  they  ilo  imw  in  the  most  isolateil 
swamps.  'I'liey  seem  lo  lie  iii.ae  siH-ialili-  than  the  miithirn  liinl,  hut  this  may 
he  itiily  liic.iiise  they  art;  more  cnmmoii.  As  with  most  liinls  of  prey,  they  ilo 
not  nest  near  one  another,  altliiiii;;li  lln-y  seem  not  to  miml  the  |iro\imity  of 
nests  occupieil  liy  other  liinls.  Tlu-y  an-  ci.nstanl  i;sii|ents  ami  lieconie  just  as 
inmli  allachi'il  tn  their  iii'stin;^  places  as  ilu  the  (inat  llnrmil  ()\\  !.>•..  Like  these 
ihi-y  are  imisi  active  liy  iii;^hi,  Inn   cii\er  a  mmli  wiiler  r,!ii;,n'  than   tin-   latter. 


olteii  leaving;  the  won  Is  a  i  I   lii:;iliii;f  in  i.pi-ii 


lii'lih 


an 


I   i\ 


irim-rl\'  amun'r  tin- 


houses  of  sina'.l  si-ttleiiieiits.     Knnn  their  hahit  t>\'  lixin;;'  an  1  biceiiiii;'-  in  swamp: 
they  are  calldl  hy  the  iiatixes  'Swai.ip  tSwls.' 


•ley  iiearlv  aiwa\s  nest  in  ca\!tic>  iii  trunks  m-  la 


mil 


lis  I  if   Ir; 


ami 


this,  with  ilieir  retirintf  lialiils,  makes  it  i-atlier  iliHiciilt  to  fiml  their  nesting'  sites 


Ih'I'iii'i'  till 


are 


iiatciieil 


111 


if  all 


si/i-s  ami  sliapi- 


I   I 


e   caxities  they  ,'liiiiise   fur  nestiii;i  siii-s  aro 


ia\e   seen   suliie 


lar-i-e  that   a 


iii-rsiiii  coiilil  easil 


>(aml  ill  one  of  ilu-iii,  others  so  small  that  the  liinls  mulil  wil!i  i|il1ii-iilt\  sipn-e/.e 
thr;iu;fli  the  openin;rs,  ami  a;;aiii  utliers  sn  shallow  that  the  ta'l  of  the  sitliii;.: 
Ilinl  ci.ulil  lie  seen  projectill;;  Inilll  llli-lll  I  ll-IM'  never  known  these  liinls  to 
take  any  iiiati  rial  to  tin-  ca-.  ilii-N  in   wliii  h  tln-y  not,  tliere  hi-iiiMf  i\]\ 


more 


or  !os,H  trasli  in  iIh- 


•ii!  tlii'i,  w 


'th  tlie  feathers  I'niiii  the   liinls  lin-m- 


tjy 


Ivos,  oftoii  makes  a  s  -ft,  thick,  ami  usually  a  very  liltliy  In-il  for  the  v^i^'^  to 


kiis;.. 


'  '/,-r- 


THK  KLOIMDA  HAUKKI>  OWL 


341 


lie  on,  ospcciiilly  after  such  ii  «'iivity  has  Immmi  hsoiI  several  years  in  sne«!essii»n. 
1  liave  fouiHJ  (juite  a  inunlier  of  tlieir  nests  with  younj;'  in  siieli  situations,  and 
only  a  sin;fle  instance  has  come  ini<ler  my  ol»servation  wiiere  a  pair  of  tliese 
Itirds  niaiie  use  of  an  open  nest,  presumal)ly  one  occupied  the  previous  s4>aHon 
liv  a  pair  of  liailan's  Hawks,  whicli  were  seen  aliout  this  nest  wlien  it  was 
first,  foinid  on  Feitniary  .'{,  ISIM.  'i'liis  nest  was  (itnated  in  a  larj;i'  pine  tree,  (i'J 
feet  from  the  <>round,  at  a  point  wliere  tlie  trunk  divided  into  sev«'ral  lar<{'e 
iimlis,  and  it  was  phu'ed  in  tlie  forks  tiierelty  formed.  It  was  couiposed  of 
sticks  anil  Spanish  moss,  and  lined  with  small  twi^s,  S|)anish  moss,  and  feathers 
from  thositliii;^  liirds  It  was  found  in  a  wihi  and  ih-solate  s|iot  aiiout  (i.^  miles 
south  of  San  Mateo,  the  tree  coutainin;r  tlif  uest  standin<r  on  the  ed<>'e  of  a 
small  but  dense  cypress  sw;nup.  Wlien  examined,  on  Kela'uary  1(»,  two 
yomi«.f  ( )wls  were  found,  one  about  a  day,  the  other  three  days  old.  Both 
parents  were  seen,  and  the  female,  which  was  ou  the  nest,  after  heiuff  driven 
from  it,  kept  on  n'turnin;;-  to  it 

"Another  nest  with  {••^•^>  was  found  ou  Kelauary  17  in  the  hollow  top 
of  a  l>rok<Mi  cypress  tree  stMudin;;'  near  the  ed^ic  of  a  small  swamp,  Ih  miles 
south  of  San  Mateo,  Tlie  e^^is,  two  in  nmnlier,  were  about  three-fourths  iiu-ii- 
bated:  thev  measured  I'ui.'}  I»y  KJ  and  ft'2  liy  14  millimetres.  The  cavity  con- 
taininji"  the  eji'j>'s  was  .''id  t'eet  altove  the  jirouml  and  so  shalhiw  that  the  tail  of 
the  sitlin;;  bird  could  be  secu  projectin;;-  IVoru  it.  'i'he  parent,  on  bein<;- 
driven  liom  the  nest,  hooted  several  times;  and  it  was  the  first  time  I  ever 
liearcl   an  <  Hvl  call  w  Ian  it  had  e«JlJi^,      The  ej:<is   were  lyiiiji'  on  piece-  of  rotten 

wood   and  l(  athi'is  fr the  birds.      Afti-r  the  climiier  descended  from  the  tree 

the  iiird  retmiu'd  to  its  \n>\  and  remained  there  while  our  party  was  in  the 
nei^rliorhood,  about   tittieii    minutes. 

"  Anotiu'r  nest,  liist  I'oiiud  on  Kelniiarv  IH.  wlien  it  contained  ii  siiiirle 
e<>jr,  was  letl  uiuil  !''elauary  '-'.'l,  in  hopes  that  another  mi^ht  be  addeil  to  it. 
in  which  I  was  disappointed.  The  nestin;;  site  >\as  a  hole  in  the  side  of 
,1  cvpress  tree  aliout  "JS  feet  from  the  jiiouiid  and  about  10  incites  deep. 
The  ca\it\  was  lined  with  express  bark,  small  twi;;s,  rotten  wood,  and 
leathers  from  the  sittin^i'  birds,  (fia-  of  the  birds  was  driven  from  the  nest  both 
times  it  was  visited,  when  it  wouM  ali^^lit  on  a  tree  near  li\,  where  it  stayed 
for  a  little  \vhile  and  then  disappeaieij  tVom  >i;;ht,  reMiiiinin;>  away  iiurin>;' 
the  lime  our  part\  was  in  the  vieiiiitw  The  parent  ol  another  set  of  two 
eo'ii-s,  taken  on  the  s.nne  date,  remained  in  the  hole  while  the  eji-f^s  were  liein^'' 
t  ikeii.     These  i'>x<xs  Were   within  a   day  or  two  ol   hatchin;*'. 

".\nolhcr   set   of  two    was   found    I'ebrnary   "Jl;    one   ol    these  ejf^i's   had 

been   inciibat 'd   aliout  six   tiavs,   tl ther  was  tpiite   fresh.     These    are  small 

and  measure  oidvlf.'i  bv  iofaml  17. .'i  bv  lo.tl  millimetres.  The  nest  was 
in  a  hole  in  the  side  of  a  \ei\    lar'je    piiu'   tree,  .'l  feet  from   the  jfround.     The 

cavitv  Wiis  IS   inches   in   diameter    ll ^i'^^s  were   placed    ou    the   side   ojiposite 

the  opeliiliii,  and,  indeed,  so  wi'le  all  the  other  ey;;s  when  the  aest  proper 
was  smaller  than  tlieia\it\       This   inst   had    the  bones  of  small  niauunals  and 


342 


LIFE  IlISTOHlKa  OP  NOKTII  AMERICAN  HIUDS, 


St. 

"-.#■■ -If. 


fislj,  tofrotlier  witli  stn'tTiil  pine  kmtts  lyiii}?  around  it.  Tlic  »*}if{!fw  wcro  dcjxts- 
iti'il  oil  soino  rotten  wooJ  iuul  t'lsatliiTK  from  the  sittiiiir  l>ir<ls.  I  think  trie  liird 
whieii  laid  these  eif<fs  is  a  very  old  one,  and  the  nest  has  lieen  ociuipied  for  se\  - 
eral  years.  Tiu)  latest  date  on  wliieh  I  found  «'jf);s  ot"  thes<'  liirds  was  on 
March  10,  when  a  set  of"  two  fresh  ej^^fs  were  taken,  one,  of  raHier  lar;;e 
size,  ineasuriii"'  '")■'{..'{  \ty  4"2.'J,  tiie  other  a  runt  e<f<r,  whirl 
hy  34. 


I   measures  311. 1    li 


")  millimetres.     1    lielieve    this   to   ii 


.second    laviii":.     The   runt  e: 


} 


contained  a  yolk  and  would  proliiililv  have  hatched.  The  sit*^  was  in  the 
hollow  of  a  partly  decayed  pine  stmii|i,  aiioiit  15  feet  from  the  {rroiind.  The 
cavity  was  about  1  foot  deep  and  10  inches  in  diameter.  A  numlier  of  other 
nests  of  this  subspecies  were  examined  l»y  me,  most  of  which  contained 
youuff,  and   tlu^  nestiiif.'-  sites   were  similar  to  those   alre-dy  descrilied. 

"  I  found  these  birds  already  mated  on  my  arrival  at  Kan  Mateo,  on 
.Fanuary  l.'{,  iMill,  and  they  were  makiii}^  a  jireat  ileal  uf  noij<e  every  ni;;lit, 
which  they  kept  up  until  the  ni<>hts  b«'<ijiii  to  jiiow  dark  durin>>-  the  la.st 
of  the  month,  when  they  •gradually  ceased,  and  for  alioiit  ten  diiys  previous 
to  February  14,  they  were  hardly  heard.  On  that  diite  they  beiran  callinji- 
a<rain,  tliouuh   not  so  much  as  at    first,  and  since  then  thev  have  made  a  uood 


deal  of  noise  on  some  niu:hts,  while 


on 


others  tlie\-  hiirdh'   uttered  a    not< 


Tl 


le    iiiatm<r   season  o 


f   the   Florida    Uiirred  Owl   be<;iiis    usually  about 
the  1st  of  .Fanuary,  perhaps  a  week  or  two  earlier  in  some  .seasons,  and  their 


CfT^fs  are  jreiieralh"  depos 


ited   d 


urm; 


F.l 


iriiarv. 


A 


ccordiiijr  to  m\-  observatioi 


tl 


lev   alwavs 


IV  one    or  two   eiiu's,  iismillv  the    latter    niimb(>r.      Hoth  se.\< 


assist  in  inciiliation  and  in  the  care  of  the  sin^de  brood  raised.  As  a  rule 
they  are  not  very  solicitous  about  their  I  niies,  but  fully  as  iiiikIi.  if  not  more 
so,  at  least  so  far  iis  llie  younjjf  are  conceriie<|,  as  the  (ireat  lloi-.ied  Owls. 
The   souii;i  owlets   when   fust   hatched  are    eovcred  with   a   thitl'v  wliitt*  down 


ai 


id 


{,"' 


()W 


rapidly.     When  about  a   wi'ck   njd   tiie  first  pinfeathers  commei 


ice 


to  show  on  the  wiiijis  and   liack,  while  at  the  aye  of  a  month  thev  are  fiiirK 


ell   feathered  tliroiiyliout,  the  plimiiijic  iieiny  of  a  very  loose  and  soft  striic 
the  primaries  beiiiy  aiinut   half  the  iiormtd  si/.e,   but    the  tail  feathers  are 


w 


til  re 


(•oiTespondinyly  miicii  slimter  and  still   liiddeii  by   the  down.      I   bidieve  they 


ar<^  a 


bh'  t< 


ive  tl 


nest    wlieli    :ili.illt    six    wceivs   o 


Id. 


"Their  food  consist^  of  the  siii;iiler  maiiiiniils,  sm  !i  as  liibbits,  sipiirrels, 


gophers,  rats  and,  mice,  as  well  ;i 
tiineH  I'titch  snakes  and  Wn'^x.  Tl 
far  more  beiieliciid  than  otherwise 


fis 


and  ciiivvfish,  and 


beli 


tl 


lev   some 


ley   raielv    ciiptiiit 


bildr^ 


iioiiltrv 


Iti 


iKl  are 


li 


II  I'll 


I'l. 


iridii    iiiditlcjitiiiii   occasioiiiillv 


taki'-'    III; 


ice    111     December 


but  more  frei|ueiitl\  ill  .liiminiy,  Mr.  .1.  !''.  Meiiye  writing  me  thiit  he  had  found 
two  nests  with  VHiiiiji-  (III  l''ei)rii;iry  l.'"!,  iH'.Mi,  in  the  \i'liiity  of  .Myers,  l.ee 
Coiintv,  I'loridii.  One  of  these  (  onfiiiiied  a  single  yoiiny  liird,  the  other  two, 
nearly  full  jrrown  :iiid  alioiit  reiidv   to  leave  the  nest. 

in  soutlieiii   l-oiiiHiiiiiji   Mr.  (i.    Iv    Ueyer  ioimd    Miiired    Owls,    which    are 
probablv  referable  to  tliis  race,  nesting'  ''arly  in   .Miinh,  mid   liiyin^;   from  tw.i 


THE  KLOUIDA  BAItKKD  OWL. 


343 


to  four  <'<<:<<;>*,  while  in  Lim>  (^>iiiity,  Tcxiis,  accor(liii}j^  tn  Mr.  J.  A.  Sini^ley,  they 
iire  the  coiiiiiuiiiest  Owls  Idiiiul  in  that  part  ot"  the  State.  Here  it  Mest.«  ii.siially 
in  the  latter  liali  oi  Kehrnary  or  the  first  week  in  March,  luul  it  Heen»«  to  lay 
hut  two  efi^ffs,  (•orri--|ionilin;f  in  this  res|»eet  to  the  Florida  birds.  In  seven- 
teen nests  found  l»y  I'iui,  none  containefl  more  than  that  number  of  eggs  or 
ycunig.  The  eavities  in  wliieii  theses  ( )w!s  nested  were  of  various  depths  and 
dimensions,  some  of  tjiem  fully  "i  feet  deep  and  l'>  inches  in  dianietep,  others 
ipiite  sliallow,  not  over  1(»  inches  deep.  The  eggs  are  deposited  at  intervals 
of  several  days,  and  incniiation  seems  to  begin  with  the  first  egg  laid. 

The  eggs  of  the  Florida  Barred  ( hvl  are  very  similar  in  color  and  shape 
to  those  of  the  connuoM  ISai-red  Owl;  one  of  the  s|)eciinens  before  nu-  is  a 
perfect  ovate.  The  average  measurement  of  eight  eggs  of  this  subspecies 
from  Florida,  all  collected  by  Dr.  Kalph,  is  ol.l  by  42.7  millinu-tres,  the  hirg- 
e.st  measuring  ").'{.'»  by  4(i,  the  smallest  47..'{  l»y  4(H.;,  wiile  the  average  meas- 
urement of  fifteen  eggs  of  this  race  from  Texas,  iS  iH.tt  by  41. r»  millimetres., 
and  judging  from  the  small  number  of  F'-.iida  specimens  before  me,  the.se,  in 
this  instance  at  least,  average  larger  than  the  eggs  oi'  tho  ('<»nnuoii  Barr?d  Owl. 


ii6.     Syrnium  occidentale  Xantis. 
,si'orn:i>  owi,. 

Sj/niiiit)!  ofiiili  iiliih    Xanti's   i '>•()(  •('I'll  ill  its  Ai'iiileiny  Niitunil  Sficiut's,  Phila.,  1850,  l',»U. 

(H  -,  ('  :i','t.  li  :i!t.s.  C  4;.s,  U  :itiit.) 

(iRooHAiMiicAr.  KANOK:  Ill^liltiiiils  ol'  Mexico;  nnrtii  ti)  .southern  Colonido,  New 
Mexico,  Ari/.oiia.  (Jiilirornia.  aixi  Livver  California. 

The  range  of  Si/r  liiiii  mi  iilnitulr,  rhe  western  re|>resentative  of  the  Marred 
Owl,  and  a  somewhat  darker  colo,ed  bird,  as  far  as  is  known  at  prest-nt,  extends 
through  the  mountain  regions  of  ( 'aliforuia,  south  to  Ari/.ona,  thence  t-ast  to 

New  Mexico,  and  north  to  .soutiarn  ( 'olorailo.      it   lias  also  I n  met  with  in 

liio  mountains  of  Lower  ( 'aliforuia  and  extends  southward  over  the  higher 
table-lands  of  .Mexico  to  ( iiianajuato,  latitude  21  \ 

Mr.  Xaiitus,  one  itf  the  pioneer  naturalists  of  the  Pacific  coast,  discoveretl 
the  Spotted  <  hvl  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  T'-jon,  California,  in  the  southern  Sierra 
Nevada  .Moiiiitaiiis,  and  descriiied  '1  in  the  I'loceediugs  of  the  .\cailemy  of  Nat- 
lU'al  Sciences  of  I'liiladelphia  in  IS.'i!).  This  specimen  remained  uniipie  until  1 
found  the  bird  again  in  the  spring  of  isT-J,  in  the  vicinity  of  Whipple's  Station, 
.s(ane  Id  miles  iiortliwest  of  Tucson,  .\rizona.  Since  thee,  it  ha;,  been  met  with 
in  other  places  in  the  West,  iiiit  it  does  not  apjiear  to  be  an  abundant  species 
ahvwhere,  i'X«'ept  perhaps  in  Calaveras  County,  California,  where  Mr.  I,.  Held- 
ing  reports  it  common  in  summer  and  perhaps  in  winter.  According  to  his 
observations  it  freipieiits  tiie  den.scst  parts  of  the  lir  forests.  On  .liiiie  1,'{,  ISM'J, 
a  male  and  female  wer<  sliot  together  in  the  early  evi-ning.'  Mr.  K.  U.  Ilerron 
also  olttained  a  specimen  midway  between  San  I  Hego  and  Uiveiside,  in  south- 
en  California  in  the  fall  of   |SS,-». 


;'•* 


'  lli'lilitiK'H  ItinlHoi  Ui»  I'ttrilii'  District,  l-'M),  |i.  4t). 


344 


LIFE  UISTOKIES  OF  NOUTII  AMHRK^AN  BlliDB. 


;*  -i.. 


iilf; 


Til*-  Spottfil  Owl  i.s  niaiiily  iinctiiniiil  in  its  liiilnts,  aixl  is  rarely  s<m-ii  in  tli«3 
tlaytinii*.  It  may  lit-  niiit-h  more  coiiinioii  in  snitalth*  lixalitics  tlian  is  •I'iMicraliy 
sii|)|i*is('(l,  and  as  it  st-enis  to  Ik'  alnmst  entirely  eonlineil  to  the  thinly  settled 
nioinitain  rei<;ions  ot  the  West,  its  present  rarity  is  easily  aeeonnted  for. 

Very  little  is  as  yet  known  ot"  its  j^'eneral  hahits.  I  aeeidentally  stnnihled 
on  this  Itird  and  its  nest  while  en  ronte  troni  I'ieaeho  I'eak  to  my  eani|i  on 
Uillitto  Creek,  near  Whipple's  Station,  on  April  17,  lH~f2.  My  attention  was 
first  drawn  to  the  nest  iiy  one  ol"  my  men,  wlio  noticed  a  Itird  sittiii};  on  it. 
Uappin^  on  the  trnnk  of  the  tree  it  tiew  into  the  liranches  of  another  close  liy, 
from  which  1  shot  it.  (hi  |)ickin^  it  M|)  I  snpposed  it  to  lie  a  common 
Uarred    Owl,   and  only    on  my    return   to  camp  did    I    reali/.e  the  pri/.e  I  had 


secured;   it  was  too  much  miiiilated,  howexer,  to  make 


d  sk 


in. 


ho  iie.st 


'PI 


It. 


leareil  to  \v\ 


t<.  1 


)e  a  new  one,  liiiilt  \*\  the  Itirds  themseUes;   it  was  alioiit.'l*) 


feet  from  the  ground  and  placed  in  a  fork  close  to  the  trunk  of  a  lar;i<t  and 
liiisliy  Cottonwood  free  taiidiiifi'  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  ■••rove  of  youiifier  trees 
tif  the  same  speci«'s.  It  was  composed  of  sticks,  twi}fs,  and  the  dry  inner  liark 
of  the  cottonwonil,  lim  .1  with  some  dry  ^jrass  and  a  few  feathers.     The  inner 


cavitv   was  aooiit 


inches   ileel). 


111! 


1  the   nest    it.self  alioiit    the   si/.e  of  that   of 


the  larji'er  Hawks.  It  was  readily  seen  from  lielow,  lint  not  easily  oliser\ed 
a  little  ilistance  away,  the  foliajie  of  the  tree  liidiii;^  it  pretty  ellectnally.  Some 
few   weeks  later  I   saw  a  iiair  ot' these  liirds  in  the  same  viciiiit\    and  .secured 


th 


another 


I  several  times  heard  the  calls  of  what  I  snpiM^sed  to  he  this  species, 
in  March  of  the  following;  year,  anion;.''  the  tall  timlier  near  my  lamp,  and  I 
lielieve  the  Spotted  <  >w I  is  not  uncommon  in  that  part  of  .\ri/.ona.  As  lu-ar  as 
I  reiiiemlier,  their  call  notes  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  IJarrcd  ( >wl,  con- 
sistiiifi'  of  a  series  of  contimions  and  far  reacliiii;;'  liootin^s. 

I  iM'liev*'  it  nests  in  cavities  of  trees  as  well  as  in  open  nests,  and  that  like 
the  Haired  ()wl,  it  lays  from  two  to  fmir  eji;;s  to  a  set.  Nidilication  seems  to 
take  place  in  Aj.ril,  somewhat  later  than  that  of  the  latter  species. 

.Mr.  <>.('.  I'oliii;,'-  writes  me:  "1  discovered  ;;  nest  and  four  newly  hatched 
ytani;,''  of  the  Spotted  Owl  in  the  foothills  amoii^i'  the  oaks  at  the  northern  end 
of  th<'    llnachiica    .Mountains  in    .\ri/.ona.     This   was  on    .Mav  2'.\,  |M!M).      Itoih 


lareiits  wt'ie  dose  to   th<-  nest   and   look   little   not 


•1 

close  to  them.      The   iiest 
from   the  "■roiinil." 


ice    o 


f  n 


itproaclh'ii 


was  smiiilv  a 


irve 


■ilvit 


\   111  an   oa 


k     ilioiit     In    feet 


Tl 


le  siimle  e"-'' 


lief 


ore    I 


lie,  taken   from   the 


<t  found 


on 


il   17,  lS7-> 


alroailv  meiifioiu'd,  was  fresh;    it  is  oval  in  sliaiie  and  iiiire  white  in  color.     Th 


shell  is  sliyhtK'  "ranulated  ami  shows  lint  little  ylo 


It  measures  ."ii 


liv  i: 


millimetres,  iiiid,  as   it    is    \eiy   similar   to   the  e<'ji'   of  the    liaried    <>wl,  is   not 
ligured. 


TUli  IIUKAT  UUAV  OWL. 


345 


117.     Scotiaptex  cinerea  ((Smkun). 


•  iHKAT   (iUAY    nWI,. 

Slri.r  rinirfii  (Imumn,  Syslfinu  Miilmic.  1.  i,  ITHS,  •.>!)1. 
Sciiliiiiitir  rim  n  II  Swainson.  Cliissilical  ion  i>f  Minis,  11,  lM:i7.  vMT. 

(I!  Vl.  ('  :i.'-.>.  U  :i!i'.i.  ('  1:1.  r  :i:(p.) 

(iROflKAlMIICAI.   KAN'dK:    Kol't  licl'll  Nnrlil  Allli'l'lc  M,  Siilll  li  ill  W  illliT  to  I  he  ll<irtll*'l'll 

Ixinlcr  of  llic  lIiiittHl  Sliili's. 


'I'lut  hri'ctliii^f  riiiiuc  iit'  tlic  (irml  (Jray  <  ^vl  is  (•(HiliiU'il  |iriii(i|iiill\'  to  tli 


iiinr 


'<;  iiortlii-ni  rcuiniis  ol  iIh-  Ninth  Aiiiri'iniii  roiitiiKnt,  I'nuii  the  si 


I  Mrs  of  1 1  III 


siiii  Hay  north  to  the  hinit  of  tinilu'i-  in  nlioiit  hititinh'  lis  .  ||  is  rr|iiirt«Ml  foiii- 
inon  throiiirhoiit  tlic  t'lir  roiiiitry  iiiii!  thr  iiitiiior  >it  Ahiskn,  iiml  liiis  also  Ihtii 
iiirt  with  l)\  l>rs.  (!oo|ifr  ami  NrHlirny  in  iliU'iiriit  parts  of  liic  I'aiilic  niast. 
'I'lif  foi'iiK'i-  olisi-rvt'il  it  iirar  thf  month  of  tli*'  Cohiiiiltia  Wivcr  in  .liiiii',  ami 
olitaiiicil  a  s|iiTiim>M  at  the  time,  whirli  woiilil  ri-rtaiiily  imlirati-  that  it  iiii^ht 
liriTil  ill  the  vicinity,  wliiir  tin"  lattrr  is  saiil  to  havi'  oIisitvciI  it  as  far  soiilh  as 
Satiainriilo  N'allcy  in  Calilornia,  as  wi-ll  as  in  tin-  ( 'ascailc  .Mountains,  tlif  1  >fs 
('liiiti-s  Itasin,  ami  on  tin-  (!oliniil)ia  UImi',  in  ( >ri-<^'oii.  iMiriii;;'  an  t-xti-mU-il 
tour  of  iliity  in  various  paits  of  ( )rc<;'on,  Washin^^ton,  ami  lilalio,  I  faihil  to 
ini'ft  with  this  s]n'fii's  at  any  tiiiir  of  thr  vcar.  It  is  inoi'i-  or  li-ss  riiijirator\' 
<ltn'in<>'  thi'  wintrr,   ami   iniirli    iiion-  alnimlantK    init    witli  alon;^'  oiir  iioi'thrrn 


I  Mini 


t-r  III   sonic  seasons 


than   others,     'riic  winter  of  jss'.l-'lHt  was  a    iiotalih 


instance,  ami  i|nite  a  niiinlier  ot  these  oirils  were  caplnreil  or  seen  in  sai'ioiis 
parts  ol'  tile  New  l')n;;'laiiit  States,  Noihinu'  new  respectiiiji'  the  nestin;^  haiiits 
of  this  ( )wl  has  Iteeii  reionleil  within  recent  \ears. 

In  the  "History  of  North  Ainerii-an  Uinls,"  1S74  (Vol.  111,  pp.  ;{•_•.  ;i.'{), 
it  is  stated:  "On  the  'i.'iil  of  May.  I  h-.  Uicli.irilson  iliscovereil  a  nest  of  this 
Owl  hnilt  on  the  top  of  a  lofty  lialsain  poplar,  composeil  of  sticks  with  a 
liiiinji'  of  feathers.  It  contain. il  three  yoiiiiji'  liirils  covereil  with  whitish 
down 


»      «     » 


in    SI 


"Mr.    l>onalil  (iinin   writes  that   the  ( 'ineremis  ( )wl    is  to  lie  toiniil    liotli 
iininer  ami   winter  tliroimhoiit    all    the  cunntrv    coininonK'   known  as  the 


llml.son  Ua\   Territory,      lie  -tate-  that  it   hunts  liy  niplit,  preys  upon  raliliil..^ 


ami   nine 


ami  msts  in 


t:>ll 


popl.ir  trees,   nsiialK    ipiile  early    in   the  sea 


Mr.  \i.  .Mad'arlane,  in  his  "Notes  on  the  L.iml  ami  Sea  Itinls  of  the  Lower 


Mackenzie  L'iver  histiict, 


.a\: 


I  slioiilil  mil  sa\   that  tliis(h\l  was  in   •■'•reat 


alinmlaiice'  in  the  .\mlerson  Kixir  rejrioii,  as  inailxerteiitly  stated  on  pa;,'e 
;{;{,  vohinie  III,  of  the  History  of  North  .Vniericin  Minis."  We  ceriaiiil) 
olitained  \eiy  few  specimens,  and  we  foiiml  Init  one  not  (which  is  referred 
to  in  the  same  |iara;:'raph),  on  the  i'.itli  of  July.  LsiiJ,  near  the  Lockhart 
Kiver  on  t!ie  ronle  to  I'ort  (lood  Hope;  it  was  linili  on  a  spruce  pine  tree 
at  a  height  <if  alioiil  l'<1  feet  and  was  cnmposed  of  twies  und  mosses,  thinly 
lined  with  feathers  ami  down.  It  contaiiied  two  e^-^s  and  two  \iiiiiin',  huth 
(if  which  had  lateK  died.  'The  female  h  It  the  next  .it  oiir  approach  and  tiew 
to  another  tre>     it   .•^onie  distance,   where  she   was  >lioi  " 


I;  |"!f 


346 


LIKK  HISTORlKa  OK  NOUTll  AMKIIICAN   lUUDS. 


From  tlic  limited  iiit'ormatioii  we  possess  iilioiit  tlie  iH'stiii;r  iialtits  of 
thin  8|M'fi»^s  it.  iii)iH'iirs  tliaf  in  Alaskii  tlirsc  l>ir<ls  nest  sonn'tiiiirs  as  early  as 
April,  ami  ii>  tlie  iiiterinr  as  latit  as  tlie  midtUe  of  .lime.  Krom  two  to  four 
o^^s  seem  to  he  laid  to  a  set,  aud  these  are  small  for  the  si/e  of  the  itird. 
The  itody  of  the  (ireat  (SraN'  Owl  is,  however,  miirh  smaller  than  that  ot 
thu  (irutit  Horned  Owl,  in  furl  lint  little  lar;>-er  than  thiit  of  the  Harred  Owl 
Thu  loii^  tail  and  the  loose  llntVy  plnma^'e  of  the  liird  make  it  look  nnicli 
hirj^er  than  it  really  is, 

The  e<r<rs  are  dull  white  in  color  with  Imt  little  luster,  and  the  shell  is 
roii^hl)  ;ri'annlated.  in  shajie  they  are  In-oatl  elli|itieal  o\al,  not  as  loimdo)] 
U8  ejfffs  of  species  lielon;iinjf  to  the  ^Tfiirra  Sfirtiiiini  and    Hiilm. 

The  average  meiisiiremeiit  of  nine  ••^'•^fs  in  the  l'.  S.  National  Museum 
collection  is  "ifi  hy  \\  millimetres,  the  lar^.'esf  ej^jf  measuriiiff  r»7  liy  44. fi 
the  smallest  .").'{.')   Iiy    \'2  millimetres. 

The  type  specimen.  No  10J77  (IM.  I  "J,  Kij,'-.  .">),  iVom  a  set  of  two,  wuh 
collectetl  liy  Mr.  J.  Silihiston,  near    Kort    Yukon,  Alaska,  in   April,  !S(i4. 


m 


Ii8.     Scotiaptex  ciriRrea  lapponica  (Kkt/iis). 

I.AI'l-    OWI,. 

Strir  hipiioniio  Kktzits,  Fauna  Sufcica.  Isdii.  rn. 

Sciitiaiil'.r  rimriit  lupiioiiiriiiii  Kll)(iWAY,  Mamiiii   North  .Aiiicricaii  Hinls.  1SH7,  p.  aOO. 

(H— .  (!  -.  U.l!i!t.(,  (*  ir:..  IJ  :iTo.i.) 

OKooKArilK'.vi.  KANOK:  NortinTii  |)cirticiiis  >)(  Karn|M>  anil  Asia.  straf^KlinK  ♦" 
western  .\laska  (sliorcs  of  Ncirlmi  Snuml). 

The  Lapp  Owl,  a  lifjhter  coloreil  liiid  tlum  the  (Jreat  ( Jray  Owl,  claims 
a  place  in  om-  iivifauna  on  the  strength  of  a  sin^r],!  specimen,  :iii  adult  female, 
hrouffht  to  Mr.  L.  .M  'rurner,  frt»m  the  Yukon  hidta,  .\pril  l.'"i,  ISTC,  while 
he  was  on  duty  as  I'nited  States  .Si^rn-d  oiiserver  at  St.  .Michael.  Aliiskn.  It 
w;is  said  to  lie  ipiite  rare,  hut  he  tailed  to  learn  anything,'  re^jindin^  its  hal)its, 
and  it  ma\,  po>silil\,  lireed  in  small  nmnliers  in  the  northern  portions  of 
Aliiska. 

Dresser,  in  speiikiuii  ol  tiiis  species,  says:  "This,  one  of  tiie  rarest  of  th«' 
(►wis  inhal»itin;r  the  I'ala-arctic  re^j-ion,  is  almost  eutii'i'ly  coutined  to  the  moro 
lioreal  di.stri(  ts,  where  it  is  a  resident  in  the  upper  portions  of  the  torest  belt, 
hut  i\irel>.- strai.';rlinu' down  into  the  northern  parts  of  central  Kurope.      "      *     • 

"The  lil'st  puhlislied  notice  of  tlie  lireedin;^"  of  the  present  species  appears 
to  lie  that  conimunicated  liy  .Mr.  ( '.  <i.  Liiweiiliielm,  who  stales  (K,  N'el.  Ak. 
Ii:iiidl.  I^l.t,  p.  .'ts!i)  that  'the  nest  was  in  a  dense  pine  wood  on  a  stiniip, 
about  .'J  ells  liio'li,  ill  the  top  of  which  a  hollow  had  lieeii  formed  liy  the 
wood  ha\in;^'  rotted  In  the  nest  was  one  white  ejr^  ahout  the  si/.e  of  that 
of  the  Kae'le<>wl;  and  at  the  font  ol  the  stiimji  another  fiMi  >>as  on  moiuu 
moss,  (piite  uninjured.' 


TUH  LAI'l'  OVVIi. 


347 


"Siil>s('(|ii('iitly,  Mr.  Wnllcy  ol>tiiint'<l  its  •';»■<;«  in  Kcmi  l/.|i|)iiiai-k  in  iHad, 
and  Hiiys  ((  Kltli.  Wollfvunii,  \t.  \T,\)  that  'tlu^  nest  was  nn  llir  t<i|i  of  a  Itrokt'ii 
trunk  of  a  Scnti-li  lir,  tlii'  main  part  ul'  wliicli  Inni^r  ilown;  Itiit  from  tiic  dc- 
s«M-i|itiiin,  I'ii-ty  lliinks  tlicrt>  was  sonu*  iild  n**st  tlicrr.  lie  ilofs  not  nMnt-niltfr 
sc<-in;r  any   nest    niailc     It   was  not   lii;r|i   n|),   sonu-  2   latlionis,    |M-rlia|)s;   hut 


those  whicii    ht^   has   seen   hcl 


ori'  were 


not    inon-    than    I    t'athoin    hi<>h.      I'i 


Hi 


top  oi'  the  tree  wlicri'   it   was    hrokt-n   olV  was  not    IcmI,    ImiI    it   hail  a  ^rrut 


Hpinitt-r  on  one  si<h> 


riu'  Itirds 


very    Itold  at   the    ni'st   and    tin-  vr\   of 


thi'  rock  attracts  peoph'  to  the  nest.  I'hc  cry  is  thn-r  notes  drawn  ont,  iho 
first  liardfst,  tlic  second  li;>'hter  and  short,  tlie  thinl  li^rjitest  ami  longest  of  all, 
"Ini,  hii,  Ini-n-n.'"  Another  nest,  taken  at  Mnoniovara  on  the  '>th  of  April, 
ISfiT,  was,  he  adds,  'made  of  sticks  and  all  kinds  of  stiill'  inside,  aliout  .'(A 
fathoms  lii-^h  up  in  a  lai';ie  Scotch  lir,  where  it  is  di\ided  into  several  f^reat 
forks.'  It  was  not  like  a  ne>v  nest,  and  he  descriltes  it  'as  aitout  '2  feet  in 
thickness.' 

"I  possess  several  cfi'^i's  ol  this  ()wl  recei\i'd  from  Mr.  Wolley's  col- 
lectors in  Lapland,  which  are  pnre  white  and  resendih-  the  e^;';is  of  the  Snowy 
Owl,  Itnt  appear  a  ti'itle  less  smooth  on  the  snrfaie  of  the  shell.  In  si/.e  they 
vary  from  2,',,  l»y  li',',  to.J,'„  liy  ij';!  inches  [eipial  to  aliont  ."il.."i  liy  V2.1  and 
,^•4  i»y  •.'(.II  millimetres  I"' 

The  mnniier  ol'  t-<X'^s  laid  at  a  dntch  is  not  stated,  lint  is  prolialdy  Irtim 
two  to  lour. 

A  set  of  two  ejf^fs,  No.  ftiJ-'J,  l'  S.  National  Mnsenm  collection,  taken  in 
iSlil,  near  'I'epasto,  Kinland,  >\ere  presented  to  the  Mnsenm  Ity  the  eminent 
Kiifilish  natnralist,  Mi-  .\.  Newton.  These  specimens  are  nearly  oval  in  shape, 
pure  white  in  color.  sli;;lill\  ;;lo>s\ ,  and  the  shell  is  roiiM-hlx-  ornmdated.  Tlie\ 
measure  ,"il  l>v  l.'l.,")  and  ;")l..'i  li\  l"_'  millimetres.  None  of  the  i'j;';.;s  are  (injured, 
iis  they  resendile  those  of  the  pncedin;;  species  very  closely,  except  that  they 
ur«>  a  little  smaller. 


i 


|f         t 


'    I 


1i 


iig.     Nyctala  tengmalmi  richardsoni  (Uonm-xhti:). 

IJMII Aimsos's  OVVI,. 

A'//'/ii/'    riihitnlsiiiii   Ho\  Ai' viMK.  <  Ji'iii{r;i|iliic.il  ami  ( "iiin|t.ii-.iti\i'  Livt,  is.'is.  7. 
Sijvliili    It  iiiiiiKiliiii  var.    liihiirilsiiiii   ItiixiWAV,   .Vliicrii-.tii  Naturalist,  VI.  is;-.',  -.'S.'J, 

(li  .•..•..  ('  I.T.  II  liKi.  (•  |s.>.  I'  :i:i.| 

( iKoiiitAi'iili'Ai.  KAMiK  Nnrllnrii  Nuiili  .Xiiiiriiii;  siiiitli,  ill  vviiiti'r.  Ici  iKirllimi 
horder  ul'  ilj.'  rnilid  St.itcs. 

The  little  Itichardson's  ( >vvl  is  an  iiitialiitant  of  the  more  lioi'eiil  portions 
of  the  Norlli  American  coiitinent,  and.  witli  the  escepiion  ol'  .Maska,  lineds, 
as  far  as  known  at   jiii-seiit,  oiilv   north  of  tli<'   I'liiird  .St.ite.s.      |-iven   in  winter 


I  I'ri-nni'r'H  »li»tiii>  ">r  Oil'  Hiiih  ul  Kiini|ir,  V  ..I    \ .  |i|i  •.•-.•,  -Jk:!." 


348 


LIKI<:  IIIHTOKIIOS  UF  NOUTII  A.MKUIdAN  ItlUDS. 


}h:^  -H- 


M 


<■  i.i 


'•  '<% 


r.r. 


it  must  111'  CKiisidi  red  iis  nitlicr  ;i  rnrc  visitur  to  niir  lionltTs.  Mr.  ("liiiili's  H. 
Cory  r«'|Mirts  it  as  IiicimHii^'  mi  liif  .\la;,'(liil(iic  Islmuls,  (iulf  nf  St.  Liiwrciirt', 
itiiil  Mr.  'rii(iiii|isi)U  ;>'ivcs  it  as  n'sidciit  in  .Maiiitolia.' 

Ill  eastern  N.»rtli  America  it  is  |inssil»ly  a  very  rare  re.siileiit  tVnm  latitiule 
Id  '  N.,  ami  mtrllnvanl,  lieitniiiii;;-  more  alniiulaiit  as  hi^iier  latitudes  are  reailied 
III  tlie  iiitei'ior  ir  is  re|M)ited  as  cimimoii  on  tlie  iiaiiks  nl'  the  Saskateliewaii,  in 
latitude  ■»;{  ,  and  readies  tlieiice  iinrllnvard  at  least  to  Fort  Siiii|ison  nil  tlie 
.Maekeii/.ie  |{i\er,  and  its  raii;i'e  is  dniilttless  niexti'iisive  with  the  timliei-  lielt. 
It  a|i|iears  to  he  very  roimiioii  aixiiit  <ii'eat  Slave  Lake,  s|ieeime!is  haxinir  Iteeii 
received  from  nil  the  ditlereiit  liudsoii  Itay  ('oiii|iaiiy  posts  loiiated  oii  its  shores. 

.Mr.  I{.  MaeKarlaiie  states:  "This  ( )wl,  or  a  liird  eloseh  aiisweriiij;  to 
the  desrription,  was  ie|ieatedly  olisei\ed  ill  the  loiintry  hetwcen  Kort  (iood 
Hope  and  the   Aiiileisoii    l{i\er,   .Vrctie  Aiiieriia." 

.Mr.  hall  olitaiiied  a  female  speeimeii  of  this  ( )w  I  at  Niilato,  .Vlaska,  April 
*_'H,  where  it  was  not  iiiH-ominun.  It  was  often  heard  eryiii;,'-  in  the  e\(iiin;;s 
almost  like  a  human  lieiii;^',  and  was  (piite  fearless.  It  eoiild  lie  readilx  taken 
ill  the  liaml  without  its  makiii;;'  anv  attem|it  to  tly  away,  luit  it  had  a  lialiit 
of  liitin;r  viciously.  .Vccordiii;r  to  tjie  Indians  it  ^■•eiierallx  nests  in  holes  in 
dead    trees,  and   lavs  six   ^pherical    white  eiit;'s.'-' 

l''rom  the  foie^oiii;;  accoimls  it  appears  to  have  pretty  milch  the  sjime 
haliits  as  its  near  relative,  Siiilnh  niniliiii.  I  have  picked  up  one  of  these 
iiirds  while  perched  in  a  wild  rose  thicket  near  Camp  Ilarne\,  ((region.  It 
was  fat  and  in  a  tine  condition,  and  did  not  appear  to  see  me  approadiin;:'. 
Several  others  were  caii^iht  l»y  some  of  my  men  iimler  similar  circumstances, 
and   I   can  only  atlriliiite  it  to  tiieir  poor  eyesifiiit  diirin;.;-  the  daytime.      From 


Its   strictiv    nocturnal 


haliit 


s   as    we 


■*ize    It    is    very    ,'i| 


it     to     li 


overlooked,  even  ill  localities  where  it  nuiv  lie  lather  cominoii.      It  is  a  liardv 


hinl  ami   wt 


11 


adapted    to  eiiilure  excessiv 


Nelson  says  of  |{i(  liardsoii's  (>wl:  'In  one  instance,  while  at  the  Viikoii 
month,  I  heard  them  ulterin;r  a  peculiar  ^iratiii;;'  ci-y  on  a  eloiidv  niorii- 
iii;;'  ill  the  middle  of  .Miy.  .\  fur  trader  from  Kotlick  liroii;jht  me  a  set  ol 
four    fresli   ey"s   ot'   this    hird,    taken    from  a   nest   in  a   liiish   near  the   ^'ukoll 


iiioiith  on  the  1st  of  .liiiii'.  These  e;:';is  Were  white  and  round,  as  are  most 
Owls"  e;i-;;s.  Tile  mail  who  l)|oil;;iit  them  IlllfortUliatel  V  lie;ilected  to  Itiill^ 
llie  nest.  Iiiit  he  told  me  that  it  was  rather  a  small  >lnicture  of  twi;is  and 
^ir.iss.  It  was  piohalily  a  de.serted  nest  of  the  common  l{u>tv  Mlackliird  or 
ol  the  ( I  ray-cheeked  Thrush,  liotli  of  which  iiesi  commoiilv  in  that  vii'initv. 
The   e;;-;;s    Were   found    ill    the    midst    iif  a    den>e    liiicket. 


hall  ami  others  tell   us  iIimI   tlii>   ImiiI 


icnerallv    nests   III 


hoi 


e   III  ;l  tree 


liiit  the  lack  of  tri'cs  at  the  ^'llknll  i itli  and  the   presence  of  laisliv  tiiiikeis 

may   lead   this  liird    to  eveii   liiiild   a    nest    fir  itself,  ami   the   fur  trader   insisted 
that  the  e;i';rs  ahove  mentioned  Were  ilia  iiest  of  tile  liii'd'sowii  construction."' 

'('liiiiiiliitrlniii'H  (iiiiiiiIkiii  llitiln,  InHT.  p.  la. 

•' lliwiory  lit  Niiiili  Aiiiiiii  .111  lliiili.  1-71,  Vnl.  ni.  p.  M. 

' Mi'port  of  .Niiiiiiul  lli-.iiii\  rnlli'i'iiiiiH  iiiii'li'  ill  Ahiskii,  I-"*.  Nn.  ;i.  p.  l.M. 


KU'llAUI»«ON'8  OWL. 


34y 


Tlircc  iif  tlm  f^iTH  rcrcrnMl  to  l)y  Mr.  Ntdsoii  aro  now  in  tlm  II.  S.  National 
Musniin  coilcction,  ant!  Mifasurc,  n'spfctivcly,  ;{'■)  Ity  '.i'lJ),  3!t  Ity  'MJt,  anil 
JJH,.')  Ity  ,'l2.r>  niiliiincfrcs. 

'I'lii'  ojfffH  of  tlui  Olil  \Vt>rl(l  form,  X/fclnlr  IrHiinnilmi,  a  H|MH'it!H  (rlo«»ly 
related  to  Uiclianlson's  Owl,  liut  a  trillc  lijilitcr  colonil,  and  wliicli,  like  tluf 
lia|)|)  ami  Hawk  Owls,  is  also  likely  lo  occur  in  Alaska,  measure,  according; 
to  Seeliohm,  from  .'{1,7  to  M\  millimetres  in  IcMi^jtli  and  from  2().(I  to  27.1) 
millimetres  in  lireadtli.  'I'liere  sliould  l»e  little  or  no  diU'iuHduH'  in  the  rela- 
tive si/.e  of  llie  r;ij,'s  of  these  Ifirds.  Like  ours,  'renj^niahu's  Owl  is  |»rin- 
eipally  confined  to  timbered  re^rions,  and  is  said  to  nest  in  uutural  hollowc* 
of  trees  or  the  excavations  of  the    Mlack    Woodpecker. 

The  information  olttained  liy  hall  from  Indians,  wliosi;  testimony  is  not 
usually  very  relialde,  is  in  this  instance  |»rolialily  entirely  correct,  and  I 
think  if,  as  Mr.  15.  K.  lioss  states,  this  Owl  nests  in  trees  "that  is,  in  an 
open  nest,"  it   will   i)e  found   the  exception  and   nut   the  rule. 

The  only  ;;enuine  ei;'^''s  iif  U'icliardsun's  ( >wl  in  the  \^.  S.  National 
Museinn  cullection  are  ihice  collected  l»y  .Mr.  IJoss,  at  l''ort  Simpson  on  the 
Mackenzie  Ui'cr,  in  latitude  (12^  N.,  on  .May  I,  iSdl.  .\s  there  appear  t(» 
he  no  memoranda  slmwin;;  the  exact  niamier  in  which  these  <  ^''f's  were 
obtained  liy  him,  it  is  liki-ly  that  they  were  either  taken  from  a  cavity  in, 
or  iVom  an  open  nest  on,  a   tree. 

The  eff^rs  descrilied  liy  .Mr.  Nelson,  and  previously  referred  to,  aro  uufjues- 
tionalily  those  ot  the  .\nierican  Hawk  (►wl;  they  are  ali.solMtely  indistiiiffuish- 
alde  and  altoj^ether  too  lar^je  lor  tiie  species  inider  consideration,  liow  close 
they  come  to  the  e;.'";is  of  the  former  will  lie  seen  liy  a  comparison  of  the  aver- 
ajfe  measurement  of  thirty-two  specimens  now  in  the  V.  S.  National  .Museum 
collection,  which  is  .'{ll.>"(  liy   .'U..')  millimetres. 

Seelinhm,  ill  speakiii;^'  of  Teii;;iiialiirs  ( )\\  1,  says:  '.'This  liird  is  a  very 
early  lireeiler,  and  even  in  latitude  (17  N.,  \Vlieilwii;:lit's  e;,';;s  went  all 
taken  lietweeii  the  2<\  and  l.itli  of  .May;  whilst  at  .Mnoiiiovara,  a  de;,--!-!'!'  still 
farther  lo  the  north,  Wollry  olitaiiied  e;^;;:.  Iielweeii  the  |sih  of  .May  and 
■Jd  of  dune,  ami  nccived  them  from  a  little  failher  iinrih  lielweeii  the  Isf 
and  27lli  of  .Imie.  Wlieelwrijiiit  descrilies  its  call  note  as  a  very  musical 
.soft  whistle,  never  heard  exce|it  ill  'le  '■\eiiiiiH-  :inil  at  ni;^hl.  its  food  cmi- 
sisls  of  mice,    lieelles,   ami   small   liinU."' 

lake  tlm  precediii;;-,  IJichardsiin's  Owl  is  an  early  iireeder  and  nests 
prohaliK'  at  alioiii  the  same  time  mi  cnrrespdiidiiiii'  latitudes.  The  numlier  of 
ejrcr.s  liiid  is  likely  the  same,  from  liu'ee  to  seven.  These  are  pure  white  ill 
cidor,  oval   in  shape:   the  sludl    is  smooth,  close  ;;'rained,  ami  shows  liiit   little 

lush'f. 

Tlie  three  specimens  in  ill"  l'.  S.  National  .Mu.seum  collection  measure, 
respeclivelv,   .'5.i   liv  27.."),  .'52   hv  27..">,   and  .'U    by   27   niillimetres. 

The  tvpe,  Ntt.  ftWH  (IM.  12,  Vi<x.  (I),  is  one  of  the  above  mentioned 
specimens. 

'  lli»ti>r.v  .if  UriliHli  Ilirib,  .Si-.-lioliin,  |sm:I,  Vol.  I,  pp.  lfU,lts^. 


! 

li 


,M1 


11 


t' 

f 


i 


350 


LIFK  llliSTOUIKB  UF  NUKTII  AMKltl(;AN  UlUUH. 


xao.     Nyctala  acadica  (Omkmn). 

HAW-WIIKT   OWI,. 

SIrix  nrndirn  Omki.in,  Syslt'tiia  Niilurn',  i,  I7hs,  ;'!•<;. 

Xyctith'  ilfit'liril    UnNAI'AKTK,   (J('ii>;iiv|)liiijil   iiIkI    ( 'KlllpiHilli  VI'   List,   I83S,  7. 

(H  .Mi,  •,:,  V  A-iH,  11  101,  V  \x:\,  U  :i7-.'.) 

ORooRArmcAl.  HANciK:  Noll  hciii  riiid'il  StiilcH  iiinl  MiitiNli  iniiviiicfs,  mifly 
south  lit'  to  ill  tuislfi'ii  iiorlidiis,  Iml  in  iiiiiiiiitiiiiniui-:  wuHtcrii  dihtricts  smitli  tu  suutii- 
•Til  Moxii'o. 


K.*i ', 


Tlio  Im'Cfliiiir  riiiifjc  of  tlio  Saw-wlict  or  Acixliaii  Owl,  so  i'nr  iis  known, 
cxtciiils  cast  ol"  tilt'  .Mississi|i|ii  Valley  tliroi|if|i  tin'  uoftlu-ni  |Mtitioiis  ol"  tlic 
llnitt'd  States  tVoiii  aiioiit  liitilmle  t<> '  (Carroll  (Joiiiity,  Imliaiiii),  tlir(iii<r|i  tlu* 
southern  parts  of  llie   hoiniiiioii  of   ('aiKnla   u»  latitmle  .")!  '   W   (.Moose    l''ar- 


t(.ry), 


iieiir    the     southern     shores     o 


f    .)•. 


nies 


Iti 


IV. 


In     the    ceiitial 


Uoeky 


Mountain  re<;ion  it  ran^res  south  to  iit  least  latitude  .'t.')  '  in  northern  New 
Mexiro  ami  Ari/.ona,  and  on  the  I'acilie  coast  north  through  the  iiionnt.'iiiis 
of  <  lalifornia,  Nevada,  lilah  •,  <  h'e^ron,  iiiui  Washin;>'ton  into  Hritish  Coluinhia; 
it  prohahly  hrettds  tlu-ou;;'h<ait  all  the  lii;;her  mountain  ran<res  of  western 
North  Anieri«'a. 

It   is  more   than  proliahle  that  it  will  yet    he   fouml    hreedin;.'-   throu^rhoiit 
tlu«    more    moiintaiiioiis    re;.rioiis    of  eiislern    North    America  south    of  latituih* 


4tt^,    hut   on    account    of  its    smal 


size 


lell   as  its  iiocturiiiil    haliits  it    is 


seldom  noticed,  and  wliile  it  may  he  rather  iri<  •^iilarly  distiihuted  ami  even 
entirely  ahseiit  in  certain  localities,  it  is  nevertheless  a  far  more  common 
species  than  is  jreiierally  supposed.  It  is  i 
the  tjri'ater  portion  of  its  ran;;e  within  the  I'nited  .Stutes,  only  mi;iratin<i'  from 
its  more   northern    lireedin;^   ^roumls,  and    passing  the   winter  seiison  niiiinly  in 


instant    resident    tliroindiout 


the    Middle    Stiites,    where    it    is   met    w 


ith 


at    tunes    in   coiisideraole    numlier.s, 


^h 


.Mr.  W.  Iv  I  ►.  Scott  took  not   less  than  Iweiity-oiie  specimens  diiriiin'  hecemlier, 


1.S7.S, 


n    a    cedar    i;rove    on    a    side 


ill 


with    a     stiu 


therh 


exiiosiire,    near 


I'rincetoii,  New  .Jersey,  lie  touiiil  some  of  them  xcry  tame  and  unsuspicious, 
allowing  themselves  to  he  tiikeii  hy  h;iiid;  I  liasc  also  toiind  them  e(pitilly 
stupid  in  the  vicinity  of  Ciiiiip  lliiniey,  ( tre^dii.  I'iiich  winter  one  or  more 
specimens  were  lirouj,''ht  to  me  alive  1>\-  some  ot'  my  men,  who  toinid  them 
sittiiiff  in  the  shruliherv  liorderin;i;  a  little  creek  directly  in  rear  of  their 
ipiarters,  where  thev  usually  allowed  themseht's  to  l»e  taken  without  makin^j' 
anv  I'lVort  to  escape.  I  thou;;lit  at  lirst  that  they  were  po.ssihiy  starved,  and 
on  that  accoinit  too  weak  to  tlv,  lint  on  eMiinination  found  them  mostly  in 
f^ood  condition  and  tairly  fat.  They  seem  to  hi-  especially  tond  of  donsu 
overffreen  thickets  in  swiimpy  places  or  near  water  courscH. 


Till';  8A\V-WIIKT  OWL. 


:m 


Altliuii<;)i    flic    little  Saw  wlict    Owl  Mct'iiiH   to    Ik 


(•xrc('(|iiiy;ly    jrciitic   in 


ciiptivity  ami  of  an  ainialilc  (lis|M)sitioii,  it  ilofs  iitit  a|)|K'ar  to  lark  Ntn>ii;;'tli 
III'  ruinate,  anil  is  alili-  to  ra|)liu-i'  ami  kill  riiilciits  runsiili'iaWly  lar^i't-  than 
\tm>\(.  Mr.  (ii'iir^ro  (S.  (!antwrll  intnrniH  iim  tluit  lu;  rmtml  u  ni'Ht  ut'  tluM  H|)VciuM 
ill  II  Hiiiall  Idlluw  wliiti'  oak  tri'i-,  tlic  ravity,  wliirli  liail  I'vidi'iitly  Iti'i'ii  an  olil 
Hiinirrcl's  iic-st,  lu-in^r  ti||)>i|  with  Iravi's  ami  other  trash  to  within  a  few  iiirl.es 
of  the  eiitraiire,  which  was  about  I'l  feet  Up.  Tlie  tree  stooil  in  the  iniilsi 
of  II  ileiise  piei'i'  of  tiinlier  lionlerin;;  a  small  lake  mar  .Minnea|iolis,  .Miniuf- 
sotii.  This  nest  eontaineil  on  .Iiine  1,  Issfi,  four  yoiin;r  owlets  of  ililVereiit 
ajjtiH  timl  an  aihlleil  eifff,  as  well  as  portions  of  two  rats.  Mii-e  ami  other 
Hiiiall  roilents  appear  to  furnish  the  prim-ipal  part  of  its  fooil,  ami  on-aKionally 
a  Itinl  is  eaptiireil.     No  iloulit   fi'o;r's  anil  insects  of  various  kimis  are    feil  on 


as  we 


This  liiril    iiiiisi   certaiiilv   lie  counleil 


ami  ileserves  protection 


it 


seeks  lis    hllinlile  lil'ev  lllos 


iiiioii;;'   till'    lieiieticial    species 
'V  mostly  liv  iiij-ht,  while  the 


(lays  aro  |>aHseil  in  hollows  in  trees  or  in  the  ^loiiniiest  ami  darkest  |iortioim  of 
the  forests. 

It  is  only  within  the  la.st  ten  years  that  anything'  relialili  has  lieeii 
leariieil  aliout  the  nestiii};  lialiits  of  this  species,  or  fully  iileiitilieil  e;rjrs  lieeii 
taken,  ami  perhaps  none  are  lietter  ipialilieil  to  speak  of  the  nesting;  haliits 
of  these  ipiaiiit  ami  interest  in;;'  little  ( hvis  than  l)r.  William  L.  italpli  ami 
.Mr.  K;,'liert  Un'^ix  of  I'tica,  New  York,  who  have  ilevoted  consideialile  time 
to  the  study  of  these  liirds  and  ha\e  taken  five  sets  of  their  e;;';rs.  The 
I'ormer  writes  ine  as  follows:  "We  found  these  liirds  ipiite  coininon  in  ( )neida 
County,  New  York,  especially  in  the  mirtlurn  ami  eastern  parts.  Their  nests 
are  not  very  hatd  to  (ind,  and  il  seems  straii;;!'  that  so  few  have  lieeii  taken. 
Those   f'unil    by    Mr.    \\;\ii<<:   and    myself   were   all    in    the   deserted    holes   of 

iiir- 
iii 


Woodpf>  Ai'i's   and    the   e;;;;s  were   laid    on  the  line  chips  found    in  such   1 


rows    without    much    of  an    attempt    at    iiiakiim'    a    nest. 


I'll 


ey    Wci'e 


ill 


wool 


Is.   wl 


lolly   or   III    part    swampy,   smn    situations    liein;;'    particularly    con- 
^i^enial   to  tlie.se   liirds,  who   usually    fieipieiit   them   tliroii;>liout   the   year. 

".Fust    liefoi'e   and    diliili;:    the    matin;;    season    these   little   ()wls  are   (piite 
lively;   their  peculiar  whistle  can   lie  heard   in  almost   any  snitalile  wo 


ami 


one 


may   liy  imitatin;.'  it  often  decoy  them  within  reach  of  the   hand.      \'\uui 


one  occasion,  when  my  assistant  was  imitatin;f  one,  it  ali;;iiled  on 


the  1 


iir  cap 


of  a    friend    that    stood    near   him.     Thcv    may    often    lie   seen   at    this  season 


•  lurin;'' 


th 


a>'  sittin;;'   in  trees   oi 


liiisl 


les   and    snliietimes   even    llUlltinu'; 


ilUt 


after  their  e^r^is  are  laid  they  are   usually   it   not   always  silent,  and  are  then 
V    hard    to    timl,    as   they    keep    in    holes    most    of  the    time,    except    diirin;r 


X'N'l 

the 


ni^'lit. 
iti 


Tl 


ley  are  not  at  all  suspicious  ai 


d    I    h 
Iv 


iM'  more  ilian  once  stroked 


liusl 


1  or  tree 


one  with  my  haml  as  it   was  roostin;;'  sleepily   in  soim 

"Their  call  is  a  freipieiitly  repeated  whistle,  sometimes  uttered  in  a 
lii^fli  and  a;|ain  in  a  low  key,  and  ^iiM'U  in  either  a  slow  or  ra|iid  cadence. 
Generally  it   is  coinnieuced  slowly  and  {gradually  bucoiiiL'S  faster  anil  faster 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


.<? 


«'    M?- 


W.r 


Vx 


1.0 


I.I 


IIM    12.5 


"       2.0 


1.8 


1.25      1.4 

1.6 

-4 6"     - 

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


.<? 


a 


I 


4 


352 


LU'E  UISTOIUES  OF  NOltTU  AMEIUUAN  BlUDS. 


till  it  ends  quite  rapidly.  Tiiis  call,  which  is  tho  only  ono  I  have  ever  heard 
them  {^ive,  sounds  not  unlike  the  noise  made  during  the  operation  of  filing 
a  saw,  and  it  is  easily  imitated. 

"Both  sexes,  I  tliink,  assist  in  incubation,  and  the  only  apparent  con- 
cern they  show  when  their  eggs  or  young  are  disturbcul  is  the  persistency 
with  which  they  cling  to  their  nests.  They  are  constant  residents  of  this 
county  and  seem  not  to  decrease  any  in  numbers.  1  have  often  foiuid  mice 
of  different  species  and  sometimes  moles  in  and  about  their  nests,  but  never 
any  other  kind  of  tbod. 

"The  first  nest  was  taken  near  Holland  Patent,  New  York,  on  April  7, 
ISSfi.  It  was  si^tuated  22  feet  above  the  gntund  in  a  dead  maple  stump, 
and  contained  seven  eggs  ranging  from  fresh  to  slightly  incubated.  The 
second  was  foiuid  near  the  same  place  on  April  21,  IXHO,  also  in  a  dead 
stump  40  feet  above  ground.  It  contained  five  young  birds  and  an  egfr  on 
the  point  of  hatching.  The  third  was  foun<l  on  the  same  day  near  Trenton 
Falls,  New  York,  likewise  in  a  dead  stumj)  20  feet  above  the  ground.  It 
contained  seven  eggs  which  were  heavily  incubated.  The  fourth  was  found 
at  Gang  Mills,  Herkimer  Comity,  New  York,  April  'M),  18S(>,  in  a  dead 
stump  ')()  fe(;t  above  ground,  and  likewise  contained  seven  eggs  on  the  point 
of  hatciiing.  The  fifth  and  last  was  taken  near  Holland  Patent,  New  Yo;k, 
April  30,  188!),  and  was  situated  in  the  dead  top  of  a  maple  tree  63  feet 
above  the  ground,  and  contained  four  eggs  ranging  from  fresh  to  slightly 
incubated.     I  believe  tiiey  lay  their  eggs  at  intervals  of  about  two  days." 

Mr.  William  Brewster  mentions  tlie  ac(juisitioii  of  a  fully  identified  set 
of  these  eggs,  taken  l)y  .Mr.  W.  Perham,  at  Tyngsboro,  Massachusetts, 
April  '),  18H1,  who,  he  says,  takes  many  if/'^s  of  tiie  Mottleil  Owl  by  hanging 
up  artificial  nests  in  suitable  places  in  the  woods.  These  nests  are  mad((  from 
sections  of  iiollow  trunks  boarded  up  at  the  open  ends,  with  entrance  holes 
'Uit  in  the  sides,  and  the  Owls  a](parently  find  them  (piite  to  their  taste,  for 
they  freelv  ap[)ro|)riate  them,  lioth  as  roosting  and  nesting  ])laces.  Sometime 
late  in  March  of  th(!  al)ove  mentioned  year  a  jjair  of  Saw-whets  took  posse.s- 
sion  of  one  which  was  nailed  against  tlie  tnnik  of  an  oak  in  an  extensive  piece 
of  woodland.  No  nest  was  made,  the  eggs  Iteing  simply  laid  on  a  few  leaves 
which  srjuirrels  had  taken  in  during  tlie  winter.  Thert'  were  four  eggs  on 
April  4,  an<l,  as  the  nund)er  was  nut  increa.sed,  the  following  day  Mr.  Periuim 
decided  that  the  set  was  c()mi)lete  and  accordingly  took  the  parent  birds  with 
their  clutch,  lie  writes  me  that  he  made  many  unsiicces.sful  attempts  to  catch 
the  female  on  lier  eggs.  Slu^  invarial)ly  tiew  out  when  he  bi'gan  to  diml)  the 
free,  and  he  was  at  length  obliged  to  shoot  her.  Tiiis  liehavior  is  strikingly 
different  from  that  of  the  Mottled  Owl  under  similar  circimistances,  for  the 
sifting  female  of  the  latter  sj)ecies  can  always  be  taken  off  her  nest  by  hand. 


THE  SAW-WHET  OWL. 


353 


and  even  vvlien  pulled  out  of  the  hole  nirely  makes  any  attempt  to  escape. 
The  male  Saw-whet  was  shot  while  sitting  on  a  Iwaneh  near  the  nesting  hole.' 

In  the  same  number  of  the  Nuttall  Kulletin,  page  iH.'j,  Mr.  N.  A.  Francis, 
of  Brookline,  Massachusetts,  makes  the  foUowhig  statement:  "On  June  4, 
1880,  I  found  a  nest  of  the  Acadian  Owl  {Nijdale  acadkii),  containing  five 
nearly  fledged  young,  in  a  cedar  tree,  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  swamp  iu  Brain- 
tree.  The  nest  was  an  old  one  of  a  Night  Heron,  repaired  with  a  few  leaves 
and  feathers.  Close  to  tliis  nest  of  the  Acadian  Owl  was  found  one  belong- 
ing to  a  Long-earod  (Jwl." 

The  little  Saw-whet  is  not  uncommon  in  the  southern  Rocky  Mountains 
in  Colorado,  where  Mr.  Denis  Gale  found  it  nesting  near  Gold  Hill,  and  Mr. 
William  G.  Suiith  in  f]stes  Park.  It  does  not  appear  to  breed  as  early  there 
as  in  the  East,  and  the  usual  number  of  eggs  laid  by  it  is  also  less.  Their 
nests  were  all  foinid  in  aljandoned  Wocxlpecker  excavations  iu  old  cottonwood 
trees,  among  the  dense  thickets  along  the  water  courses,  and  situated  from 
10  to  30  feet  from  the  ground.  The  number  of  eggs  or  young  averaged  from 
three  to  five,  never  more. 

Mr.  Gale  says  that  when  disturbed  in  its  nest  it  utters  occasionally  a 
peculiar  i-ry,  very  similar  to  that  of  a  startled  Robin.  Its  food  seemed  to  con- 
sist of  mice  and  other  small  rodents,  and  no  feathers  were  found  in  any  of  the 
cavities  examined  by  him.  He  tliiuks  that  iiu'ubation  lasts  about  three  weeks, 
and  that  tlie  (>ggs  are  cov.red  continuously  from  the  time  the  first  one  is  laid, 
and  are  deposited  at  intervals  of  two  or  three  days.  In  a  set  of  three  eggs 
taken  June  3,  (jne  was  fresli,  the  other  two  containing  end)ryos  in  different 
SI.  ; ;  >  of  dinelopmeiit.  A  second  nest,  found  early  in  July,  contained  three 
}ou"j;  .  "  .liJl'-rent  ages  and  two  sterile  eggs.  Tiie  eldest  young,  which  was 
more  t  -  luilf  feathered,  liad  a  uniform  chestnut  colored  breast.  Mr.  Gale 
raised  these  biril s,  and  after  tliey  liad  attained  their  growth  kindly  presented 
them  to  me.  They  are  de[)osited  in  tlie  zoiiKtgical  collection  now  forming  in 
Washington,  Distilct  of  Cohimbia,  and  attract  consideral)le  attention.  They 
are  cleanly,  amiable  creatures,  and  make  exceedingly  interesting  })ets,  perform- 
ing all  sorts  of  curious  antics  in  the  early  evening  and  throughout  the  niglit, 
while  during  the  day  they  are  rather  sleepy  and  (^uiet,  and  sit  close  together 
iu  their  cage. 

Mr.  W.  G.  Smith  found  a  nest  of  this  species  in  a  gloomy  ravine  near 
water  at  an  altitude  of  about  7,()<)()  feet,  on  June  <!,  WM).  Tlie  eggs,  lour 
in  numr)er,  were  partly  incul)ated  and  placed  in  a  hole  in  an  old  cotton- 
wood  stump  about  lO  feet  high  and  H  inches  from  the  aperture.  Tlie  nest- 
ing material  was  scant  and  consisted  of  a  few  domestic  chicken  feathers. 
The  female  flew  out  when  disturbed  and  was  .secured;  the  male  was  not  stien. 
( )n  June  8  he  found  a  second  nest  containing  three  young  birds  already  well 
feathered  and  within  a  mile  of  tlie  former  site  and  in  a  similar  location;  it 
appeared  to  be  an  old  squirrel's  nest. 

'  Bullnliii  Nuttall  Ornithological  Club,  Vol.  vi,  July,  1S81,  pp.  143,  144. 
26957— Bull.  1 :.'3 


354 


LIFE  fllSTOKIES  OF  NOltTII  AMEltlCAN  BIKDS. 


One  of  my  men  also  found  a  Jiest  in  the  Blue  Mijuntains,  near  Camp 
Harney,  Oregon,  May  2,  1881.  The  nest  was  in  a  deserted  Woodpecker's 
hole  in  a  pine  stump  standing  in  a  dense  thieket  of  young  j)ines  on  the  sidc^ 
of  a  cafion,  and  contained  five  nearly  fresii  eggs.  The  hole  was  H  feet  from 
the  ground  and  about  10  inches  deej),  the  eggs  lying  on  the  rubbish  in  the  bot- 
tom of  the  cavity;  the  female  was  at  home  and  was  secured. 

From  the  foregoing  it  appears  that  the  Saw-whet  (,)wl  usually  nests  in 
hollow  trees,  in  old  s(juirrels'  nests,  or  in  the  al)andoned  excavations  of  Wood- 
peckers, occasionally  in  artificial  nests,  as  well  as  in  oi)en  one.s.  Such 
instances  as  the  latte"  are  |)robal)ly  of  rare  occurrence,  however. 

The  nundjer  of  eggs  laid  to  a  set  varies  from  three  to  sevcm,  the  latter 
nund)ei  appearing  to  l^revail  in  northern  New  York,  where  nidification  usually 
connnences  early  in  A^)ril,  while  in  tlii'  West,  where  the  sets  of  eggs  range 
only  from  three  to  five,  t'le  nesting  season  seems  to  connnence  either  late  in 
May  or  the  beginning  of  June. 

The  eggs  are  pure  white  in  color,  with  littli'  or  no  gloss,  usually  oval 
in  .shape,  and  occasionally  a  set  is  found  that  is  slightly  ovate. 

The  average  measurement  of  thirty  specimens  in  the  V.  S.  National  Mu- 
seum collection  is  30  by  2.")  millimetres,  the  largest  egg  measuring  31  by 
25,  the  smallest  29  by  2;')  millimetres. 

The  egg  described  in  the  "History  of  North  American  Birds,"  (^'^ol.  iii, 
p.  47),  No.  14r)3S,  IT.  8.  National  .Museum  collection,  and  .said  to  have  been 
taken  by  R.  Christ,  Nazareth,  I'emisylvania,  April  25,  18(57,  is  certainly  not 
an  egg  of  the  Saw-whet  Owl,  being  nuich  smaller,  very  glo.ssy,  and  measuring 
oidy  24  by  21.5  millimetres.  From  the  texture  of  th<i  shell  I  should  call  it  a 
Woodpecker's  egg. 

The  type  specimen,  No.  23S8;»  (PI.  12,  Fig.  7),  from  a  .set  of  three  eggs, 
was  taken  June  5,  1880,  by  Mr.  Denis  (iale  near  Gold  Hill,  Boulder  County, 
Colorado. 

121.     Megascops  asio  (Lixn.eu.s). 

SCKEKCH    OWb. 


Strix  nfiio  LiNN^F.rs.  Sy.-itpnui  Nat  uric,  cd.  lo,  (,  ir.is,  91'. 
Megn.scnps  asio  Stejneokr.  Auk,  ii.  Aiiril,  l.'iS,'),  ISI. 

(B  4!t,  part,  C  ;)I8,  R  402,  C  4(i.5,  U  .373. 

Oeooraphical  range:  Eastern  United  States  and  thi,'  southern  Ijorder  of  the 
British  iii'ovinces,  except  lower  portions  of  tlie  Soutli  Athintie  and  Gulf  States;  west 
to  tlie  Great  Phii  s. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  connnon  Screech  Owl,  also  known  as  the 
Mottled  and  sometimes,  according  ti)  its  plumage,  as  the  lied  or  (Jray  Owl, 
extends  through  the  eastern  United  States,  west  to  mi(Mle  Louisiana,  excei)t- 
ing  southern  South  Carolina,  southern  (jeorgia,  all  of  Florida  and  the  Oulf 
coast,  where  it  is  replaced  by  the  slightly  smaller  Florida  Screech  Owl.     North 


THE  SCREECH  OWL. 


355 


and  Wost  it  laiifjes  well  into  tlie  Great  Plains,  haviiifr  been  taken  in  central 
Texas  at  i^onj^  I'oint,  and  it  is  reported  as  abundant  in  Kansas,  not  unconi- 
uion  in  Nebraska,  and  has  been  met  with  near  Verniillion,  Clay  Coun*y, 
South  Dakota,  where  it  is  said  to  be  rare.  In  northern  Minnesota  and  north- 
ern Maine  it  is  rather  rare;  it  is  also  found  alon},^  the  southern  border  of  the 
Dominion  of  Canada.  Mr.  T.  Jlclhvraith,  in  his  "Birds  of  Ontario,"  says: 
"It  is  the  most  abundant  of  tiie  Owls  in  this  part  of  the  country,  yet,  like 
the  others,  it  is  of  very  irrej:fular  occuiTcnce.  I  have  met  witii  it  once  or 
twice  in  the  woods  in  sununer,  but  it  is  most  frequently  seen  in  winter  when 
the  {j^'roimil  is  covertul  with  snow." 

Mr.  JI.  Clwunberlain,  in  his  "Catalojjue  of  Canadian  Birds,"  says:  "It 
occurs  from  F^ake  Huron  to  the  Atlantic,  th<Mi}jh  rare  in  the  maritime  prov- 
inces." IVofes.sor  Macoun  reports  having  taken  one  example,  at  Hirtle,  in 
northwestern  Manitol)a,  in  al)out  latitude  oO"  .'50' ;  but  I  believe  this  speci- 
men is  more  likely  to  be  Megascops  iisio  muxwvUUr. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  Screecli  ( )wl  is  subject  to  two  distinct  varia- 
tions of  pluma<;e,  the  rufous  and  the  {(ray,  and  young  l)irds  in  both  phases  are 
often  found  in  the  same  nest,  even  when  tlu;  parents  are  of  the  same  color. 
It  is  not  as  yet  well  understood  to  what  this  difference  in  c<doration  is  due; 
certain  climatological  conditions  may,  iiowever,  be  a  considerable  factor. 
While  in  som(>  sections  the  two  phases  are  nearly  ecpially  conunon,  in  others 
one  or  the  other  predominates.  From  what  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain 
it  ai)p('ars  that  the  rufous  phase  is  inost  frcfiuently  found  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley,  while  the  reverse  seems  to   be  tins  case  near  tlie  Atlantic  seacoast. 

The  Screech  Owl  is  strictlv  nocturnal  in  its  habits  and  is  rarely  seen 
in  the  daytime,  which  it  passes  in  a  hollow  tree  or  in  some  dense  thicket 
which  tiie  sunliglit  rarely  penetrates.  From  sucli  retreats  it  is  often  flusiied 
l)y  the  attacks  of  die  iilue  Jay,  whicli  is  the  bane  of  its  exi.stence,  and  by 
other  birds  as  well,  whi<'h  annoy  it  ])ersistently  wherever  met  with  and  gen- 
erally cause  it  to  seek  safety  in  flight.  The  attention  of  the  collector  is 
often  drawn  to  it  l)y  the  noisy  sciddings  heard  at  sucii  times. 

It  is  a  constant  resident  whenner  found.  Althougli  often  living  in  the 
innnediate  vicinity  of  farmhouses  (old  orchards  being  especially  favored  by 
them),  yet  on  account  of  its  retiring  and  miobtnisive  iiabits  it  is  seldom  seen 
during  the  greater  pai't  of  tlu;  year,  though  often  enough  heard  in  th(^  early 
evenings  throughout  the  mating  season,  when  its  doleful  call  notes  are  sure 


to   be    heard.     In   the   winter  wl 


d,   the    trees   de- 


len  .snow  co^(■rs  the  gnunu 
nuded  of  their  foliage,  and  food  is  scarce  in  the  forests,  many  of  these 
Owls  that  spent  the  sununer  in  such  localities  now  seek  some  dark  and 
secluded  nook  in  the  outltuildings,  corncribs,  and   hayktfts  about  farndicuises 


\\\ 


tl 


w  vK'uiitv,  and 


are 


til 


en  mor 


e  readily  oliserved. 


Tiie  Screech  Owl,  althougli  considered  l)y  not  a  few  superstitious  and 
illiterate  ])ersons  as  a  bird  of  ill  omen,  jiortending  l»ad  luck  to  the  people 
whose  home  it  freipients,   is  one  of   the   most   profitable  and   useful   birds  a 


f 


V.M- 

u 

K. 

'% 

m 

356 


LIFE  HISTOlilES  OF  NORTH  AMEKICAN  lUKDS. 


!■« 


! 


t      I 
1 


4-1 


1 


i  ii   ' 


*«N, 


:i 


fanner  can  liave  about  his  place,  as  it  lives  almost  (exclusively  on  mice  and 
other  rodents,  of  which  it  d(^stroys  hir^fe  miiiil)ers  yearly,  and  noxious  insects 
as  well,  seldom  molestinjf  a  l)ird  of  any  kind,  and  occasionally  Hsli,  ciaw- 
fish,  and  froffs  are  also  eaten.  <  )ne  of  these  l)irds  kept  in  continenu^nt  by 
Mr.  ().  B.  Zinnnermaini  seennMl  to  he  fond  of  caterpillai's.  The  indifjestihle 
portions  of  the  food  used,  such  as  honi's  and  the  fur  of  the  rodents  killed, 
are  thr(»wn  uj)  in  the  shaj)e  of  |»ellets  al)out  eight  hours  after  having  heeii 
eaten. 

I  could  not,  if  I  wished,  describe  their  call  notes.  Tt  is  beyond  my 
ability  to  do  justice  to  them  on  piiper;  the  words  "lngid)rious"  and  "uncanny" 
express  their  sound  as  well  as  any,  ami  it  is  niiiinly  these  doleful  moans 
which  prejudice  many  otherwise  intelligent  persons  against  these  useful  birds. 
Sometimes,  however,  their  notes  are  rather  clear  and  .soft  and  not  unpleasant. 

I  believe  the  Screech  Owl  remains  paired  tluough  life.  The  mating  period 
begins  usually  about  the  1st  of  March,  occasionally  a  little  earlier  or  later, 
accordii\g  to  the  season. 

Mr.  Ljnds  ,Fones,  of  Orinnell,  Towa,  writes  me:  "I  saw  this  species  mating 
once.  The  female  was  ))erched  in  a  dark  leiify  tree  iipparently  oldivious  of  the 
presence  oi'  her  mate,  wiio  made  frantic  cfl'oi-ts  through  a  series  of  l)owings, 
wing-raisings,  and  snapi»ings  to  attract  iier  attention.  These  antics  wen^  con- 
tinued for  some  tinu',  varied  by  hops  fn;m  branch  to  brancii  near  her,  accom- 
panied by  that  forlorn,  almost  despairing  wink  peculiar  to  this  bird.  Once  or 
twice  I  thought  1  tletected  sounds  of  inward  groanings,  as  lie,  beside  himself 
with  his  unsuccessful  approaches,  sat  in  utter  dejection.  At  last  his  mistress 
lowered  her  haughty  head,  looked  at  and  aj>proached  him.  1  did  not  stay 
to  see  the  setpu'l." 

Tu  the  southern  and  central  jiarts  of  its  range  nidification  begins  about 
the  latter  half  of  Marcli  or  the  iirst  part  of  Ajiril;  in  the  New  Kngland 
and  Northern  States,  usually  .somewhat  lati'r,  between  the  middle  of  April 
and  the  beginning  of  ilay. 

Tile  nesting  site  cho.sen  is  nearly  always  a  hollow  in  a  tree,  either  an 
abandoui'd  Woodpecker's  hole,  or  oftener  a  niiturid  cavity,  \arying  in  Iieight 
from  3  to  40  feet  from  tht^  ground,  usually  at  distances  from  10  to  20  feet 
up.  Occasionally  it  nests  in  Itoxcs  uiiiled  up  in  trees  or  in  s(»me  dark  cor- 
ner under  the  eaves  of  a  barn  or  outbuilding,  in  ilovecots,  etc.  IKdlow  apple 
trees  and  oaks  seem  to  be  favorite  sites  with  them,  and  in  Kan.sas  and 
Nebraska,  cottonwoods.  Mr.  Oliver  Davie  mentions  his  having  fomid  several 
nests  between  the  broken  siding  of  ice  liouses  along  streams.  ^Ir.  ('.  S. 
Briniley  found  a  .si't  of  three  eggs  »»f  tliis  species  placed  in  a  cavity  of  a 
stump,  the  bottom  of  which  was  below  the  level  of  the  ground  outside;  they 
were  taken  on  April  27,  If^Hf),  iuid  were  much  incultateil  when  found. 

Strictly  .speaking,  the  Screedi  Owl  makes  no  nest,  the  eggs  being  laid 
in  the  bottom  of  the  cavity  on  such  rub})isii  as  naturally  accuuudates  therein, 
8Ucb  as  bits  of  rotten  wood,  a  few  dry  leaves,  and  the  feathers  dropped  from 


iiwsrqi 


THE  SCREECH  OWL. 


3.57 


the  binU  diiriufj  iuciil)iiti(>ii.  Four  or  livo  o<(<^f4  iiro  usually  laid  to  a  HOt,  ami 
ofcasioiially  six,  auci  (ivnu  s(»vtMi  an*  sonu^tiuics  foiinil,  but  the  latter  huuiIht 
is  ranv  Mr.  Oliv»fr  Davio,  iu  liis  "  Nnsts  ami  Hi^j^s  of  Nortli  Aiuoricau  Birds, 
l8Sy,"  i)a;,'o  IIXJ,  stattts  that  tlu*y  friMjuoiitly  lay  eight,  rarely  iiiue,  aud  says 
that  iu  April,  188"),  a  faruicr  hrouglit  liiiu  iiiue  youuy,  with  tho  parent  birds, 
whicli  he  had  takeu  t'roui  a  hollow  tree.  The  larj^est  set  1  iiave  any  knowl 
edge  of,  or  have  bei'u  al)l(!  t(»  fully  verify,  is  out*  of  seven.  These  eggs 
were  sliglitly  incubated  wlien  found  and  were  taken  by  Mr.  W.  K.  1).  Scott, 
iiem-  New   Hnuiswick,   New  Jersey,   April   11,    I87!t. 

.Mr.  jjynds  Jones  writes  ukc  "  iJotii  parents  are  generally  found  near  the 
nest,  and  not  iufreiiueutly  sitting  on  tlus  eggs  at  the  same  time.  In  a  muuiu'r 
of  instances  I  liav((  taken  tht*  two  from  well  incubated  eggs,  but  Iiave  never 
Hushed  l)otli  from  a  fntsh  set.  Ut^tween  the  interval  when  the  tirst  t^'^tf  is  laid 
and  the  set  is  c(»m[)lcted,  the  male  may  i)e  found  in  a  hollow  tree  near  l»y  and 
caimot  bo  flushed,  whih*  the  female  watches  tlie  nest  and  Hushes  easily. 
AVhen  im^ubation  begins  the  male  will  Hush  readily  for  a  time,  the  female, 
iiowever,  remaining.  Later,  both  l)irds  nuist  be  dislodged  Ijy  force.  If  the 
cavity  is  large  eni>ugli  to  admit  of  it,  i)oth  birds  will  lie  over  the  eggs;  if,  how- 
ever, it  be  small,  tlie  female  clovers  the  eggs  and  tlie  male  either  wedges  hiin.self 
down  l)V  her  side  or  lies  on  top  of  her,  and  sometimes  Hmls  a  lodgment  some- 
when*  higher  up  in  the  lude,  whicii,  Jiowevca-,  is  rarely  tiu*  case." 

When  sudilenly  disturlied  in  their  lude  they  fre(juently  ntter  a  hissing 
noise  and  snap  their  manililtles  together,  producing  a  kiiul  of  rattling  sound. 
In  disposition  tliese  i)ir(ls  are  ratiier  unsociaiile,  seldom  more  than  a  pair  being 
.seen  togetlier  at  any  time,  e.\cei)t  when  still  caring  fo"  their  young  in  the  sum- 
mer and  early  fall. 

lncul)ation  lasts  about  thn'e  weeks,  or  perhajis  a  few  days  longer.  The 
\'oung,  according  to.  .Mr.  Lynds  Jones,  arc  i)lind  when  rirst  hatche(l,  and  soon 
ilevelop  an  astonishing  appetite,  keeping  iioth  parents  l)usy  to  provide  the 
needed  food  for  the  r.ipidly  growing  family.  Tin*  foniging  is  doiu>  almost 
entircK-  after  smidowii  and  throughout  tin;  night,  and  a  sup[)ly  of  food  to  last 
diu'ing  tim  day  is  usually  stored  away  in  their  nesting  site.  Their  Hight  is 
noiseless  and  easy,  enabling  them  to  drop  down  silentl}'  and  quietly  (in  their 
unsuspecting  victims. 

Tliongli  small,  tli.'  Screech  Owl  iloes  not  lack  courage,  and  will  frecjuently 
attack  animals  nnicli  larger  and  heavier  than  itself,  and  has  beeii  known  to  kill 
large  rats. 

Mr.  J.  \j.  Davidson  publishes  the  following  remarkable  incident  iu  Forest 
and  Stream  of  March  l!»,  188;j: 

"LocKPoRT,  New  Yokk,  Fchnuuii  2fi. 

"On  Saturday  last  I  received  a  box  containing  a  live  Screech  Owl  {Scops 
(ishi),  from  a  young  farmer  frieutl,  and  on  Tuesday  received  the  following  let- 
ter from  him: 


6:!! 


3;)8 


LIFl'3  lUSTOItlKH  OK  NORTH  AMKUICAN  UlllDH. 


'Friday  iiioniiiij^  I  foiiiid  a  l.irjfc  I'lyiiioutli  Uock  rouMii'i"  with  his  head 
and  neck  l)adly  torn  and  c  ivcrcd  witli  hhmd,  and,  after  some  scarcli,  I  saw  a 
small  ( )wl  n|)  iu  tlio  lia>'n.  I  can^ht  it  ami  tunnd  tVcsh  l)hM)d  on  thf  t't-atht-rs 
aronnd  its  l)oak.  To  I)h  siirt^  it  was  the  Owl  that  did  tlic  niischit't",  I  put  hotii 
thu  fowl  and  tlin  hird  in  a  darkened  place  and  was  at  once  treated  to  a  sur- 
prise, for  tilt*  Owl  tlcw  at  tiie  cock  and  lit  on  liis  neck,  and  lieyan  to  pick  at 
his  lu^ad  in  a  \ery  furious  niamuM-.  Ueiii^^'  sure  that  I  liad  the  culprit,  I  lioxed 
it  up  and  s»'Ut  it  to  you.  The  rooster  weighed  II  poumls  alixc,  rather  larjji'e  |)re\- 
lor  such  a  j^niall  bird.'" 

They  are  (easily  tamed  and  make  rather  aniusin<i'  jx'ts,  ai'e  cleanly  in  tlieii 
habits,  and  very  fond  of  l)athin<>-. 

The  egys  of  the  Screech  <  >wl  r.re  pure  white  in  color,  usually  o\al  or 
nearly  globular  in  shape,  and  moderately  glossy.  In  tlu*  majority  of  speci- 
mens the  shell  is  smooth  and  finely  granulated,  while  in  a  few  it  is  rough  to  the 
touch.     Tht;y  are  deposited  at  intervals  of  a  day  or  two. 

The  average*  measurement  of  fift\'-six  specimens  in  the  l^  S.  National 
Museum  collection  is  ^o.")  I)y  'M)  millimetres,  the  largest  i'lxn  of  the  series 
measuring  .'iS  by  'M,  the  smallest  iJ'J  l)y  211.')  millinu'tres. 

The  ty|)u  specimen,  No.  'idr)?!  (I'l.  l"i.  Fig.  H),  selected  from  a  set  of  four, 
lieudire  collection,  was  taken  near  Orange,  New  Jersey,  April  20,  1M7.0. 


lite: 


122.     Megascops  asio  floridanus  (Kiduway). 

FUtKllJA    MC'REKCII    OWL. 

Slops  asio  vav,  floriihtn IIS  Riikuvav,  Bulletin  Essex  Institute,  Decenil)er,  1H7.'J,  'iOO. 
.]f("l(isrnps  nsio  ftnriiliui us  Htrj^Fjirh,  Aiik,  II.  A|)ril.  18.S.5,  184. 
(B  — .  C  :tisc.  R  4()v'r».  CMCiH,  U  37;!r(.) 

GEonRAPHiCAL  RANOK:  Soutlieru  South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  Florida  and  the 
Gulf  coast  to  soutlici'n  Louisiana. 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Florida  Screech  Owl,  a  much  darker  and  smaller 
))ird  than  tlui  preceding,  and  like  it,  found  in  both  the  red  and  gray  jiha.ses  of 
plumage,  ext(?nds  from  southern  South  ("andina,  southern  (ieorgia  and  I'lorida, 
westward  along  the  (lidf  coast  to  southern  Louisiana,  where,  according  to  l>r. 
A.  K.  Fisher,  it  is  not  unconnuon  in  the  vicinit}'  of  New  Orleans.  A  Screech 
Owl  has  also  i)eeu  reported  as  breeding  at  Ilouma,  Tei're  iJonne  County,  Loui- 
siana, which  is  un([Uestioiiably  referable  to  this  race,  and  it  ])robably  reaches 
West  to  southern  Texas.      It  is  a  constant   resident   wherevi-r  found. 

'V\w.  general  haliits  of  the  Florida  Screech  Owl  are  similar  to  those,  of 
tht*  preceding  sul)species.  Like  it,  it  never  constructs  a  nest  of  its  own, 
but  lays  its  eggs  in  the  aiiandoned  e.\cavati(»ns  of  the  larger  Woodpeckers 
or  in  natural  hollows  in  trees,  old  stumps,  cal»bage  |)almettos,  and  occasion- 
ally in  a  dovecot,  and  in  the  latter  case  usually  dispossessing  the  rightful 
owners. 


THE  FLOUIDA  SCUEEiUI  OWL 


869 


Dr  William  L.  liiil|)li  says:  "Tlu^y  urc  not  iit  all  particular  as  to  tho  huight 
at  which  timy  lUfst.  1  havo  loiiml  thriii  ticcii|)yiiij>-  holes  aiiywlicro  from  8 
to  HO  t'cct  from  thu  jiToimd,  They  in-st  fnujiifiitly  in  rotten  stumps  at  sucli 
h('i<,dits  as  to  mjilvc  it  danj^crous,  if  not  impossiMc,  to  reach  them.  1  remem- 
l»er  one  pair  that  nested  neai'  the  iiousi^  where  I  itoanh'il,  in  a  hoh;  at 
least  SO  fet^t  ai>ov(f  the  f^fround,  near  th<!  top  of  a  \-ery  larj^'e  rotttMi  stump 
which  ti.wereil  ahovt*  the  tops  of  a  cliniip  of  trees  amon<>'  which  it  was 
standinji'.  lOvery  time  durin;;-  the  l>reeilin<^'  seasons  of  two  years  that  1  would 
iro  near  this  stump  one  of  tiie  pair,  whieiiever  mijifht  l)e  sittin;^,  wt»id([  look  out 
of  the  hole  in  a  most  provokinjr  miuuier,  for  1  wanted  a  set  of  e<;'<(s  of  this 
sul)species  very  nuu'h  at  that  time,   hut  the  stump    was    not  dimahle.      IJsu- 


ard    matter   to    m:i 


tiiese    i»irds    show 


hemselv(is: 


tl 


us    uau', 


ally    it   is 

however,  scvmuimI  to  know  that  they  wen*  |)erf(H'tly  safe,  and  never  hesitated 


to  ma 


ke  th 


uMr  aitiiearance 


'PI 


"Like  tin*  northern  Screech  ( hvis,  tliey  utter  their  call  notes  with  a 
peculiar  trenmlous  sound,  whicii  is  hard  to  descrii)e,  and  from  which  they 
"•et  their  local  mime  of  'Sili\■erin^■  Owls.'     'Piie\-  feed  on  mice,  moles,  insects, 


•tl 


in<l  other  small   memliers  o 


II 


.f  til 


d   k 


e  lunmal    kmu'dom 


"The  matinii'  season  of  the  Florida  Screech  <  hvl  hej^ins  sometime  in 
March,  usually  in  the  tirst  half  of  the  month,  and  thtiir  e<;'<^s  are  deposited 
in  April,  ireneralh-  between  the*  lOth  and  "iOth.  I  found  my  lirst  nest  A|)ril 
2!>,  '..SS;5,  near  Smu  Mateo,  Florida,  in  a  rotten  stuiup,  in  a  hole  S  feet  above* 
tie  jiroimd.  The  lude  was  S  inches  deep,  iuid  tin*  two  about  half  incubated 
hicli    it    contained  were    deposited    on  a  few  rotten    chips,   leaves,  and 


eiiH-s  w 


feathers  that    hinl  collected    in    it.     'i'he    bird 


on 


th 


nest  was  taken  from  it 


1»\-  hand,  in  fact  I  could  not  j^'et  if  to  leave  in  any  other  way.  It  was  a 
male  in  the  red  pluma^'c,  and  its  mati*  was  not  se(*n.  A  .second  lu'st,  found 
on  May  (!,  1SS4,  in  the  same  vicinity,  was  in  a  |)ine  stump,  and  the  cavity 
was  about    12   iiicjies  deep  and   S  feet  aiiove  the  }>round.      It   contained  thriu* 

t  had  to  be  taken  out   bv  force; 
I   its 


eifji's  well  advanced  in  inculiiition. 

.1 


le  itaren 


it   was  111  the  j>ra\'   iiluniufi'e,  sex  unknown,  and  its  mate  not  seen. 

In  southern    Flo;-idii   (near   .Myers,    L<*(*  (bounty),   .Mr.   .1.    F.   Menj^c  found 
the    Florida  Screech  ( )wl   iiestinji'  sometiiiK's  iis  eiirh-   ;is   .Miircli    1.      He  savs: 


Thev  feed   their  vouii"'  to  a   "rciit  extent  on 


li/.ards 


'•rassl 


lonpers, 


likt 


the    Florida    liurrow 


HI" 


( »wl. 


From   two  to  four  e<i<i>*    '""•'  hiid   to  ;i   set,  tiiree   beinj;'   most  often   found, 
and   as  far  as    known   liiit  a  sinyle  brood   is  raised    in  a  season.      Uotli    sexes 


assist  ill  incu 


bfiti 


on. 


Tl 


le  efr<>'s  are  similar  in  color  mid  shape  to  those  o 


1  sh 


.f  th 


common  Screech  Owl,  itiit  averaj^'e 
I'oiind  which  is  almost  spherical. 


somew 


hat 


smaller. 


Ih 


Oc 


casioiiiilly  an  i"^'^  is 


Th(*  averaii'c  measiu'cment    of  ten    (•••■"•s   in    tiie  U.   S.   National    M 


usenm 


lection  is  .'{"i.;")  bv  2S.;{  millimetn 


The  larye.st  of  th< 


se   ('"■''•s   measures 


;}4 


i»v 


th 


smallest   ■'52  bv  "iT.ft  millimetres.     One  iiearK'  round   measures  .'51 


by  29  millimetres.     Ncme  of  these  ejiys  are  figured. 


I;!; 


11  'V"^ 

I" 
§1'  .  ,  . 


360  Lii'K  iiisToiciKH  OF  Noirrii  amkkicax  hiuds. 

123.     Megascops  asio  mccallii  (Cahhin). 

TKXAN    HCKKKCH    OWI-. 

Scops  incrallii  (Jahsin,  Illustnitdd  Hinls  of  Ciiliroruiii,  Tuxiis,  otc,  July.  1854,  184. 
Mtyiisroiis  as'io  iniirrtiUi  Stkjnkokk.  Auk,  II.  April,  188.').  184. 
(H  .'■)(i.  (!  :il8/..  K  Will.  V,  408.  II  ;tT:)/'.) 

Okookaphu'AL  kancik:  yi)utli(M'ii  'I'dxiis  luiilniiHtoi'u  Moxido;  south  toGiuiteniiila. 

Tlie  'IVxiui  Scvcccli  Owl,  a.  slij^litly  smaller  nice  tliiiii  Mn/asrop.s  asia,  anil, 
like  this,  touiul  in  both  the  rcil  ami  },'ray  |)lia.st'S,  is,  accordinff  to  Mr.  U. 
liidffwiiy,  (listinffuisliable  from  tlu^  latter  in  haviiifi'  the  li<^lit  mottliiiffs  on 
nppor  parts  much  coarsiT  and  inort'  (•ons|)icuous.  It  is  a  resident  of  the  semi- 
tropical  portions  of  southern  Texas,  especially  of  the  valley  of  the  Jjower  Hio 
(irande,  and  eastern  Mexico,  and   lu'eeds  wherever  found. 

But  little  is  as  yet  known  al)out  the  i^'eiieral  habits  and  food  of  this 
form,  but  they  an^  doulttless  very  similar  to  those  of  the  rest  of  this  <^enus. 
Like  them  it  breeds  in  cavities  in  tnu's  and  lays  from  two  to  five  effj^rt.  Mr. 
«ileor<re  l{.  Sennett  found  a  nest  of  this  race  on  April  '23,  1877,  situated  in 
a  dead  .stub,  about  !(  inches  in  diameter,  and  so  weak  and  rotten  that  it 
couhl  easily  have  l)een  pushed  over;  it  c(»ntained  three  fresh  e>^jfs ;  location 
about  4  miles  fntm  llidalyo,  up  the  river  and  within  about  one-fourth  of  a 
mile  of  its  banks. '  Another  set  of  five  i'<^<^>i  found  ai>out  A|)ril  1,  187H,  were 
sent  to  him  by  Mr.  Bourboi.s,  who  took  them  from  a  nest  on  his  ranch  at 
Lomita. 

Dr.  James  C.  Merrill,  assistant  surf^eon  U.  S.  Army,  says  with  reference 
to  this  (Jwl:  "Common  resident.  Near  Ilidalj^o  on  .May  (I,  1  captured  ii  female 
of  this  race  on  hi^r  nest  in  an  old  hollow  stump  al>out  r>  feet  from  tin- 
;^round.  'I'here  were  two  ej'f^s  nearly  hatched,  j)laced  on  a  few  chips  at  the 
bottom  of  the  hole."- 

There  seems  to  bo  no  especial  ditFeronce  in  the  time  of  nidification,  and 
the  (!j^<4's  of  the  Texan  Screech  Owl  are  similar  in  every  respect  to  those  of 
the  common  form,  exceptinjj-  that  they  are  a  trifle  smaller. 

TIm'  average  measiUHMnent  of  twelve  specimens  of  this  nice  in  the  U.  S. 
National  .Museum  collection  is  'Mi.'}  l)y  "Jit  millimetres,  the  lar<i-est  e<r<>-  meas- 
uring 3.'')..')  by  30  the  smallest  IV2.')  by  "JH  millimetres.  No  specimen  has  l)een 
figured. 


I  Bulletin  IJ.  S.  Oeologlcul  Survey,  187H,  p.  40. 

« Proceedings  of  the  U.  S.  National  MuHeiini,  Vol.  I,  1878,  p.  151. 


THE  CALIFORNIA  SCRKKCIl  OWL. 


361 


124.     Megascops  asio  bendirei  (iiuKw.sTKK). 

C'AMlllKMA    KCKKKCII    OWL. 

Scops  asio  hemVirei   Brrwstek.  Uulli'tiii   Niittiill  OniitliDlogii'iil  Cliih,  vii,  Jiimmry, 

lHH-.>,  31. 
Mvyancups  aniu  bemlirti  Htkjsvmvm.  Auk,  11,  April,  lsM,"(,  1S4. 

(H-,C  -,  K— .  (!-,  U  :mr.) 

(iKOdKAPHICAI.   KANdK:   Cllliroillid. 

Tlu'  niuj>c«  ot"  tlie  ('alit'itruiii  Scrcccli  Owl,  n  lirowiiisli  <^ray  and  soiiicwliat 
larger  Ij'ml  tiiaii  any  nl"  tlic  pi'cccdiuj;'  races  ol'  Mcfidncops,  and  tinly  I'oiiiid  in 
this  phase,  is  eonliued,  so  lUr  as  known,  to  tht^  Stat(!  of  California,  and  prinei- 
pally  if  not  wholly  to  that  portion  lyinj"'  west  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mountains. 
It  has  also  been  reporteil  from  southwestern  ()rej;t)n,  hut  I  helievc  that  the 
l»irds  found  then',  and  even  thoso  of  the  coast  regions  of  northern  California, 
ill  Uel  Norte  and  Humboldt  (Jounties,  are  not  typical,  hut  internuMliate  ix-tween 
this  rac(f  and  ■If'v/^f.sv oyw  dsio  sulitniliis,  a  new  sul»speci<'s  recenth*  described  l)y 
Mr.  William  Brewster  in  The  Auk  (Vol.  viii,  April,  ISItl,  p.  141).  Our  jiresent 
knowledf^e  ref^ardinj^  these  ilitfcM'eut  subspecies  is  still  too  limited  to  define 
their  ranges  with  any  dej^ree  of  accuracy.  It  is  well  known  that  a  Screech 
Owl  is  also  found  on  the  peninsula  of  Lower  California  that  has  not  as  yet 
been  fully  identified,  thouf^h  it  may  prove  to  be  this  form,  but  is  nnich  more 
likely  to  he  Mciiasrops  axio  friilia/isis,  or  a  new  race.  The}'  are  constant  resi- 
dents and  breetl  wherexcr  found. 

Their  ji,'eneral  haltits  are  essentially  like  tho.se  of  the  easl.'rn  Screech  Owls, 
except  that,  accordinj^-  to  Mr.  (!liarles  A.  Allen,  of  Nicasio,  Marin  County,  Cali- 
fornia, their  call  notes  an*  slightly  ditferent  and  more  prolonged.  Me  also 
informs  mo  that  they  are  very  fond  of  a  cold  itatli  in  the  early  mornings, 
and  literally  soak  them.selv(*s,  and  that  he  has  shot  them  in  the  act.  lie  also 
says  they  iire  the  (commonest  Owl  in  that  vicinity. 

Mr.  \V.  Otto  Kmerson,  of  IFaywanls,  (Jaliforuia,  nailed  some  boxes  up  in  a 
small  grovt;  of  Australian  gum  trees  on  March  11,  iSSo.  Mxamining  these 
on  April  10,  he  found  one  occupied  by  a  pair  of  these  Owls  which  <'ontained 
two  ejjg's,  the  parent  Hushing-  and  Hyinj^  into  a  tree  clost>  by.  Two  days  latei' 
{mother  egg-  had  been  laid,  but  no  more  wci'e  deposited  after  that  date.      Incu- 


bation, he 


ia)-; 


did 


not   commence    un 


til   the    ITth.     The   mal 


e  was   onl\'  seen 


once  durinj^  incubation,  when  he  ajjpeared  instantly  at  the  call  of  the  female, 
which  had  also  left  the  bo.\.  As  he  clindjcd  up  to  examine  it  the  male  snapped 
1 


ns  man< 


libles  at  him  tVom  a  lind)  overhead.  On  May  10  ho  found  three  white 
downy  owlets  in  the  nest,  one  not  yet  (jnito  dry.  lie  says:  "The  mother 
seemed  to  think  I  was  getting  too  free  with  her  household,  for  when  1  took 
one  out  she  Hew  about,  calling  the  male.  They  both  came  near,  snapping  their 
bills  all  the  while.  The  young  could  not  hold  up  (iieir  heads,  tiicir  eyes  were 
round  and  full,  but  not  open.    On  taking  them  out  they  gave  a  slight  peep,  like 


t- 


f 

,       In  ■ 

•I 


362 


LIFK  IIISTOKIKa  OF  NOUTIl  AMKKICAN  IMKUa. 


a  young  diickoii  jii.st  liiitchcd.  Tlicy  irrcw  V(My  fast,  and  in  citjlit  days  coin- 
MKMKH'd  to  show  signs  of  pinfcatluTs  and  liad  strtMigtIi  enough  to  snap  tlicir 
hills.  Aliout  this  tinic,  May  IH,  I  tonnd  ono  of  tho  young  with  its  head  miss- 
ing, wliich  I  could  not  account  for  unless  f  tod  got  short,  and  rather  than  see 
them  all  starve  the  birds  ted  one  to  the  others.  Next  day  the  body  had  disap- 
puared.  I  put  all  the  remains  of  birds  skiinied  on  thi!  to|)  of  the  box;  they 
made  way  with  these  and  the  young  grew  vtiry  fast.  I{y  the  'Jfith,  iifteen  days 
after  hutching,  they  had  their  eyes  open.  'I'hey  would  now  back  up  into  a 
corner,  snapping  their  bills  on  my  trying  to  get  them  out.  «  •  *  I'hoy  were 
still  in  thu  box  on  •Juno  14,  when  1  went  to  thu  Farallon  Islands,  so  do  not 
know  how  Ihey  got  on  after  that.     ♦     •     * 

"1  found  one  the  past  spring  that  had  taken  up  (jU'irterH  in  an  old  wood 
rat's  nest  placed  'on'  a  limb  of  a  bay  tree  Homo  30  feet  from  the  ground. 
A  large  mass  of  dead  leaves  from  the  tree  had  been  put  together  and  a  hol- 
low formeil  in  the  center,  lined  with  feathers  of  fowls  and  birds."' 

Mr.  M.  T.  tiault  writes  me  as  follows:  "On  May  12,  1HM3,  while  riding 
through  the  timber  along  the  Satita  Anna  River,  near  liiverside,  (California, 
a  nest  of  this  subspecies  was  unexpectedly  discovered  in  an  old  abandoned 
Woodpecker's  hole,  presumably  that  of  Cohtiitcs  rafrr,  in  a  cottonwood  tree. 
It  seemed  remarkidde  that  such  a  small  hole  would  so  easily  acconnnodate  a 
bird  of  this  siz(s  as  we  had  to  enlarge  it  to  enable  me  to  insert  my  hand 
in  order  to  examine  its  contents,  and  1  was  not  a  little  surprised  in  doing  so 
t()  find  it  occupied  by  a  family  of  thesti  Owls,  consisting  of  one  of  the  parent 
birds  and  four  young,  jterhaps  ten  days  old.  The  mother  bird  appeared 
dazed  when  ijrought  to  the  light,  and  singularly  enough  in  taking  her  fron» 
the  nest  the  entire  brooil  was  also  removed  at  the  same  time,  she  having 
instinctively  grasped  one  of  the  young,  that  one  another,  and  ao  on  until 
they  all  became  attached,  and  they  certainly  pn^sented  a  ludicrous  sight  as 
they  came  (hmgling  out  of  the  lude,  each  retiiiuing  a  firm  hold  of  the  other, 
but  the  young  finally  ilropped  off  and  tumbled  to  the  ground." 

Their  favorite  nesting  sites  are  old  Woodpeckt^rs'  holes  or  natural  cavities 
in  oak  and  cottonwood  trees,  generally  not  over  if)  feet  from  the  ground. 
According  to  Mr.  Emerson's  obscirvations,  incubation  lasts  altont  twenty-three 
days,  and  I  believe  he  is  the  first  ornithologist  who  publisluid  the  fact  that 
these  Owls  were  hatched  blind.  Mr.  L3'nds  Jones  (M)nlirms  this  fact,  and 
has  observed  it  in  the  young  of  Mri/asco/is  asio. 

In  California  nidification  usually  conunences  about  the  middle  of  April, 
occasionally  in  the  latter  part  of  March,  ami  again,  in  late  and  cold  seasons, 
not  until  the  ])eginning  of  May.  The  eggs,  nundtering  from  three  to  six, 
geni;rally  four,  and  occasionally  five,  are  deposited  at  intervals  of  one  or  tw(< 
<lays.     Incubation  ordinarily  does  not  begin  until  Mie  set  is  complete. 

■  Oruitbulogist  aud  Uiilocist,  Vol.  x,  lljti&,  No.  2,  pp.  173,  174. 


^.mii 


THK  CALIFOUNIA  SUIUOIOCII  OWL. 


363 


Tho  «^}?n  of  tho  Ctilifoniiii  Scrt'ccli  Owl  nrc  similjir  to  those  of  tlw*  com- 
mon oiwtoni  l»ir(l,  Imt,  iiotwillistiiinliii;,'  tliiit  it  is  Moinewliat  larger  than  tlu' 
latter,  thoir  w^^i^h  avonij,'!*  a  trifle  smaller. 

Th'.!  avera>^t!  measiinMiieiits  of  twenty-six  specimens  in  tlie  IT.  H.  National 
Museum  eolleetioii  is  iJ't  l»y  .{0  milliinelres,  tlui  larj^est  viXii  measm-in^i'  .'5(1  i)y 
.'{2,  the  smallest  32  by  2H  miMimetn^s.  As  then^  is  so  little  diU'erenee  in  the 
eggs  of  tho  various  races  of  this  gunus,  1  have  not  ligureil  one  in  ever}'  ease. 


iWllij 


125.     Megascops  asio  kennicottii  (Klliot). 

KKNNKMITT'.S    St'UKIX'll    OWL. 

Scop/i  kennicottii  VIiaaot,  Pnu'etMliiij^s  AcNuleiny  Natural  Soionces  Phila.,  1807,  C'J. 
Mtijancopx  asio  kianirollii  STK.iNKdna,  Auk,  11,  April,  Ih.s.'i,  1H4. 
(B  — ,  C  ;iis./,  It  ii)-,'(/,  V  4i;t;,  U  ;!r;i./.) 

Oroorahiiical  KANdK:  Northwest  (Mi.ist  region,  sontliern  AlaskH,  from  Sitka 
South  prohalily  to  iioiiluM'u  Mrilish  ('olinnhia. 

Mr.  William  Brewster  lias  recently  rearrani^ed  the  genns  Mrf/asrops,  and 
described  three  new  subspecies  in  the  Ank  (Vol.  viii,  No.  2,  Ajiril,  IXJIl, 
pp.  131I-144),  whic^h  I  include.  Accordin<^'  to  this  new  arran^fcment  Kenni- 
cott's  Screech  Owl,  an  extremely  dark  tawny  colored  race,  is  confined  to  the 
southern  coast  rei^ions  of  Alaska  from  tho  vicinity  of  Sitka,  south  probal)ly 
to  northern  British  Columbia. 

Th»*  type,  No.  .')1)S47,  U.  S.  National  Musenm  collection,  a  male,  was 
taken  by  Mr.  Ft^rdiiumd  Bishop,  at  Sitka,  March,  IHlii;,  and  remains,  so  far 
as  I  am  aware,  unique  in  collections. 

It  is  lik(!ly  to  bo  a  constant  rtfsident  wherever  fonnd,  and  there  is  proli- 
ably  no  difference  in  its  nestinji'  habits  and  ef^j,''s  from  those  of  other  ineml)ers 
of  this  genus.     It  is  one  of  the  largest  of  the  several  races  of  Screech  Owls 


m'\  mv. 


11 


j. 


125.     Megascops  asio  maxwelliae  (Ridoway). 

KOCKY    MOUNTAIN    .SCKKKt'II    OV/U. 

Scops  asio  var.  ma-rwcUiie  Ridoway,  I'^icM  and  lAm-st,  June,  1S77,  ^'10,  213, 
Meijiuicops  asio  maxwellitt  Stk.i.vkokij,  .\uk,  11,  April,  ISSS,  IS4. 

(H— ,  V.  — ,  H  4(i,>r'.  V.  407,  U  ;t7;i('.) 

Oeooraphicai.  ranoe:  Foothills  and  adjacont  plains  of  tho  eastern  Rocky  Moun- 
tains from  Colorado  north  to  Montana. 

The  Rocky  Mountain  Screech  (^wl  is  the  liglitest  colored  and,  in  my  opin- 
ion, the  hand.somest  of  the  geograi)hical  races  of  Screech  Owls  found  in  the 
United  States.  Uomparativ(4y  little  is  ,is  yet  known  regarding  the  extent  of 
its  breeding  range.  A.h  far  as  1  am  aware  it  has  only  been  fonnd  along  the 
foothills  amonjr  the  (rottoinvuod    timber  of   the  creek    l)ott(Uiis  on  the  eastern 


364 


LIFK  mSTOKIES  OF  NORTH  AMKKICAN  BIRDS. 


4'. 


slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountiiiiis,  from  central  Color.ado,  in  the  vicinity  of  Colo- 
rado Springs,  wliere  it  is  Relieved  to  be  a  winter  visitor  only,  to  the  northern 
]»arls  of  the  State,  in  HonMer  a'ul  Lariiner  (/ounties,  where  it  is  known  to 
breed,  rarely,  however,  reachinjf  a  fjreater  altitude  than  6,000  feet;  and  also 
near  Fort  Custer,  in  southeastern  Montana,  where  1  first  ni<>t  with  it  in  the 
winter  of  1884-85,  and  which  })oint,  1  believe,  still  marks  the  northern 
boundary  of  its  known  ran<re. 

As  Screech  Owls  are  usually  residents  wherever  foiuid,  rarely  straggling 
to  iiny  great  distance  from  tlieir  summer  ranges,  it  is  reasonable  to  presume 
that  this  subsiMH'ies  l)reeds  more  or  less  commonly  along  the  lower  footiiills 
and  plains  of  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  as  well  as  along 
i]w  outlying  spurs  of  the  same,  ranging  from  tlu^  eastern  portions  of  northern 
Colorado  through  similar  localities  in  Wyoming,  north  to  southeastern  Mon- 
tana (Fort  Custer),  and  possibly  slill  farther  in  tliis  direction.  It  is  also  likelv 
to  be  found  in  tlu-  extreme  northwestern  parts  of  Nebraska,  but  it  is  doubtlu! 
whetiier  it  occurs  on  the  western  slopi^s  of  the  Rock}'  Mountains.  As  yet  it 
lias  only  been  found  breeding  in  northern  Colorado,  wliere  it  seems  to  be 
toleri>l)ly  coimnon  in  suitable  localities. 

'I'lie  following  notes  on  tlie  Rocky  Mountain  Screech  Owl  are  taken  from 
an  article  recently  ])ublisiied  by  me: 

•'Tlie  credit  of  the  discovery  of  the  nest  and  i"^<^  of  this  race,  the  hand- 
somest of  the  genus  Mi'f/iiscops,  l)elongs,  1  believe,  to  Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony,  one 
of  our  youngtM'  an<l  most  energetic  naturalists,  wiio  has  done  excellent  work 
in  this  line,  as  well  as  in  other  l»ranciies  of  natural  history,  in  various  por- 
tions of  the  West,  and  lias  generously  donated  tlirongh  the  writer  a  number  of 
his  rarest  and  most  interesting  specimens  to  tlie  II.  S.  National  Museum  collec- 
tion at  Washington,  lli^  wrifes  me  as  follows  regarding  this  species:  'On 
May  4,  188;{,  while  collecting  on  tlui  I'latte  Uiver,  about  (I  miles  from  Denver, 
Colorado,  my  attention  was  altractid  by  the  liammering  of  a  Red-shafted 
Flicker,  and  pushing  my  way  through  a  very  thick  growth  of  willows  a:<(l 
small  I'ottonwoods,  I  found  the  bird  at  work  on  one  of  the  latter,  where  he 
was  excavating  a  nesting  site,  'l^lie  trec^  wa-.  a  vi'ry  large  one;  its  top  had 
lieeit  partly  broken  olV  alxtiit  12  feet  up,  l)lo\vii  over,  and  sume  of  its  limi)s 
rested  on  tht>  ground.  As  I  climi)ed  up  via  tin  leaning  to])  tii  tht^  Cohijilis 
burrow,  which  was  located  in  that  part  of  the  trunk  of  the  tree  still  standing 
upright,  a  Rocky  Mountain  Screech  Owl  flew  out  iVom  a  knot  hole  not  before 
noticed  and  dashed  almost  in  my  face,  lit  on  a  tree  within  (!  feet  of  me,  and. 
after  staring  at  me  in  amazement  for  a  few  minutes,  dropped  down  and  out 
of  sight  in  the  dense  undergrowth  in  the  neighborhood.  The  two  burrows 
were  about  4  feet  apart,  nearly  on  a  level  with  each  other,  but  on  opposite 
sides  of  the  tree.' 

"'I'lie  Owl's  nest  was  in  an  old  knot  hole  about  15  inches  in  length,  and 
judging  from  a  rough  sketch  sent  me  by  Mr.  Anthony  at  the  time,  the  base 
of  the    nest  was    almost    on  a  le\i'l   with    the    entrance.     It    contaiut'tl    three 


THE  ROOKY  MOUNTAIN  8CKEKCH  OWL. 


365 


young'  about  a  week  old  and  an  addled  cfifi^.  Tliis  epp  was  not  found  until 
his  ivturn  to  tlio  nost  a  second  time  a  few  hours  afterward,  when  one  of  tlio 
paren.s  was  cauf^ht  and  a  careful  examination  of  the  nest  made.  This,  if  it 
can  1)0  called  a  nost,  was  composed  of  hits  of  rotten  wood,  a  few  feathers  of 
small  hirils,  and  a  good  many  fish  scales.  The  treci  was  Mtanding-  within 
100  yards  of  the  river.  Fish  of  various  sjx-cies  setMU  to  form  no  incon- 
siderable portion  of  the  <liet  of  other  small  Owls  as  well,  as  I  have  found 
on  more  than  one  occasion  <jood  sized  brook  trout  (^Suhno  purpiiratus)  in 
the  biu'rows  used  by  Kennicott's  Screech  ( )\vl  (^frl/^Sl'nj)s  (isin  kninicoftii)  in 
Washinirton  Territ(M'y.'  Just  how  they  manaiji'  to  catch  an  active  fish  like 
a  brook  trout,  if  they  take  them  alive,  which,  I  must  confess,  is  very  ques- 
tionable, would  bo  interestinfj;  to  know." 

"Mr.*  Anthony  thinks  that  the  Rocky  Mountain  Screech  Owl  breeds  also  in 
old  abandoned  nests  of  the  Ulack-billed  Maji-jjie  {I'icK  pica  Itmlsnnira),  and  ho 
writes  me  that  he  hiis  often  found  them  mosfinji'  in  them  both  in  winter  and 
spriuff,  and  has  found  the  American  I.iOug-eared  ( )\vl  (^Asio  wikouianu.s)  breed- 
ing in  such  nests. 

"Air.  Denis  Gale,  of  Oold  Hill,  Colorado,  has  taken  several  nests  of  this 
bird  during  the  last  three  years,  and  finds  them  not  at  all  uncommon  in  that 
vicinity.  A  s<>t  of  four  eugs  now  before  me  was  found  by  him  r)n  April  "20, 
1SS(),  on  Boulder  (jreek,  near  liouliler  (Hty,  Colorado.  He  writes  me  regard- 
ing these  eggs  as  follows:  'Judging  from  tiie  different  stages  of  advancement 
in  the  embryos,  I  am  inclined  to  think  they  were  laid  at  intervals  of  from 
forty-i>iglit  to  seventy-two  hours,  and  that  the  eggs  were  coverecl  continu- 
ou.sly  from  the  time  tlu*  first  mw  was  laid,  'l^lie  burrow  us(>(l  for  a  nesting 
site  by  this  pair  (»f  birds  was  an  old  Flicker's  hole,  in  a  cottonwood  tree, 
al)out  20  feet  from  the  ground.  Tliere  was  nothing  between  the  eggs  and 
the  bare  wood  bottom  on  which  they  lay  that  l)ore  the  .seuddance  uf  a  nest, 
excepting  a  little  wood  dust  and  a  few  wing  and  tail  feathers  of  the  Arctic 
Hluebird  and  several  speciiw  of  Sparrows.  These  feathers  were  without  d(ud)t 
the  remnants  of  birds  f(>d  to  the  sitting  female  by  her  mate,  the  soiled  and 
stained  esrjrs  showing  i)lainlv  their  cominif  in  contact  with  tlie  mau'ded  food 
devoured  over  them.'  Tlie  female  covered  her  eggs  with  great  persistency 
and  was  only  removed  off  tiicm  l)y  force,  snapping  her  bill  and  using  her 
sharp  claws  with  great  energy  when  handled.  .Mr.  (}ale  tells  me  that  lu'sides 
small  birds,  .several  species  of  tlu'  smalU-r  rodents,  frogs,  and  crawfish  also 
form  part  of  their  i)ill  of  fare. 

"Mr.  (Jale  writes  further  as  follows.  'Karely  does  this  species  follow  the 
creeks  far  into  the  foothills;  1  have  not  observed  them  at  (!,00()  feet  altitude, 
liike  others  of  tlu'ir  genus  they  seem  to  delight  in  a  sheltered,  shady  loca- 
tion, cloHO   to   a    pond    or   creek    where   they    select   a   domicile,  either   in   a 

'  Rui'iditly  (Iraciilird  lu*  .W('j/(i«('(>;)»  iiiio  mncfitrldnri.  llltKWSTKH. 

'Siiii'it  IIiIn  itrticli'  huH  liri'ii  wiitti'ii,  I  imliii'  ill  il  lliis  linliiii;;  imipiMisitv  jh  not  CDiirincil  t<i  thr  two  races 
ilKMitioiiiMl  tliprciri,  but  in  cominoii  ti>  tin'  I'liHlcrii  fonn  as  wrll.  (.Sue  M.  .\.  I'riiZiir,  ill  Iliiil.  Niitt.  Oriiitli. 
Club,  Vol.  II,  No.  :l,  Jul}',  1877,  p.  »l,  ami  Wilhird  K.  I'luul,  in  Aiili,  Vol.  vi,  A|iril,  ItMD,  p.  Id9.) 


!i; 


4^ 


r:M^t 


,'i  i  ! 


SG6 


LIFE  HISTORIHS  OF  NOUTH  AMUUICAN  BIKDS. 


natural  tree  liolc  or  in  a  Flicker's  old  ni'st  site.  If  for  any  reason  the  Flicker 
wishes  to  retain  iiis  previous  year's  nest  site,  and  Scops  is  in  possession,  strife  is 
carried  on  lietwcen  them  with  }>Teat  vi<for,  eiidin};'  as  often  in  tiivor  of  one  as 
the  other,  judging  from  the  broken  eggs  upon  the  ground  ejected  by  the  victor. 
The  Fli«'ker  dares  not  enter  to  turn  Scops  out,  but  if  the  premises  are  vacat(!d 
for  ever  so  short  a  time,  he  enters  and  holds  tliem  against  all  comers.  His 
formidable  bill  p(»inting  out  at  the  door  is  sullicient  ai)ology  for  leaving  him 
in  quiet  possessitm.' 

"About  the  middle  of  April  is  the  usual  i)eriod  for  the  eggs,  whidi  tare 
from  three  to  five  in  number,  'i^lie  nest  is  usually  a  spar,se  gathering  of 
wing  and  tail  feathers  of  small  birds;  in  some  instances  no  litter  of  any 
kind  is  present.  As  a  rule,  the  fii'st  two  or  three  eggs  are  laid  on  consecu- 
tive days,  with  intervals  of  two,  three,  or  more  days  between  the-tiiird  and 
last  one  or  two,  as  the  case  may  be.  'Plie  female  is  always  in  charge,  and 
at  no  time  leaves  the  neist  wliile  sitting  or  while  lier  brood  is  very  young. 
She  is  waited  u])on  and  fed  l»y  the  male,  who,  being  a.  skillful  hunter,  pro- 
vides lil)erally  for  her  wants.  Searching  for  nests  I  have  sometimes  discov- 
ered the  male  liidilen  in  a  tolerably  well  stocked  larder,  in  close  proximity 
to  the  nest  site.  In  one  caelum  were  portions  of  a  Uliu'bird,  a  mouse,  and  a 
frog;  in  another  a  Junco,  a  Tree  Sparrow,  and  a  minnow  ^h  inclics  long; 
claws  and  legs  of  crawfish  were  also  present,  in  a  few  cases  I  have  dis- 
covered the  male  sitting  upon  a  bough  close*  to  the  stem  of  a  cottonwood 
tree,  perfectly  motionless,  with  eyes  almost  closed  as  if  aslec]),  the  pupil  of 
the  eye  closed  to  tlie  merest  slit,  but  witli  ears  erect,  and  all  alive  to  the 
danger  threatening  his  sitting  mate*  close  by;  in  tliis  well  selected  position, 
his  colors  and  markings  so  nearly  I'eseiiililing  tiie  rough  corrugated  bark  of 
tiie  tree,  he  seemed  to  have  the  fullest  assurance  of  security  against  obser- 
vation. 

"The  female  is  a  close  sitter.  To  indm-e  her  to  leave  her  nest  is  a 
difficidt  matter  unless  she  has  been  frecpieiitly  disturl)ed  and  understands 
what  is  meant  wlii-n  she  hears  tlu*  ti'ce  grappleil  in  climbing  it.  She  will 
then  tly  out.  Otherwise  you  will  have  to  take  lier  ofi'  tier  eggs,  .in  .some 
instances  slie  will  feign  dead  and  lie  on  her  l>ack  in  your  open  palm  with 
her  eyes  sliut.  Immediately  you  throw  her  ofi",  howi'ver,  she  will  right  her- 
self on  wing,  and  gaining  a  bough  on  a  neighboring  tree  will  crouch  forward, 
bending  her  eartiifts  ))ack  and  look  very  s|iiteful  and  wicked.  At  other 
times  wlien  removed  from  her  eggs  she  will  snap  her  bill,  moan  slightly, 
and  show  fight.  Hotli  male  and  fi'male  indulge  in  tlu*  screech,  which  differs 
but  little  from  that  of  their  eastern  cousins.  Its  sharp  distressing  notes  can 
be  heard  of  a  still  night  a  mile  distant. 

"The  lately  hatched  young  are  clothed  in  beantifid  white  duwii.  In 
the  latter  ))art  of  June,  before  tliey  are  well  able  to  fly,  they  may  I)e  seen 
sitting  side  l)y  side,  perfectly  niotionless,  upon  a  linil)  close  by  the  nest  site. 
The  y(»ung  and  their  parents  seem   to  desert    their   holes   and    live  among 


TUB  UOCKY  MOUNTAIN  SCREECH  OWL. 


367 


the  treos  for  tho  IkiIiiucc  of  tho  suniinor;  Init  wlien  the  cold  winds  strip  the 
h'iivc's  from  the  trees  in  the  fall  suitable  tree  holes  are  selected  for  their 
winter  (luarters. 

"While  stationed  at  Fort  Ouster,  Montana,  durinff  the  winter  of  1884-'8r), 
I  took  five  of  these  birds,  but  was  unable  to  find  tlieir  nests.  1  discovered 
their  presence  there  (juite  accidentally.  On  Deccinlu-r  1,  1SH4,  while  out 
hunting  Sharp-tailed  Grouse  in  a  bend  of  the  Hig  Horn  I{i%'er,  a  few  miles 
south  of  the  post,  as  I  was  walkinjj^  by  a  thick  cliuiip  of  willows  I  indistinctl}' 
noticed  a  whitish  looking  objc-t  dropping  on  tiie  ground,  apparently  out  of 
the  densest  portion  of  the  thicket  iind  on  the  opj)osite  side  from  where  I  was 
standing  at  the  time,  and  simultaneously  heard  several  ])laintive  scpu'aks  from 
that  direction.  Carefully  skirting  around  tiie  thicket,  which  was  some  20  yards 
long  and  perha[)s  o  yards  wide,  1  saw  the  ol)ject  of  my  search  savagely  engfigeil 
in  killing  a  meaihiw  mouse  which  it  had  just  captured,  i  promptly  shot  it.  It 
])roved  to  be  a  female  and  excessively  fat;  in  fact  all  the  sp<'cimens  I  seciu'cd 
subsef|uently  showed  conclusively  that  tiiey  managed  to  secure  an  abundiuu-e 
of  food  in  that  Arctic  winter  climate,  and  that  a  jjortion  of  this  at  least  seems 
to  be  obtained  in  the  daytin\e.  The  four  other  specimens  collected  by  me  were 
all  obtained  in  similar  locations.  I  luive  ni>  doidit  that  it  breeils  in  the  vicinity 
of  Fort  (hister,  but  I  lost  trace  of  these  l)irds  in  tln^  spring  months  and  failed 
to  hear  their  love  notes  at  that  time.  It  is  jxt.ssible  that  they  retire  a  little 
neart'r  to  the  mountains  to  breed.  This  is,  up  to  date,  the  most  northerly  local- 
ity recordeil  at  which  tlu^  Rocky  Mountain  Screech  (1wl  has  l)een  obtaineil.'" 

In  (Colorado  fidl  sets  of  eggs  are  sumetimes  fo'Mid  by  April  1,  and  again 
as  late  as  May  "Jo,  the  latter  [)r(il)al)ly  a  second  laying,  the  first  having  been 
destroyi'd.  lint  a  single  lirooil  is  raise(l  in  a  season.  Hollow  cottonwootl 
trees  furnish  their  favorite  nesting  siti's,  at  di>tances  from  4  to  2")  feet  from 
the  ground,  l)ut  according  to  .Mr.  Gale  they  also  breed  at  times  in  natural 
cavities  in  l»ox  ciders  ami  black  willows,  and  occasionally  a  pair  will  make 
us(^  of  the  adandoiied  nest  of  the  Mlack-billcd  .Magpie,  as  Mr.  Anthony  sur- 
mised. Mr.  William  (>.  Smith,  of  Loveland,  ('nlm-ado,  has  since  informed  me 
that  he  found  a  set  of  eggs  in  such  a  situation  in  the  spring  of  ISilO.  He 
also  states  that  remains  ni'  youn;;-  cotton-tail  rabbits  ar((  conspicuous  near  their 
nesting  sites  whili!  rearing  their  limods.  He  has  found  them  nesting  in  the 
tindx'r  along  the  creek  bottoms,  fully  "JO  miles  out  on  the  plains,  away  from 
the  foothills,  and  they  proi)al)ly  reach  points  still  farther  east  of  the  mountains. 

The  eggs  of  the  Rocky  .Mountain  Screech  ( >wl  are  |)ure  white  in  color 
and  moderately  glossy;  the  sliell  is  smooth  and  finely  granulatecl.  In  shape 
tliey  vary  from  oval  to  a  laoad  elliiitical  oval,  sonu;  being  decidedly  more 
elongated  than  any  other  eggs  of  the  }i-enus  A[<'i/<is(<iiis  I  have  seen.  Thi'  usual 
nimil)er  of  eggs  to  a  set  is  four.     Of  ten  sets  taken  by  Mr.  Gale,  three  con- 


tamed  three  e<rirs  each,  six  contanied  four,  and  one  set  live  ('"•■'s 


Tl 


lev  are 


usually  deposited  at  intervals  of  a  couple   of  days,  and  incubation  sometimes 


)e"'nis  wi 


th  tl 


le  first  eirjr 


laid. 


1)1 

V 


ri 


I  Auk,  Vc.l.  VI,  t»=H9,  No.  I,  pp.  298-302. 


'■i  : 

,  1  : 

I 

1 

868 


LIKE  HI8TOK1KS  OF  NOKTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


|PmU^f^ 

M 

BHE]^^" ' 

IhB':!". 

The  averiif^e  mcasureinoiit  of  niiu!  of  tlii'so  cfjps  in  tlio  U.  S.  National 
Museum  colku'tion,  all  but  one  pn'scutod  by  Mr.  (Jali',  is  lUi  hy  20. .5  niillimc- 
tres,  the  largest  egg  iiu'asuriii}i^  to  by  2!)..'),  the  smallest  34  by  21)..')  millimetres. 
Thirty-eight   eggs  taken  by  Mr.  (lale  average  3fi..'")  l)y  30  iriillimetres. 

The  type  specimen,  a  single  egg,  taken  on  the  l^latte  itiver  near  Deiivcn*, 
Colorado,  on  May  4,  1884,  by  Mr.  A.  W.  Anthony,  No.  22450,  is  figured  on 
PI.  12,  Fig.  10. 

127.     Megascops  asio  trichopsis  (Wagler). 

MKXICAN    SCRKKCH    OWL. 

Srnps  frirhnpsis  WArn.ER,  Isis,  \K:>-i,  ■■>7G. 

ilrgasrops  asio  tricltDp.siti  Kidoway,  Proceodings  U.  S.  National  Museum,  viii,  1885, 
365. 

(B  — ,  C  -,  R  -m,  C  470,  U  ;{i;!/.) 

Oeooraphu'AI.  ranok  :  Nortlivvestoru  Mexico  and  tho  contiguous  border  of  the 
United  States,  in  Arizona  and  Now  Mexico  (Lower  California?). 

The  Mexican  Screech  Owl  is  a  slightly  smaller  race  of  tl;e  common  form, 
and  distinguisheil  from  it  by  its  \mn'  ashy  gray  plumage,  with  the  middle 
streaks  l)lack  and  in  strong  contrast;  it  is  only  found  in  this  pha.se.  Its  range, 
as  far  as  known,  extends  from  central  Arizona  and  New  Mexico  south  to  north- 
western Mexico,  and  probably  Lower  California,  where  a  Screech  (^wl  is  known 
to  occur,  but  of  wiiicii  no  ailult  birds  have  as  yet  i)een  taken.  A  pair  of 
Scrc-ecli  Owls  ol)tained  l>y  Mr.  Vernon  Hailey  near  Oracle,  I'inal  County, 
Arizona,  on  June  11,  IHW,  are,  according  to  .Mr.  William  Brewster,  interme- 
diate between  this  race  and  the  newly  described  Me/jascojjs  asio  (likeiii,  from 
southern  ColoracU). 

Its  hal)itsare  similar  to  the  other  members  of  this  extensive  genus,  and,  like 
them,  it  nests  in  hollow  trees  or  sahuaras  (the  giimt  cactu.s)  in  abandoned  ex- 
cavations of  the  larger  Woodpeckers,  or  in  natural  cavities,  generally  at  no 
great  distance  from  the  groinid. 

1  first  met  with  this  little  Screech  Owl  among  the  .shrubliery  in  the  Rillitto 
(!reek  l)ottom,  near  'i'ucson,  Arizona,  in  1S72;  it  appeared  to  be  rather  ran^ 
liere  and  1  saw  but  few.  During  Felnniarv  and  .March  their  weird,  mournful 
notes  were  tmpiently  heard  shortly  after  sundown.  On  March  10,  I  finally 
obtained  one,  which  wiis  sitting  in  a  l)ushy  willow  overrun  with  wild  grape 
vines,  it  wiis  perched  on  a  small  liiidt  close  to  the  main  trunk  and  did  not 
appear  to  have  seen  me  i)efore  I  noticed  it  sitting  in  a  drowsy  attitude,  and 
as  soon  as  it  saw  me  it  .straightened  up,  .sat  V((ry  erect,  with  all  its  feathers 
pressed  close  to  the  body,  making  it  ap|)eai'  nt^arly  as  long  again,  iind  it  nnglit 
tlien  have  been  easily  mistaken  for  a  slender  stumj)  of  the  Iind)  on  which 
it  was  resting.  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  it  was  done  for  the  purpo.se  of 
mimicry  and  in  which  it  is  frecjuently  successful. 


THE  MEXICAN  SCREECH  OWL. 


869 


On  March  2fi,  1872,  I  found  one  of  thoir  nests  iu  an  old  Woodpecker's  hole 
in  a  willow  stump  not  nioro  than  7  Indies  in  diameter  and  about  (i  feet  from  the 
j^r'round.  The  cavity  was  sliirhtly  over  2  feet  deej),  and  the  four  e<fgs  it  con- 
tained, which  had  been  incubated  for  a  few  days,  were  lying  on  bits  of  rotten 
wood  and  a  few  dead  leaves,  not  sutHcient  to  call  a  nest.  The  female  was  at 
home  and  had  to  ))e  taken  out  forcibly,  protesting  and  uttering  a  hissing  .soiuid, 
and,  after  being  turned  loose,  snapping  her  mandibles  rajjidly  together  from  her 
])(M'(^h  on  a  small  walnut  tree,  into  which  she  had  flown.  I  was  in  hopes  she 
might  continue  to  use  the  same  site  again,  but  was  disa])pointed  in  this. 

Mr.  Herbert  Hrown,  of  Tucson,  finds  this  race  nesting  frequently,  in  that 
vicinity  at  least,  in  the  sahuara  cactus  (Cvrvm  f/itfuntciin),  which  are  often  used 
as  nesting  sites  by  both  the  Gila  Woodpecker  (^Mrhnvrpen  itropjigialis),  and 
especially  by  the  Gilded  Flicker  {('olaptcs  clirysoidcs'),  l)eing  easily  excavated 
and  affording  l)oth  roomy  and  secure  homes  in  which  to  rear  their  families. 
I  l)elieve  such  cavities  are  selected  in  preference  to  any  others  by  the  Mexican 
Screech  Owl,  as  well  as  the  more  numerous  Elf  Owls.  In  a  recent  letter 
received  from  him,  he  writes  me:  "1  have  found  the  Mexican  Screech  Owl 
lu'sting  in  ludes  of  sahuaras  within  4  feet  from  the  ground,  and  from  that 
distance  U})  to  almost  the  extreme  top  of  the  plant.  The  sahuaras  along  the 
river  bottoms,  and  on  the  mesas  bordering  them,  are  their  favorite  nesting 
grounds.  At  the  head  of  the  pass  leading  through  the  Tucson  Mountains,  about 
2i  miles  from  the  Santa  Cruz  River,  there  is  a  large  forest  of  immense  sahuaras, 
some  of  them  (!()  feet  high  and  both  body  and  limbs  bored  full  of  Woodjjeck- 
ers'  holes.  As  nt.-arly  all  were  too  large  to  dim)),  1  cut  several  down,  but  failed 
to  oV)tain  a  single  Owl  of  either  this  sul)species  or  the  more  connnon  Elf  Owl, 
and  at  the  Quijota,  90  miles  southwest  of  Tucson,  I  also  cut  down  a  mun- 
bi'r  of  thest^  in  a  similar  location  some  distance  from  water,  with  the  same 
result,  and  1  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  these  Owls  only  occupy  the" 
sahuaras  growing  in  the  lowlands  and  not  those  in  the  higher  hills  or  out 
in  the  di-serts. 

"They  are  pugnacious  and  wicked  little  fellows,  who  will  use  their  claws, 
and  bite  as  well,  on  the  least  provocation.  Small  birds,  kangaroo  rats,  goj)her.s, 
different  species  of  mice,  lizards,  scorpions,  gra.sshoppers,  and  beetles  are  their 
staple  articles  of  diet.  From  the  lateness  of  the  season  in  which  1  have  occa- 
sionally found  them  nesting,  I  l)elieve  that  two  broods  are  sometimes  raised 
in  a   year;   .still  I  have  no  actual  proof  of  this." 

In  the  oak  regions  of  southern  Arizona  they  nest  in  tlie  natural  cavities 
of  the.><e  trees,  most  of  which  are  hollow.  Mr.  O.  ('.  Poling  found  two  of  their 
ne.sts  in  such  trees,  one  on  May  1,  the  otluT  on  May  5,  1K!)(.). 

Xidification  begins  occasionally  in  the  last  half  of  March,  continuing 
through  A](nl  and  the  first  week  in  May,  according  to  altitude;  birds  breeding 
In  tlie  hot  valleys  nesting  fully  a  month  earlier  than  those  living  in  the  moun- 
tain regions. 

26957— Bull.  1 24 


i!' 


liii 


I '  * 


h 


.IF 


370 


LIl-'E  JllSTOKlKS  OF  NOKTU  AMEUIUAN  IJIKUS. 


r 


ij   I 


?r  i;r 


w 


The  miinbcr  of  t'<;<js  laid  is  usually  tln'ois  or  four,  rarely  livt).  Tlmy  aro 
similar  in  shape  and  color  to  tiiose  of  tin*  rest  of  this  {reiius,  Now  and  then  a 
set  is  found  which  is  so  hadly  stained  by  the  excrement  of  fleas  inhahitin;^ 
tiieir  huiTOWs  in  larfj^e  numbers  that  the  eggs,  judging  by  their  color,  might  be 
taken  for  those  of  the  S])arrow  Hawk. 

The  average  measurenu-nt  of  twenty  specimenH  is  34  by  '2'.)!)  inillimetreH. 
The  largest  egg  of  this  series  measures  ,'WI  by  31,  the  smallest  32.5  by  27.5 
millimetres. 

The  type  sjjecimen,  No.  2()r)(i!»  (PI.  12,  Fig.  11),  U.  S.  National  Museum 
collection,  selected  from  a  set  of  four  from  the  Hendire  collection,  was  taken  by 
the  writer  near  Tucson,  Arizona,  on  March  20,  1H72. 

128.     Megascops  asio  aikeni  Bkkwster. 

AIKKN's    .SCKEKt'lI    OWL. 

Megascops  asio  aikeni  Brewster,  Auk,  viii,  Ai)ril,  ISOl,  130. 

(B  — ,  C  -  R  —  C  —  U  •.i7;\<j.) 

Qeographk'ak  ranc.e  :  Southern  Colorado  (.soutli  prob.ibly  to  central  Now 
Mexico  iiiid  northeastern  Arizt)na). 

According  to  Mr.  William  Hrewster,  who  recently  described  this  new  race, 
Aiken's  Screech  Owl  is  of  al)out  the  same  size  as  the  California  Screech  Owl, 
and  res(!iid)les  Mcfidsciijis  asio  trirhapsis  somewhat  in  coloration, . but  with  the 
mesial  stn^aks  and  stripes  of  dull  black  coarser  and  more  conspicuous,  thus 
giving  it  a  darker  uiipearance. 

Tile  type  was  ol)tained  by  Mr.  diaries  E.  Aiken  in  El  Paso  County,  (Jolo- 
ra(h>,  on  May  2!(,  1S72,  and  according  to  his  observations  it  is  not  uncommon 
among  the  Cottonwood  timber  along  the  creeks  in  I']l  Paso  and  Fremont  ("oun- 
ties,  in  central  Colorado.  It  inhabits  similar  localities  as  the  Rocky  i\Iountain 
Screech  Owl,  and  the  latter  is  fre(|uently  found,  in  i]w  winter  at  least,  in  the 
same  groves  witli  this  subspecies,  whose  range  it  overlaps  here. 

It  is  questionable  if  Aiken's  Screech  Owl  occurs  at  any  pohits  north  of 
I)(mglas  County,  Colorado,  but  it  prol)ably  inhabits  all  tlie  more  open  country 
along  the  foothills  of  the  southern  Rocky  Mountains  south  at  least  to  (central 
New  Mexico  and  northeastern  Arizona. 

Dr.  R.  \V:  Shufeldt,  U.  S.  Army,  found  a  Screech  Owl  breeding  near  Fort 
Wingate,  N(tw  Mexico,  which  I  think  is  leferable  to  this  subspecies.  He  took 
three  well  incubat(id  eggs  on  A])ril  18,  1887,  from  a  cavity  in  an  oak  tree  10 
feet  from  the  ground,  capturing  alive  both  parents  at  the  same  time.  I  have 
seen  ])hotographs  of  tliese  specimens,  and  they  show  every  indication  that  the 
originals  belonged  to  this  race.  Tiie  t'ggs  are  now  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum 
collection,  and  resemble  those  of  the  other  members  of  this  genus  in  shape  and 
color,  and  average  .slightly  larger  than  the  eggs  of  the  Mexican  Screech  Owl, 
measuring  36.5  by  31,  36   by  30.5,  and  34.5   by  31  millimetres.     A  pair  of 


^ff'l 


AIKKN'8  80UEE0U  OWL. 


371 


l)irfls  from  Oniclc,  I'iiiiil  County,  Arizona,  soein  to  1m>  intennedifite  l)etw<'en  tliis 
race  and  tlu;  sli<flitly  smaller  and  lij^litcr  colorod  Afcxican  Scrowli  Owl.  The 
habits  of  Aiken's  yerccch  Owl  arc  similar  to  thoso  of  tlie  otliur  {f(M)fi;raj)liical 
racen  and  tlio  nuiid)or  of  (^gj^s  laid  to  a  set  varios  probably  from  three  to 
five,  and  arc  deposited  duriiiff  tlu*  months  of  April  and  May,  according  to 
latitude.     It  is  probably  a  constant  resident  wherever  found. 


i2g.    Megascops  asio  macfarlanei  Hkkwstkr. 

mackaiu.ank'h  sckkkcii  owl. 

Megascops  asio  macfarlanei  Bkewstkk,  Auk,  viii.  April,  1891,  140. 

(B  -,  C  — ,  K  — ,  C  — ,  U  37J/t.) 

Oeo(!RAPHICAL  RANOE:  Southoivstorn  Washington  to  western  Montana  (and  jK'oh- 
ably  through  the  ontiro  intervouiiig  region  from  the  eastern  sh)i)oof  the  Cas(;a(h»  Moun- 
tains in  Washington,  south  to  eeiitral  Oregon,  east  through  northern  and  central  l(hilio 
to  the  eastern  foothills  of  the  Bitter  Hoot  Mountains  in  western  Montana,  north  into 
southeastern  Britisli  Columbia). 

Ac('ordin<f  to  Mr.  William  Hrewstor,  this  recently  described  race  (named 
in  honor  (»f  Afr.  R.  ALicFarlane,  of  the  Hudson  JJay  (.ompany,  to  whom 
we  are  indebted  for  a  great  deal  of  valuable  information  about  the  nesting 
habits  of  so  many  of  our  l)irds),  is  similar  to  the  California  Screech  Owl  in 
coloration,  but  much  larger,  rescMubling  in  this  respect  the  type  of  Kenni- 
cott's  Screech  Owl,  which  appears  to  be  e(|ually  large. 

MacFarlane's  Screech  Owl  is  a  constant  resident  wherever  found  and  its 
habitat  as  far  as  known  seems  to  be  restricted  to  the  tind)ereil  ijottom  lands 
of  the  lower  sagebrush  and  bunch  grass  covered  valleys  and  i)lains  of  the 
dry  interior  portions  of  the  States  above  mentioned.  It  .seems  to  avoid  the 
mountains,  and  1  do  not  believi!  that  it  is  found  at  nuicli  greater  altitudes 
than  4,000  feet.  Its  general  habits  are  in  no  way  ditlerent  from  those  of  the 
other  members  of  the  genus  Mcjia.srops,  exce{)ting  that  on  account  of  its  larger 
size  it  is  compelled  to  nest  entirely  in  natural  cavities  of  trees,  the  ex(;ava- 
tious  nuide  by  the  larger  Woodpeckers  breeding  in  the  same  lo(;alities,  like 
Mrhnicrpcn  lurtiHdtus  and  Cohiptcs  ra/cr,  being  too  small  to  accoimnodate  them. 

I  found  my  lirst  nest  of  A^acFarlane's  Screech  Owl  in  southeastern  Ore- 
gon on  April  Ki,  1K77,  Itut  reterred  it  at  the  time  to  the  California  race,  as 
the  female  caught  in  the  cavity  corresponded  with  the  latti^r  in  plumage, 
Ijut  it  un(pi(;stional)ly  b(dougi;d  to  the  race  now  inider  consideration.  This 
nest  was  foiuid  in  a  hollow  willow  stumj),  in  a  small  grove  of  thesis  and 
Cottonwood  trees  among  which  I  camped  while  on  a  hunt  after  waterfowl 
on  Lower  Silvies  River,  near  Malheur  !.,ake,  20  miles  southwest  of  Camp  Har- 
ney, Oregon.  The  hole  was  about  .'")  feet  from  the  ground,  IH  inches  deej),  and 
contained  si.\  ])artly  incubated  eggs.  There  was  no  nest,  the  eggs  lying  on 
some    rubbish  which    had    accmnulated    in   the   hole;   the  female   was  caught 


372 


LIFE  UlSTORIES  OF  NOltTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


on  tlio  iiowt,  and  Ix-yond  snapitiiiff  lu*r  tnaiuUVdoM  niado  no  rcsistanco;  tho 
male  was  not  st-cn. 

I  (lid  not  liear  tho  tronmlous  notes  of  this  hird  alioiit  Caiii])  Tlaiimy  nor  at 
Fort  Klamath,  Orej^on,  and  do  not  helieve  it  is  fdunil  in  close  proximity  to  tUi- 
monntains.  At  Fort  Walla  Walla,  Washinj^ton,  it  is  not  uncommon,  ami  1  there 
secured  a  mnnber  of  sptH'imens.  I  also  found  two  of  its  nests  in  the  year  IHHI, 
and  three  more  in  IHHii,  Here  tiie  mating'  season  hef^an  early  in  March,  and 
their  doleful  notes  could  1)(!  lieard  every  eveninj,'',  sliortly  aft(>r  simdown, 
throuji^hout  the  month.  After  incul)ation  connnenced  the  birds  wore  silent.  In 
IHHI  a  j)air  of  MacFarlane's  Screech  Owls  nested  in  a  natural  cavity  of  a  frood 
sized  cottonwooil  tree,  about  2')  feet  from  the  j^round,  and  within  100  yards 
of  my  (juarters,  j^iviu}^  me  ample  op|)ortunity  to  watcii  tliem.  Whenever  I 
rapped  on  th(;  tree  the  occupant  would  stick  its  heail  out  and  look  al)out,  but 
did  not  fly  away.  When  first  examined  on  March  "ill,  I  found  a  sinjfle  eg}^  and 
a  dea<l  mouse  in  th(!  hole,  (hi  \\nW  7  the  set  was  ai)parently  comph'te,  coiisist- 
iuf^  of  four  ej^^fs.  These  were  laid  on  small  pitues  of  decayed  wood  and  a  few 
dead  leaves.  T\ui  i)arent  remained  in  the  hole  while  the  e<,'}^s  were  beinj,'  re- 
moved. 1  was  in  hopes  of  ,securinf(  another  s(ft  from  this  pair  later  in  tho  season, 
but  they  abandoned  the  locality.  A  |)air  of  Sparnnv  Hawks  (^Fiilai  sp((nrriiis), 
had  taken  possession  of  an  old  Woodpeckers  lioh^  only  aliout  2  feet  above  the 
one   occupied  l)y  the  Owls,  and  seemed  to  live  in  harmony  with  them. 

The  earliest  date  on  which  1  took  a  full  set  of  tluMr  eji'i^'s  was  >rarch  2f!, 
1SH2.  This  nest  was  also  in  a  hollow  cottonwood,  the  cavity  bein<(  about  2 
feet  in  dej)th  and  lo  feet  from  the  {around;  it  contained  five  fresh  (i}^},'s  and 
two  black  spotted  bn<ok  trout  {Sdlino  pitr/iunitiot),  as  well  as  the  parent.  The 
latest  date  on  which  I  took  ej^o-s  was  April  iJO,  1SS2.  This  nest  was  fVmnd 
on  April  24,  when  it  containeil  three  ef^;j:s,  which  were  left,  and  on  rec'xaini- 
nation  a  week  later,  the  nest  was  abandoned  and  no  other  eggs  had  been 
added. 

All  the  nests  found  near  Walla  Walla,  Washington,  were  placed  in 
natural  (ravities  in  cottonwood  trees,  from  1.')  to  .'50  feet  from  the  ground, 
and  invariably  near  water.  In  two  of  the  holes  occupieil  by  them  I  found 
trout  from  (!  to  K  inchi's  long  and  a  small  whitelish  (('orcf/oinis  iviUiamsoui'i) 
about  10  inches  lt>ng.  It  still  puzzles  me  to  know  just  how  they  manage  to 
catch  such  active  fish,  but  l)elieve  that,  where  obtainalile,  these  as  well  as 
frogs  form  no  inconsideral)le  portion  of  their  daily  fare,  while  the  smaller  ro- 
dimts  and  grasshopj)ers  sup])ly  the  remainiK'r.  I  do  not  lielieve  it  catches 
birds  to  any  extent,  and  must  be  considered  an  eminently  us(;ful  species. 

Hut  a  single  i)rood  seems  to  be  raised  in  a  season.  The  (^ggs,  which 
are  depo.sited  in  the  latter  part  of  March  or  in  tlu!  first  t\.'o  wcfoks  in  April, 
vary  from  three  to  six  in  nundier,  usually  four  or  five,  and  are  deposited  at 
intervals  of  one  or  two  days.  Incul)ation  lasts  from  three  to  four  we(!ks, 
both  .sexes  assisting  in  this  duty.  The  young  when  first  hatched  are  covered 
with  fine  white  down,  and  if  they  are  born  blind  I  failed  to  notice  the  fact. 


MACFARIiANK'S  SOREECU  OWL. 


373 


Tlio  P^jffs  liko  those  ol  all  (hvls  arc  pure  white  in  color,  rathor  jylossy, 
and  mostly  oval  in  sliajxt;  sonit;  arc  nearly  spiicrical;  the  shell  is  smooth  and 
closcdy  f,'rannlat(Ml.  While  not  (|uiti!  as  larj^c  as  the  avcra^'c^  cf,'^  of  the  Amer- 
iian  Lon^f-eared  Owl,  their  capacity,  thd  shape  hein}^  a  more  perl'ect  oval  iiH 
a  rnle,  is  very  nearly  the  same,  and  tin*  contrast  in  size  lietween  them  and 
the  ej,^}^s  of  all  the  other  members  of  this  family  found  with  ns  (with  the 
exception  of  Keniiicott'rt  Scroocli  Owl,  perhaps)  is  especially  notic'calde  when 
jjlaced  side  l»y   sid(*. 

Tlu^  av(M'a;;e  measurement  of  twenty-seven  speimens  in  the  {'.  K.  National 
Museum  collection  is  .'W.fi  l)y  .'52  millimetres,  tlu^  larj^est  ejfg  measuriu};  3!) 
hy  'MM},  the*  smallest  ilf)  hy  31. f)  millimetres. 

'i'he  type  spcM-imen,  No.  2()r»(!;5,  sfdected  froTU  a  set  of  five  ejfffs  (Hondiro 
collection),  was  taken  hy  the  writer  on  April  12,  18S1,  near  Fort  Walla  Walla, 
Wa.shinj^ton.     It  is  tijjured  on  I'l.  12,  Ki<^.  !(. 


130.     Megascops  asio  saturatus,  Hkkwstkr. 


I'UUKT    .SOIiNl)    SCUKKCII    OWL. 


Me(jascn}»i  asio  saturatus  Hkkwstku.  Auk,  viii,  Ajn-il,  IH'.U.  141. 

(H-,  C— ,  K— ,  C— ,  U  :)r;!/.) 

Okookaimiicai-  KA\(iK:  Slidrcs  and  islaiiils  of  PiiKi't  Sound,  Wa-sliinpton,  and 
soulhwiird  along  Ol' near  till' coast  to  central  Oregon,  west  of  the  Cascade  Mountains; 
uortli  to  Vancouver  Island  and  soutlii'i'n  British  Columbia. 

Accordin}f  to  Mr.  William  lirewster,  this  newly  described  race,  wliich  lie 
names  the  "l*ii<,ret  Sound  Screech  Owl,"  is  .somewhat  smaller  than  Kenni- 
cott's  Owl,  with  the  fi'eni'ral  colorin<;'  darker  and  less  tawny,  and  tlu^  face 
and  under  parts  much  more  white.  It  is  found  in  two  })hases  of  plumage, 
jrray  and  ferriij;'inous. 

'IMie  hal)its  of  the  Pu^'ct  Sound  Screech  Owl  a])])ear  to  lu!  very  nnu'h  like 
those  of  the  (!alifornia  and  .\la(d"'arlane's  Screech  Owls.  Like  these  it  inhabits 
the  tind)ered  Ixtttom  lands  in  close  ]»roximity  to  water  courses,  nesting  iu 
natural  cavities  in  trees,  ji'enerally  in  oaks  and  cottonw is,  and  raising  usu- 
ally a  single  brood  in  a  season.  In  .Marion  County,  northwestern  Oregon, 
nidilication  connnences  usually  in  the  latter  j»art  of  April  and  is  frequently 
protracted  into  May. 

Mr.  (J.  \j.  Keller  informs  me  that  the  number  of  eggs  laid  li}'  this  race 
is  usually  four,  occasionally  five,  and  should  the  first  set  be  taken  a  second 
and  smalliM'  oncf   is  now  and  then  laid  again  in  the  same  nest. 

'I'he  sites  found  occuj)ie(l  ))y  these  Owls  \aried  from  20  to  'M)  feet  in 
height,  and  the  eggs  wca-e  laid  on  very  little  nesting  material,  simply  a  few 
leav(is  and  feathers.  Occasionally  lai  found  some  of  those  birds  in  the  fir 
timber  on  the  outskirts  of  the  fonists,  but  more  often  among  the  cottonwoods 


li 


374 


LIFE  UI8T0U1HS  OP  NORTH  AMEUICAN  IJIUDS. 


iukI  oakrt  dose  to  wat<'r.  Tlu-y  iiro  couHtiuit  rcsiilonts  in  t!u*  Willainctto 
Viilh-y,  OiTf'ou.  Its  (odd  is  siiniliir  to  tliat  of  tlie  otlier  iiieuibLTa  of  tliiw 
fiviius,  ami,  liko  tlu'iii,  Hft'iim  to  lie  fond  of  tisli. 

Mr.  A.  W.  Antlioiiy  writes  iiu!  as  follows,  and  his  n marks  (nidently  a])]»ly 
to  this  raw:  "Wliiht  liviujr  at  Hcavcrton,  Wasliinj^ton  Ccinity,  ()rc'j,fon,  1  caught 
a  Scrnoch  Owl  in  u  st«!ol  trap  sot  for  lieavcr  in  a  ditcli  aiiont  2  feet  wide  and  (I 
feot  d(H)|).  Tho  trap  was  not  baited  but  placed  fully  4  inches  under  water,  and 
the  Owl  nianag'ed  to  net  Imth  feet  well  into  tlie  jaws  of  tlm  trap.  Tho  bird  wuh 
evidently  after  tisii,  as  1  have  frecpieutly  seen  trout  in  this  ditch." 

The  egf^.s  are  similar  in  shape  to  tiioso  of  the  otlier  nienibers  of  this  geiuiH. 
A  set  of  three  ejfffs  of  this  subs[)ec,ies,  taken  l)y  .Mi'.  V,.  L.  Keller,  in  Marion 
('ounty,  Oreijon,  on  May  H,  IH'Jl,  from  a  cavity  in  an  old  cottonwood  trei*,  ;U 
feet  from  tiie  ground,  contained  good  sized  embryos  when  found.  Another,  of 
two  eggs,  taken  in  the  same  locality  on  .Inly  iJi,  IH.SJJ,  from  a  cavity  20  feet 
from  the  ground,  in  an  oak  tree,  were  i)robal)ly  a  second  clutch.  The  average 
measurement  of  tiiese  specimens,  wliii-h  are  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum  col- 
lection, is  3G.4  by  3U.t)  millimetres. 


131.    Megascops  flammeolus  (Kaiip). 


M 


FLAMMULATEU    SCUEEt'ir    OWL. 

Svops  ftammeoln  Kaup,  TraiisiiPtions  Zoological  Socii.ty  London,  iv,  1802,  820. 
Meyancops  Jldtn iiieol us  Stejneokh,  Auk,  ii,  April,  1885,  184. 

(H  — ,  C  mu,  R  404,  C!  471.  U  ;f74.) 

Gkooraphical  ranoe:  Higlilamls  of  Quatuiuala  and  Mexico,  and  northward  to 
Colorado  and  uortliorii  Ciiliforuiu. 

The  little  Flannnulated  Owl,  one  of  tho  smallest  of  our  Screech  Owls,  is  a 
resident  of  the  elevated  plateaus  of  Unateniala  and  central  Mexico,  the  south- 
ern Uocky  .Mountains  in  southwestern  Colora(h),  tlie  monntain  regions  of  Ari- 
zona and  New  .Mexico  to  northern  California,  where  the  late  Capt.  John  Feilner, 
U.  S.  Army,  an  (Mithnsiastic  naturalist,  obtained  a  single  specimen,  a  young  binl 
of  the  year,  near  Fort  Crook,  August  23,  1H(;0,  which  was  evidently  raised  there. 

This  little  Owl  is  still  one  of  the  rarest  birds  in  North  American  ornitho- 
logical collections,  and  u|)  to  the  year  llSlK)  very  little  was  known  aliout  its 
breeding  habits.  The  single  egg  obtained  with  the  female;  parent  from  a  Wood- 
pecker's ex(?avation  in  an  old  ])ine  tree,  by  .Mr.  Charles  A.  Aiken,  of  Colorado 
S})rings,  in  Wet  .Moinitain  Valley,  Cohmuh),  dune  l.""),  iXtf),  and  which  is  now 
in  the  IJ.  S.  National  .Museum  collection,  remained  uniejue,  as  far  as  known  to 
me,  until  the  year  ISOO,  when  several  of  their  nests  and  eggs  were  taken.  '.Mr. 
William  (i.  Smith,  of  Loveland,  (Colorado,  well  known  as  a  good  ornithologist 
and  reliable  collector,  found  three  of  their  nests  during  that  sea.son,  and  has 
given  me  the  following  descrijjtion  of  them:  "Tlie  first  nest  was  taken  on  .June 
2,  IHIiO,  in  Kstes  I'ark,  Colora(h>,  at  an  altitude!  of  [jnjbaLly  1(),()()U  feet.     The 


TIIK  rLAMMULATEl)  8CRKECU  OWL. 


375 


site,  11  WcKMlpt'ckcr's  IkiIo  ill  a  dciiil  iim|i<'11,  wiiH  aliout  10  feet  from  tlie  fjroiiiid 
iukI  tlio  biuTosv  iilMtut  10  iiH'lit's  (li'('|>.  It  citiitaiiitMl  thrco  IVcmIi  t'fff^s.  Tlit' 
feiiml(!,  whlt'li  wa.H  in  tlin  hole,  laul  to  lie  iciuovt'd  liy  t'orci',  and  in  doinjf  ho 
ono  ot"  tlio  «'}jfj,'s  wiiH  linikcn;  tlicy  were  lyiiif,''  on  a  few  ciiiiw  and  fi-atluTH  from 
tln)  liird. 

"On  JuiH)  4,  I  found  a  Hcctnid  lu-st  atioiit  ii  milo  from  the  fornicr  »iti'  and 
in  a  .similar  Hituation,  a  ravino  ncai'  wati-r.  'I'liis  contained  two  frt'sli  ^^<^iit^  and 
an  ti^f^  of  a  Flicker  (^('(iliiplis  rnfct).  'I'lii'V  were  placed  in  a  Woodpecker's  hole 
in  a  larjre  aspen,  aliiait  H  feet  from  the  ground  and  10  indies  ludow  the  aiier- 
turo,  whilo  about  (i  feet  aliovo  tliis  was  a  nest  of  youii};'  Flickers.  'I'lie  cavity 
appeared  to  hiivo  bt'»tu  formerly  useil  by  a  scpiirrel  and  the  effj^s  Wi-re  deposited 
on  tlio  old  nestiii";'  material.  It  also  contained  a  few  Flicker's  feathers.  The 
fomalo  cliinf^  tenaciously  to  her  ejf;^s. 

"On  dune  20,  1  found  the  third  nest,  but  this  time  at  a  considerably 
less  altitude,  tindiably  at  about  H,00()  feet.  It  was  in  a  pine  tree  in  a  Wood- 
pecker's hole  about  11  feet  from  the  jfround,  and  contained  four  partly 
incubated  o;,''<,'s.  On  iappin<f  on  the  tree  the  (dd  bird  flew  out  and  perclieil 
on  a  limb  close  by  while  I  investi<>ated  the  nest.  This  consisted  of  a  few 
feathers  in  the  bottom  of  the  burrow,  whi(di  was  about  10  inches  deej).  The 
bird's  stomach  contained  tlu!  remnants  of  somi'  small  niimmial.  In  none  of 
these  cases  did  1  seo  the  males,  altliou<;li  my  son  and  I  searched  around  the 
vicinity  of  each  nest  thorouj'hly.  1  btdieve  these  bir<ls  are  strictly  nocturnal, 
and  consecjueutly  rarely  seen." 

This  set,  with  tlu^  feiuaU*  parent  shot  at  the  .same  time  and  purchased, 
i8  now  in  the  II.  S.  National  .Museum  collection.  The  four  ej^'jjs  measure, 
respectively,  2\li)  by  iT),  21)  by  2;").'),  2S  l)y  2.').ri,  and  28  by  2.")  millimetre.s. 

Mr.  Fvan  Lewis  found  a  set  of  three  ej^jis  of  this  species  on  June  7, 
1H90,  near  Idnho  Sprinj^s,  Clear  ("reek  County,  Colorado.  The  nesting  site 
was  a  Woodpecker's  hole  in  a  dead  spruce  tree  about  If)  feet  from  the  ground, 
the  eggs  lying  on  a  few  feathers.  Flevation  about  H,700  feet.  Tlie.se  eggs 
are  now  in  the  cidlection  of  Mr.  Thomas  II.  Jackson,  West  Chester,  I'eiins}  1- 
vania. 

From  what  we  know  of  the  habits  of  the  Flammulated  Owl  they  seem 
to  vary  but  little  from  the  other  races  of  the  Screech  Owl  family.  They 
are  apparently  stri(^tly  nocturnal,  and  their  fooil  consists  of  the  smaller 
mammals,  as  wtdl  as  beetles  and  other  in.sects.  The  stomach  of  a  spec- 
imen killed  by  Dr.  C'.  Hart  Merriam  in  the  (irand  (Gallon  of  the  Colorado, 
Septeml)('r    \'6,    1H!)0,    contained  a  scorpion,    some  beetles,  and  other  insects. 

Three  or  four  eggs  txn-  laid  to  a  set,  and  in  the  southern  Hocky  Slonn- 
tain  region  in  Colorado,  the  only  locality  where  it  has  as  yet  been  found 
nesting,  iiiditication  begins  either  late  in  May  or  the  first  week  hi  June, 
but  probably  considerably  earlier  at  less  altitudes  el-sewhere  in  its  range. 


If     V 


\h  1,  *• 


IE 


i 


Wm 


376 


LIFK  HIHTOHIKH  OK  NOUTII  AMKUIdAN  HIUIJH. 


Till)  I'gj^H  of  tlu!  Klaiimiiilat('<l  Son'tnli  Owl  ari-  wliitt',  witli  ii  faint  crfainy 
tint,  and  oval  in  Hliajx-.  Tlu*  Hlutll  Ih  Htron^,  tincly  ^rnmulatt'd,  ami  Hli;r|it|y 
(rIosHy.  Tlu'  av»'ra},f('  nu'awurcnu'nt  of  tim  fivo  t<ggM  in  tlic  U.  S.  National 
MuHfiini  ('<illc«'tion  is  2K.i;  Ity  2')  niilliniftn'H. 

'riu'  typi'  «|)t't'iint'ii,  No.  17l!tl>,  li^fincil  on  I'l.  12,  Fiff.  IT),  was  takm  l»y 
Mr.  (Jliarlt'M  A.  Aiken,  in  Wet  Monntain  Valley,  Freniont  ('tuinty,  Colorado, 
Juno  IT),   lH7r». 

132.     Megascops  flammeolus  idahoensis,  Mkkkiam. 

nWAKK   HCKF.KCII    OWh. 

Megitucops flammeolus  idahoensis  Mkhhiam,  in  Noilli  Aniciicaii  Fauna,  No.  5,  IHdl, 

I).  IMi. 

(B— ,  C-,  U-,  C— ,  U;i74a.) 
QEoaKAHHiCAL  RANOR :  Mountains  of  uoiitral  Idaho. 

Tlio  typo  of  this  new  subspecies,  an  adult  nude,  and  as  far  as  known  the 
HUiallest  of  our  S(^reeeh  Owls,  was  olitaiued  in  the  Mi«^'  Wood  Hiver  Mountains, 
near  Ketchuin,  Alturas  Oounty,  Idaho,  on  Septendu-r  22,  iHilO,  durinj^-  a  hio- 
loffical  survey  »»f  that  portion  of  tho  State,  nuide  under  the  direetion  of  Dr.  ('. 
Hart  iMerriani,  in  ehar<,'e  of  the  Division  of  OrnitlioloNy  aiul  Manunalo^^y,  IT.  S. 
De])artnu'nt  of  A<>Ti(ulture.  It  was  found  anu»n;f  the  straj,''}^lin;4'  pine  tindjor  on 
the  hills  liorderiu}^'  liifi-  Wood  Kiver. 

It  is  a  slif,ditly  suudW  hird  than  the  Flanmudated  Si'reech  Owl  and  nuich 
lijfhter  colored.  The  dark  nuu-kin<;s  are  niueh  liner  and  the  ashy  ffray  tints 
very  prououneed.  It  prohaldy  inhal)its  the  nioiuitaiu  ref^ions  of  tiie  interior  of 
northwestern  North  America  and  seeuis  to  attain  a  hiffher  northern  rauj^e  than 
the  Flainnudateil  Screech  Owl. 

Nothiu}^  is  as  yet  known  about  its  hreodiufr  habits  and  efj^gs,  but  the.se  are 
undoubtedly  aiuiilar  to  those  of  the  precedin<f  subspecies. 


l^U  ; 


133.     Bubo  virginianus  (Omklin). 

ORKAT   HORNKI)   OWL. 

Sirix  virginiana  Gmelin,  Systema  Natura-,  i,  i,  1788,  287. 

Bubo  virginianus  Bo.vai'AKTE,  Oi^o^jraphieiil  ami  C!iinipanitivo  List,  1838,  0. 

(H  18,  c,  :ti7,  R  4(15,  c  m-i,  u  nrri.) 

Geouraphical  range  :  Eustorn  North  America ;  south  through  eastern  Me.xlco 
to  Costa  Rica, 

The  bnu^din;^  ranj^'c  of  tla^  Gniat  Horned  Owl  may  be  defiiu'd  as  folhm's: 
It  extends  over  eastern  North  America  from  Florida  and  the  (iulf  coast,  north 
into  the  southern  portions  of  tlu*  Dominion  of  (!aiuuhi  to  southern  Tjubrador, 
and  thence  westward,  priiu'i])ally  south  of  latitude  f>0°  to  eastern  iManitol>a. 
In  the  United  States  the  (Jreat  Plains  form  its  wt^stern  limit,  includinir  eastcfrn 


TLIK  OHKAT  iU)ltNi;i>  OWL 


n77 


North  aiitl  Smitli  Dakntii,  cimfcrM  NcliriiHkii,  I'liMtcni  nml  cfiitnil  Kiiiishh,  tlic 
Hiiino  piirtH  «>r  tilt'  ImliiMi  'rrrritory,  niul  tlic  iiimic  >  'nvily  wcchIciI  districtH  nl 
oiiHtnni  mill  ci'iitnil  Trxiis. 

'riiH  (iri'iit  lliiriicil  Owl,  iilsn  ki  vii  as  tlic  Cat  ami  lloiit  Owl,  is  tlic 
liioMt  |iiiwcri'iil  and  ilcHtriictivc  i)ii'(l  dI  tins  t'ainily  t'onml  witliiii  tlx*  I'niti'd 
States.  Altlioiii^di  apparently  smaller  than  the  (ileal  <lray  anil  Snowy  Owls, 
It  is  i-eally  coimiileraltly  lar^rer  in  liuily  than  either  ami  i-oirespomiin^Iy 
Htron^^er. 

I'lxceptinj,''  poMsilily  in  the  extreme  iiuithern  portions  ol'  its  raii;;e,  it  is  a 
ronstaiif  resilient  wherever  fonml,  ami,  tlioiiN-li  mostly  noetiirnal  in  its  haiiits, 
it.  sees  well  enoii;;h  in  the  ilaytime  ami  hiiiits  its  prey  oceasioiijilly  on  eloiitly 
days,  espeeially  when  it  has  yonii^  to  provide  lor. 

Kxeept  during-  the  mating'  and  Itreediii;;'  season,  it  is  iiii  iinsociahle  and 
solitary  Itird,  rarely  allowini;'  another  of  the  same  speries  in  the  \ieiiiity  of 
its  ran;i(',  which  is  usually  some  heavily  wooded  tract  near  water.  As  is 
tlu)  case  with  most  Uaplores  the  leinale  is  consideralily  larffer  than  the  male, 
tint  latter  liein;^'  lint  a  poor  match  for  his  spouse  at  any  time,  and  I  liiive  little 
doiilit  that  he  occasionally  falls  a  victim  to  the  churlish  and  caimibalislic  pro- 
pensities of  his  stronger  mate,   which  sometimes  hapjiens  when  pairs  of  thcstt 


hird.'^ 


s  are  kept   in  captivity. 


it 


IS  "•eiierallN'  cniicei 


led   that   the  (<reat    Horned  I  )wl   is  liv  far  the  most 


destructive  of    all   oiir    Kaptores,   and,  on   tint    whole,  commits   more   daiiia;^'e 
than  all  the  other  species  to<;etlier.      In  this  i.istuiice,  at  least,  actual  facts  fully 


iMuir  o 


lit  th 


IS  universal  sup 


posit 


ion. 


Dr.  C.  Hart  Merriaiii  states  that  one  of  these  Owls  has  heeii  known  to 
(l(U'apitiit(t  three  'Turkeys  and  several  (,'hickeiis  in  a  sin;;Ie  nijilit,  leaving'  their 
hoilios  iiiiinjnred  and  111  for  the  talile.' 

Aside  from  its  frei|Ueiit  deprediitions  in  the  poultry  yard,  where  it  lielps 
itself  to  anything'  within  reach,  and  often  kills  many  more  victims  than  it 
uctiially  reipiires,  such  as  'riirkeys,  (ieese,  Ouiiiea  Kowl,  Ducks,  (Ihickeiis, 
and  l'i;ieous,  and  e\cn  eiilerin;^'  coops  after  them,  it  is  the  wiu'st  and  most 
relentless  enemy  our  <x;\\tu'  iiirds,  such  as  the  Wild  Turkey,  the  l\ull'cil  and 
Pinnated  (irouse,  the  Molt  While,  and  Woodcock,  have  to  coiileiid  a^iainst, 
aiul  wherever  these  valiialile  liirds  are  still  fairly  coiimioii  they  furnish  a  coii- 
sideraltle  |iortiiai  of  their  ilaih'  food.  Ainoii^'  the  mammals,  hares,  raliliils, 
Hi|uirrels,  skunks,  o|)ossuiiis,  muskrats,  ami  the  smaller  rodents  help  to  till 
out  their  Itill  of  fare,  ami  if  lish  an-  procurahle  they  show  an  equal  foiiiliiess 
for  this  sort  of  food. 

Whenever  provender  is  plenty  they  often  content  themselves  with  simply 
eiitinj;'  the  heads  of  their  victims,  rejecting'  the  remainder,  and  thus  wipe  out 
wlioh'  families  of  birds  in  a  siu<ile  nif^ht ;  their  sij^lit  is  so  keen  that  few  inan- 
ajrc^  to  escape.  They  are  {^'ciierally  aide  to  procure  an  .•ilamdance  of  food 
even  in  the  coldest  weather,  and   it  is  the  exce])tioii    and   not  the  rule  to  linil 


ono  ot 


f  t.lies(!  Owls  in  iioor  condition  at  aiiv  time  of  the    \ear. 


■llii'dilul'  t'oiiiiuctirilt,  Ir^TT,  p.  li* 


\3l 


I  !l'.! 


1   H 

III 


'r* 


378 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


Tho  mating  siiasou  of  tlu>  Gn^at  lloriKiil  Owl  bogina  in  inidwiiitor  when 
the  greater  portion  of  tlie  range  it  iniial)its  is  still  covered  with  snow  and 
ice.  Mr.  Lynda  Jones,  of  Grinnell,  Iowa,  informs  me:  "I  once  had  the  good 
fortmie  to  steal  unnotice<l  npon  a  pair  of  these  birds  in  their  love  making. 
The  ceremony  had  I'vidently  been  in  pn)gress  sometime.  When  discovered 
the  male  was  carefully  ap|)roaching  the  female,  which  stood  on  a  branch,  and 
she  hiilf  turned  away  like  a  timid  girl,  lie  then  fondly  stroked  his  mate  with 
his  bill,  bowed  solenudy,  touched  or  rul)l)ed  lier  bill  with  his,  bowed  again, 
sidled  into  a  new  position  from  tune  to  time,  anil  continued  his  caresses.  All 
these  attentions  were  apparently  i)ashfully  received  by  the  female.  Soon  there- 
after tlie  pair  Hew  .slowly  away  side  by  side.  It  is  at  this  time  that  their  hoot- 
ings  are  fre([Uently  heanl.  The  coumu)n  call  wiiicii  is  m(»st  often  uttered,  and 
I  believe  tha*^  of  the  male,  is  a  far  reaching  "to-hoot-to-hoot-to-hooh,"  while 
the  answering  one  of  the  female  is  shorter,  and  usually  consists  simply  of  an 
"do,"  (»r  "  to-oo."  Aside  from  these,  they  have  several  others,  om;  a  cat-like 
sfjuealor  cry  like  "waah-hu,"  and  again  a  series  of  yelps,  similar  to  the  barking 
of  a  dog. 

N(»ne  of  these  calls  can  be  said  to  be  i)leasing  to  the  ear  at  any  time, 
and  when  suddeidy  awakened  by  them  from  a  restful  slumber,  perhaps  while 
camjH'd  in  the  silent  and  snow-covered  woods  on  some  hunting  expedition, 
they  .sound  uncanny  enough  to  startle  even  an  o\d  woodsman  on  first  hearing 
them.  The-*!- Owls  an*  often  attracted  l)y  the  cami)-tires  of  hunting  parties,  and 
their  Hight  is  so  easy  and  silent  that  the  first  notice  oim  has  of  their  })reseiice 
is  their  pertinent  (pierry,  "who-wlio-cook.s-for-you"  from  a  tree  top  perhaps 
directly  overlu^ad,  undoubtedly  uttered  as  a  protest  against  the  invasion  of 
their  own  favorites  hunting  grounds. 

In  the  eastern  parts  of  its  range,  wheni  tlu;  ax  of  the  hunberman  has 
nearly  succeeded  in  destroying  all  the  primeval  forests,  and  l:n'ge  hollow  trees 
art*  now  comparatively  scarce,  the  Great  Horned  Owl  breeds  at  pn-sent  niostlv 
ill  open  nests,  generally  those  of  the  larger  Hawks,  and  occasionally  liiat  of 
the  common  Orow,  while  in  the  heavily  timbered  bottom  lands  of  the  Ohio, 
.Missouri,  and  Mississippi  Rivers,  the  majority  of  these  birds  still  nest  in  natu- 
ral cavities  in  trees. 

Capt.  1{.  F.  Goss,  (if  Pewaukee,  Wisconsin,  wlio  is  well  (jiialified  to  s])eak 
on  this  subject,  writes  me  as  follows:  "I  tliiiik  the  natural  breeding  ]tlace 
of  the  firreat  Horned  Owl  is  in  hollow  trees,  and  where  suitalile  cavities  can 
b(f  found  they  ani  always  selected.  In  the  early  settlement  of  this  part  of 
Wisconsin  such  breeding  places  were  alimuhint,  and  I  do  not  remember 
fniding  a  single  pair  of  tlie.se  birds  nesting  in  any  other  lociition,  but  with 
the  rapid  improvement  of  tlu^  country  the  lar^e  trees  were  mo.stly  cut  down, 
until  now  hardly  one  remains,  and  these  birds  are  now  compelled  to  resort  to 
other  ])laces,  and  we  find  them  making  use  df  old  Hawks'  nests." 

Prof  1>.  ]'].  L;intz,  of  Manhattan,  Kinisas,  informs  me  that  of  twelve 
nests  found  by  him  in  that  vicinity,  tlu'ee  were  in  old  Ke(i-taile(l  Hawks' 
nests,  one  in  an  old  Crow's  nest,  and  eight  in  hollow  trees. 


bPf 


TUB  GREAT  HORNED  OWL. 


379 


Ur.  William  L.  Riilph  iias  kiiully  tiuiilsh"(l  me  with  tlin  tollowing  inlor- 
matioii  «»u  this  species:  "lii  the  liuliiiii  Kivcr  r('<;i(>n  of  J'lorida,  the  Great 
Honied  Owl  usually  lives  in  the  ])ino  wood  districts,  hrenliiif;  altogether  in 
these  localities,  and  I  liavc*  never  known  it  to  nest  in  other  ^"tuations  in  any 
part  of  tliis  Htate  that  I  am  familiar  with.  At  and  in  the  viiiuity  of  Mer- 
ritt's  Island,  where  I  visited  for  several  winters,  these  birds  were  so  <'onn.;on 
that  eiffht  of  their  nests  were  f(»und  in  one  season  while  lookin;^  for  thos(i  of 
the  liald  Ka^jfle,  but,  like  most  Floiida  liirds,   they  are  gradually  decreasing'. 

"In  this  I'egion  these  Owls  always  deposit  their  eggs  in  tlm  nests  oi' 
the  Bald  Kagle,  and  while  1  tliink  that  these  are  usually,  if  n(»t  always  first 
deserted  l)y  the  original  owners,  the  natives  say  tliat  the  Owls  di-i\e  the 
Eagles  from  and  approjjviate  them  for  their  own  use.  One  of  the  reasons 
why  I  think  the  nests  taken  by  the  Owls  art^  deserted  ones  is  because 
nearly  all  those  found  occujiieil  by  these  l)irds  were  situated  rather  lu^ar  the 
ground,  and  these  are  the  ones  tlie  Kagles  gcuierally  abandon  first.  'I'liese 
nests  are  originally  constructed  of  larg(^  sticks  and  limbs,  lined  with  dead 
grasses,  palmetto  leaves,  flags,  and  weeds — usually  with  swamp  gra.sses  Jilone 
— and  after  being  taken  by  tlie  Owls  are  always  further  thickly  lined  with 
scales  t)f  i)ine  i)ark,  a  material  I  have  lU'ver  found  in  any  (juantity  in  the 
nests  occupied  by  the  Kagle.s.  The  amount  of  this  bark  in  each  nest  seems 
to  be  about  the  same,  which  wouhl  not  likely  be  the  case  had  it  fallen  into 
the  nests  by  chance,  which  may  occasionally  happen  to  a  limited  extent.  In 
addition  to  this  bark  there  are  always  more  or  less  featiiers  from  the  birds 
in  this  second  lining.  Many  l)irds  of  ])rey  line  their  nests  with  leaves  or  bark 
from  resint)us  trees  and  tiu-y  do  tliis  as  a  pre\cntive  remedy  for  parasites,  with 
which  they  are  always  more  or  less  tronitled.  1  have  never  heard  t)r  .seen 
this  binl  in  the  \icinity  of  San  .Mateo,  Florida,  and  while  they  are  connnon  in 
some   parts   of  tlu*   State,   they    are   entirely  al)sent  in  other  sei'tions,  although 


itl 


ipparently  etpially  sni 


11> 


itab 


Tliese  birds  become  \crv  nnich  attache(l  to  certain  localities  and  seldom 


wani 


ler    far  from    them,  even    in   cases  of    extreme   persecntioi 


A 


s    a    usual 


thing  tiiey   will,  sliould  their  nest   be    ilisturbed,,  take  another  in   tiie   im 


diate 


vicinity,  and    after  a  season   or  two  return  ay-ain  to  the  fu'st 


one 


me- 
but 


n  this  locality  I    have  known 


-f  til 


Owls  to   lay   a  third  set  of  ej 


tl 


m  tlie  .sivuK 


nest  from  which   tiie   first  t 


wo    had 


)een  successive 


■ly  tak 


en. 


P'lorida  this  species  usnalK'   connnences  l)n'eiling  in  l)eceml)er.     1  have  takei 


about 


oue-tiiinl    in<'uliate(l     Decenil 


■r  r 


Old  found  nearh'  fresh   ones 


Ji 


uuiar 


f).     These  are  the  earliest  ami   the   latest  dates  of  which  I  hav( 
•di 


any 


personal  records,  and  have  never  found  more  tlian  two  eggs   in  a    nest,   and 
about  ftl)  jter  cent,    of  the   sets  consisted   of  a  single   egg. 

"The  averages  measurement  of  a  number  of  specimens   taken  1)\'    me  in 

1   only   no.S   by  4-*.\) 
as  it  was  <tne  of 


O 


ne    ei';''    nieasnre( 


Florida  is  fyCiA  by   47.7    millimetre; 

millimetres,  and   I   am    sure   that  it   was  from    a   first  lay 

the  earliest  takei 


uiii', 


Th 


ns  (."^'^  was  the  only  one  in  the  nest,   ami   partly  m 


rlh 


ICll- 


380 


LIFE  U18TOU1ES  OF  NOUTU  AMElllCAN  BI14DS. 


})ate(l  wlion  found.  Seven  weeks  afterward  I  took  another  from  the  same  nest, 
wliich  was  still  smaller,  hut  so  nearly  hatched  that  I  did  not  try  to  preserve 
it.  The  Owl  to  which  these  ejj^ifs  iKiloni'cd  was  one  of  the  larj^est  I  liave 
ever  seen,  and  believe  that  their  small  size  was  due  to  the  very  old  a<jfe  of 
the  l)'rd.  It  is  almost  certain  that  the  (ireat  Horned  Owl  raises  but  one 
biiuid  in  a  season  in  Florida,  \vlu;i'(^  they  teed  almost  (Mitirely  on  waterfowl 
anil  the  smaller  mammals,  such  as  rabbits,  squirn-Is,  {gophers,  mice,  etc.  I 
have  never  lieai'd  of  their  catchinj^f  poultry  in  this  region,  and  believe  that 
they  do  not." 

The  Great  Horned  Owls  are  early  breedcn's,  layinjr  their  eggs  throughout 
the  greater  part  of  their  range  in  the  beginning  of  Fel)ruary  and  occasionally 
even  in  the  latter  ])art  of  .famiary.  There  seems  to  l)e  but  little  ditference 
in  the  time  of  oviposition  lu-tween  some  of  tlu^  morc^  .southern  localiticjs, 
Florida  excepted,  and  those  considerably  farther  north,  and  it  also  ap])ears  that 
climate  has  little  influence  in  the  matter.  In  some  of  the  Western  States, 
like  Illinois,  Iowa,  and  Missoiu'i,  full  sets  of  their  eggs  are  not  infrequently 
found  by  February  1,  while  in  the  southern  New  England  States  it  is  not 
lumsual  to  find  them  in  the  second  and  third  week  of  that  month,  mostly 
howev(»r,  about  the  beginning  of  .March,  and  in  New  Urunswick,  Nova  Scotia, 
and  Newfoundland  they  nest  about  tlut  latter  part  of  .March  or  the  ])eginning 
of  April.  The  country  is  usually  still  covered  with  snow  and  ice  Avhen  nid- 
ification  Ixigins,  and  their  eggs  are  not  infre(|uently  frozen  by  the  intense 
cold  prevailing  at  the  time. 

In  Newfoundland,  as  well  as  occasionally  in  other  places,  the  Great  Horned 
(Jwl,  according  to  Mr.  Henry  lieeks,  nt^sts  sumetimes  on  thc^  ground.  In  his 
notes  on  the  "Zoology  of  Newfoundland,"  in  speaking  of  this  species,  he  says: 
"The  only  ne.><t  that  came  under  my  ol>servation  was  built  on  the  ground  on 
a  tussf)ck  of  grass  in  the  center  of  a  jxind.  The  same  nest  had  been  previ- 
ously occupied  for  several  years  by  a  pair  of  Geese  (^Hi'tnUla  cdnmlvHsis).'^^ 

Mr.  George  K.  Heycr,  of  New  ( )rleans,  Louisiana,  also  found  a  nest  of  this 
species,  containing  three  young,  in  a  hollow  jjine  log  on  the  grouml.  It  is  a  well 
known  fact  that  the  Western  Horned  Owl  resorts  to  somewhat  similar  locations 
to  nest,  in  regions  where  suital)le  trees  art;  wanting.  Mr.  Audul)on  also  says  that 
lu;  has  twice  found  the  eggs  of  tlit*  (Jreat  Horned  ( )wl  in  fissures  of  rocks,  and 
while  such  ntisting  sites  are  perluqis  rare  with  the  eastern  bird  they  are  l)y  no 
means  unconnnon  with  the  Western  Horned  ( )wl.  (!ol.  N.  S.  (loss,  in  his 
"Minis  of  Kansas,"  states  that  on  tlu;  i)lains  or  treeless  portions  of  the  State  it 
likt;wise  nests  in  fissures  of  rocks.  'i'lies((  Itirds  are  ])oor  ne.st  Ituilders,  and  if 
they  do  construct  oni*  of  tlu^r  own,  it  is  through  neccissity  antl  not  from  choice. 
In  the  Kastern  States  the  majority  us(;  open  nests,  generally  those  of  'the 
Ued-failed  and  Ived-sliouldere(l  Hawks,  the  Crows,  and  sometimes  those  of 
tlu!  larg(!r  Herons,  wliih;  farther  Avest  hollow  trees,  when  procurable,  are  still, 
to  a  coiisiderabht  extent,  resorted  to.     The  trees  most  fre(piente(l  by  tlu-m  for 

'  ZoiiliigiHt,  2cl  seru'N,  iv,  Ifiil),  p.  UiU. 


THE  GREAT  UOKNED  OWL. 


881 


purposes  of  n'nlificfitioii  arc  olms,  oaks,  chustiiixts,  ash,  iiiaplns,  pines,  spruces, 
and  cedars,  and,  in  the  more  western  parts  ot"  tlieir  ranj^e,  sycamores  and 
cotton w(»od  trees. 

The  heif^lit  from  tlie  {jround  varies  consichjrably,  some  beinjf  placed  not 
over  10,  others  fully  !)()  feet  up,  jfenerally  avcraginjf  tW)m  25  to  40  feet. 
Among'  ])eculiar  nestiuff  sites  the  followiu};  deserve  mention: 

Judge  John  N.  Clark,  oi'  Saybrook,  Coimecticut,  writes  me  that  ho  found 
a  j)air  of  these  birds  nestinjf  in  a  (piadruple  fork  of  a  lar}>e  che.stnut  tree  some 
"if)  feet  from  tlie  fj^round,  tlie  eg},'s  lyiufj  on  the  bare  wood,  without  any  loose 
material  around  them  whatever,  not  even  a  sinj,de  leaf  Mr.  P.  W.  Smith,  jr., 
found  another  pair  occupying;'  an  old  soap  box  which  had  orif^inally  been  put 
up  for  s(piirrels  in  a  {^rove  not  over  100  yards  from  a  house.  The  top  of  the 
l»ox  had  blown  off  and  it  was  nearly  tilled  with  dry  leaves.  In  this  condition 
the  Owls  had  taken  j)ossession,  and  had  evidently  nested  in  it  several  years 
before  discovered  by  him. 

Such  scanty  repairs  as  may  be  needed  arc^  made  to  the  ni^st  sometime 
))efore  nidification  connnences,  and  perlia])s  a  little  lininj,'',  consistinjjf  of  strips  of 
bark  and  dry  f^rasses ,  and  as  incubation  advances  many  of  the  feathers  of 
the  birds  are  addetl  in  the  o])en  nests,  while  if  a  hollow  tree  is  used,  nothing 
whatever  is  done,  the  eggs  l)eing  tleposited  on  the  j'ubbish,  which  may  have 
accuimdated  therein,  such  as  bits  of  rotten  wood,  old  leaves,  and  the  feathers 
droi»ped  from  the  incubating    1)ird. 

An  miusual  cold  and  w(^t  s])ell  may  freeze  or  spoil  tlu;  first  eggs  laid,  and 
a  second  set  is  subse(iuently  added,  the  former,  in  such  case,  are  often  pushed 
down  among  the  loose  rubbish  in  the  nest.  This  accounts  for  some  of  the 
extra  large  sets  that  are  sometimes  found,  which  in  reality  ai'e  two  sets,  laid 
at  different  times,  one  addled  thi^  other  fei-tile. 

From  one  to  five  eggs  have  been  found  to  a  set,  but  as  a  rule  two  or  three 
are  all  that  are  laiil,  tlu;  smaller  number  moi'c  fVecjueutly.  In  some  sections, 
liowever,  sets  of  four  eggs  are  not  unusual.  Mr.  J.  W.  Preston,  of  Maxter, 
Iowa,  writes  me  that  this  numbc'r  is  founil  l»y  him  about  once  in  three  sets, 
and  that  in  the  early  part  of  March,  lH7o,  he  found  a  set  of  live  eggs  too 
far  advanced  in  incubation  to  disturb  tliem,   and  which  wer«;  all  hatched  later. 


Tl 


US  unusually  large  st 


't  was  found  i 


u  ail  o 


pell  nest  in  the  top  of  a  medium 


sized  black  oak  in  heavy  woods. 


Capt.   H.   F.  Goss  writes  me  that    he    never  found  more  than  tliret^  eggs 

He  says:   "I  found  two  nests 


in  a  s(}t,  and  that  two  are  far  more  common. 


with  four  young  in  each  of  them,  both  in  hollow  trees.  In  one  the  tree  had 
l)een  bent  over  and  broken  otl",  li'aviiig  a  hori/oiital  hole  in  the  end.  Two 
of  t!ie  young  were  more  than  half  grown  ami  partly  feathered,  tlu;  I'emaiiiiiig 
two  very  small  ami  still  in  the  down.     There  seemed  to  be  a  month's  differ- 


ence m  tlieir  a 


th 


ges,  but  it  occurri'd  to  me  as  being  possible  that  the  two  large 
om^s  got  in  front  and  took  most  of  the  food,  and  the  other  two  were  dwai-fed 
by  starvation.     In    the    second    nest   the    }ouiig    were    of  dirt'erent   sizes,  the 


382 


LIFE  UliSTOBlES  OF  NOllTU  AMERICAN  1UUD8. 


largest  nuarly  full  feathered,  the  smallest  still  in  the  down.  This  regular 
difference  can  scarcely  be  accounted  for  by  ino()uality  of  food,  but  seems  to 
indicate  that  the  eggs  were  laid  at  intervals  of  idx)Ut  two  wee'.i.s." 

I  believe  that  where  the  Great  Horned  Owl  nests  in  hollow  trees  the 
number  of  eggs  laid  by  them  is  usually  apt  to  be  larger  than  where  an 
open  nest  is  used.  The  young  are  more  secure  in  such  a  location  and  not 
so  likely  to  fall  or  bo  crowded  out. 

According  to  the  observations  of  sever.a!  careful  collectors,  incubation  is 
said  to  la.st  only  three  weeks,  but  I  believe  that  twenty-eight  days  comes 
neiU'er  to  the  actual  time  reipiired.  Positive  assertions  in  such  matters  can- 
not well  be  made,  especially  as  it  ai)pears  that  the  eggs  are,  sometimes  at 
least,  laid  at  considerable  intervals,  and  in  such  cjises  incul)ation  begins  with 
the  first  one  laid.  Where  sets  do  not  exceed  the  usual  number,  two,  incuba- 
tion probably  does  not  begin  until  the  set  is  completed,  and  it  is  not  likely 
that  ordinarily  a  longer  interval  tlum  three  days  occurs  between  the  laying 
of  the  two  eggs. 

Tiie  Great  Horned  Owl  will  sometimes  breed  in  confinement.  Professor 
Lantz,  of  Manliattan,  Kansas,  writes  me:  "A  pair  kept  in  a  large  roomy 
cage,  where  they  were  seen  and  teased  by  many  people,  became  very  combat- 
ive. In  IHSf)  tile  female  laid  eggs  as  foll<)ws:  One  on  Jaiuiary  14;  this  was 
frozen  because  siie  would  not  sit  on  it.  January  21)  tlie  nest  contained  two 
more  eggs,  whicli  were  taken,  and  on  February  25  two  others.  No  more 
were  laid." 

They  are  not  tiie  kind  of  l)irds  to  make  pcits  of  As  a  rule  they  are 
ill  temi)er(H],  no  matter  liow  well  treated,  ami  will  attack  their  keeper  with- 
out any  provocation,  inflicting  severe  and  sometimes  dangerous  wounds.  One 
of  my  corrcspondeuts,  who  I'aised  one  of  tliese  Owls  from  tlie  nest  and  k((pt 
it  for  tlu'ce  years,  called  it  a  "veritable  feathered  tiger,"  but  they  do  not 
all  deserve  ipiite  so  l)ad  a  name. 

I  l)elieve  the  female  attends  to  tiie  duti'js  of  incubation  almo.st  exclusively, 
tlie  male  providing  her  with  food. 

Th(*  Great  Iloriied  Owl  is  ccrtaiuly  a  diligent,  as  well  as  a  successful 
hunter,  ami  an  abundance  of  food  is  generally  I'oiind  in  a  nest  with  the  young. 
Captain  Goss  found  in  one  nest  several  partly  devoured  ral)l)its  and  more  than 
a  dozen  rats,  all  without  tlieir  iieads,  l)ul  otherwist^  untouched.  A  corni- 
sjioudent  of  Forest  and  Stream,  in  tlie  number  of  May  4,  1882,  writing  from 
Saratoga  Springs,  New  York,  umler  tiie  iinin  dc  plume  of  "Ifawkeye,"  states 
that  in  a  nest  he  examined,  containing  two  young  Owls,  he  found  tiie  following 
animals:  ".\  mouse,  a  young  miiskrat,  two  eels,  four  Imlllieads,  a  Woodcock, 
four  liufl'eil  (Jroiise,  one  raiibit,  and  eleven  rats.  Tlie  food  taken  out  of  the 
nest  weiglf'l  almost  IS  ])ouii(ls.  A  curious  fact  connected  witli  these  captives 
was  tliat  the  heads  wi^re  eaten  off,  the  liodies  Iteiiig  untouched." 

Where  open  nests  are  resorted  to,  these  are  not  uiifre([uently  used  by  two 
different  sjiecies  in  the  same  year,  the  Great  Horned  Owls  being  the  first  ten- 


■I 


TUK  GREAT  HORNED  OWL. 


383 


ants,  and  as  soon  as  their  younjif  liavo  left  it  is  taKen  possession  of  by  one  of 
the  hirger  Hawks  for  tlie  siiirie  purpose.  AUlioufjli  at  all  other  times  unsocial, 
duiinj^  the  season  of  reproduction  the  Great  Horned  Owls  are  generally 
devoted  and  courageous  in  the  defense  of  their  young,  caring  for  them  long 
after  leaving  the  nest.  Collectors  luive  been  known  to  be  vigorously  attacked 
and  even  beaten  off  by  tlieui,  and  were  quite  willing  to  make  a  hasty  retreat 
in  order  to  keep  out  of  reach  of  their  sharj)  and  i)()werful  talons. 

The  eggs  of  the  Great  Horned  Owl,  usually  two  or  three  in  number,  are 
white  in  color,  and  show  little  or  no  gloss,  though  there  an}  occasional  excep- 
tions; they  are  rounded  oval  in  shape;  the  shell  is  thick  and  rather  coarsely 
granulated,  feeling  rough  to  the  touch. 

The  average  measurement  of  twenty-live  specimens  is  f)*)  by  4fi./)  milli- 
metres. Tiie  largest  of  these  eggs  measures  58.5  by  48.5,  the  smallest  51  by 
44.5  millimetres. 

The  type  specimen.  No.  20fi29  (PI.  12,  Fig.  12),  from  a  set  of  two,  was 
taken  by  Capt.  B.  F.  Goss,  near  Pewaukee,  Wisconsin,  March  13,  1883. 


134.     Bubo  virginianus  subarcticus  (Hoy). 

WESTERN     H(tKNi;n    OWL. 

Buhn  subnrcficun  Hov,  Prooeodlugs  Acadoray  Natural  SoiiMicos  Pliilii.,  vi,  185^,  211. 
Bubo  virginiantifi  ft  .siiharrticiis  llllMiWAY,  Ornithology  of  tlio  4()tli  Par.,  1877,  572. 
(B  48,  part ;  C  :il7«,  p;irt ;    R  -lOoa,  part ;  C  403,  part ;  U  ;)7,5n.) 

Geooraphical  UANCiK :  Wo.sloru  Uiiitod  States  (uxcupt  northwest  coast) ;  east- 
ward across  tlio  Groat  Plains,  sti'aggling  to  northern  Illinois,  Wisconsin,  and  western 
Canada;  north  to  Manitol)a;  .south  over  the  tahh^-lands  of  Mexico  (Lower California?). 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Western  Horned  Owl,  a  lighter  gray  and 
butf  colored  bird  than  the  preceding  sul)species,  extends  from  tiie  iMexican 
table-lands,  north  througii  southwestern  Texas,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  (.'olo- 
rado,  western  Kansas,  western  Nebraska,  Utah,  Wyoming,  Montana,  and 
western  South  and  Xortii  Dakotii,  as  well  as  beyond  our  border  into  western 
Manitoba,  Assiniboia,  and  soutliern  Alberta.  On  the  Pacific  coast  it  is  found 
from  (Lower?  and)  soutliern  Calitornia  northward  through  all  the  intervening 
States,  on  both  sides  of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  jjassiiig  througii  Mriti.sh  ("ohimbia 
to  Ala.ska,  along  tiie  Lower  Yukon  River  and  siiori's  of  Hering  Sea,  to  about 
latitude  ()5°  N. 

According  to  Mr.  William  Brewster,  the  Horned  Owls  found  in  J^ower  Cal- 
ifornia are  nuu-h  suialler  in  si/,(^  and  darker  colored  than  the  Western  Horned 
Owl,  resendding  the  Du.sky  Horned  Owl  somewhat  in  coloration,  and  they  will 
have  to  be  separated  as  a  new  geograpiiic-al  race. 

The  Western  Horned  Owl  is  only  found  in  the  lower  foothills  and  more 
open  country  throughout  the  range  indicated,  while  in  the  higher  mountain 
regions,  it  is  replaced  by  the   Uusky  Horned  Owl  (Biiho  rirfjinianufi  saturatuti). 


I 

I!, 
i". 


:);■ 


384 


LIFE  IJlSTOltlBS  or  IVOltTU  AMIiUICAN  BIRDS. 


r! 


Tlwrv  is  lut  percei)tiblo  (lifft'i-oiico  in  the  ffcncral  hiil)its  of  the  Wostorn  Ilornod 
Owl  from  tliosi'  of  its  oiistcrn  relatives.  Tiieir  call  notes  arv  also  similar; 
and,  like  it,  it  is  the  most  destruetive  and  insatialde  of  all  tiie  liaptores  found 
in  its  ranjjfe,  feedini^  to  a  preat  extent  on  valuahle  <ram(f  l)irds,  especially 
the  Cohunhian  and  Prairie  Siiaqi-tailtMl  (irouse,  wherever  tiiesct  are  abundant, 
a.s  well  as  on  Uucks,  other  waterfowl,  and  th(!  smaller  land  l)irds.  Amonfjf 
manunals,  hares,  prairie  dof^s,  polecats,  marmots,  the  d  fferent  species  of  tree 
and  {n'oiiiitl  scjuirrels,  wood  rats,  and  other  rodents,  co.itrihute  to  its  fare.  In 
the  more  settled  rej,nons  poultry  yards  also  sufl'er,  as  tliuse  Owls  rapidly  develop 
a  strouff  taste  for  such  food. 

In  the  choice  of  nestinj,''  sites  the  Western  Iloriufd  ( )wl  shows  a  wider 
raiiffe,  however,  than  the  preccclinjf.  While  })erhaps  the  majority  of  these 
birds  rtisort  likewise  to  hollow  trees  or  old  nests  of  I'le  larger  Hawks  and  of 
the  conunon  Crow,  (piite  a  luunbor  nest  in  the  wind-worn  holes  in  sandstone 
and  other  cliffs,  small  caves  in  day  and  (rhalk  hluffs,  in  some  kxralities  ou 
the  ground,  and,  I  })eli(!ve,  even  occasionally  in  badger  holes  imder  ground. 
On  the  grassy  plains  in  tlie  vicinity  of  the  Umatilla  Indian  Reservation,  in 
northeastern  Oregon,  I  Iiave  .several  times  seen  Owls  of  this  race  sitting  on 
the  little  mounds  in  front  of  badger  or  coyote  burrows,  tiear  the  mouths 
of  which  small  bones  and  pellets  of  fur,  were  scattercfd  about.  Wliihi  unable 
to  as-sert  j)ositiv(dy  that  they  do  actually  breed  occasionally  in  such  hole.s, 
the  indications  point  that  way,  and  this  would  not  seem  to  be  due  to  the 
absence  of  suitable  timber,  as  an  abundaiu-e  of  large  trees  grow  along  the 
banks  of  tlie  Umatilla  Kiver  not  more  than  a  mile  away.  Wlien  nesting  in 
trees,  large  cottonwoods,  sycamores,  willows,  j)ecans,  pines,  oaks,  and  firs,  are 
generally  prefeired.  In  regions,  however,  wliere  iieavy  timlter  is  scarce  they 
(H>ntent  tliemselves  with  nests  in  small  mi'siiuite  and  hacklxM-ry  trees,  fretpiently 
|)laced  not  over  10  feet  from  the  ground.  In  Lower  ('alifornia(?)  and  .southern 
Arizona  tliey  uLso  nest  t)ccasionally  in  the  sahuara,  the  giant  cactus,  so  connnon 
in  those  regions.  In  Colorado,  Wyoming,  and  Idalio,  they  are  known  to  make 
u.so  of  old  IJlack-billed  Magpies'  nests,  laying  their  eggs  occasionally  inside, 
but  more  t)ften  on  the  broken  down  roof  of  these  l)ulky  structurti.s.  In  the 
neighlxtrhood  of  Nueces  Hay,  in  southw(!stern  Tifxas,  they  nest  in  holes  in 
high  banks,  and  in  jxtrtions  of  Oalifornia  similar  situations  are  occupied. 

Mr.  Charles  A.  Allen,  of  Ni"asio,  California,  writes  nm  as  follows:  "On  the 
seacoast  near  Pohit  Ileyes  I  have  found  their  nests  on  t!u!  ground.  All  ahnig 
the  coa.st  tlie  water  rushing  down  from  the  hills  during  the  rainy  .season  has 
worn  and  cut  channels  out  of  the  soft  and  f'rial)le  soil  to  tlie  depth  of  100  or 
200  feet  as  it  ai)i)roaches  the  siion^,  the  sides  of  thesc!  gulches  being  fre(iuently 
nearly  perpendicular.  The  slopes  of  these  cuts  an;  in  many  ))art8  covered  with 
a  growth  of  coarse  grass,  liuUruslujs,  and  tall  ferns,  and  a  ])lace  among  these  is 
usually  ^elected  by  tlaMu  for  a,  masting  site.  A  shallow  hole  is  scratched  out 
next  to  the  bank,  and  althougii  you  may  be  able  to  look  down  into  the  nests, 
they  are  frcMjuently  inaccessible.  I  iiave,  while  hunting  sea  birds,  often  started 
Owls  from  off  their  nests  in  such  jilaces." 


THE  WKSTEltN  UOliNED  OWL. 


385 


Mr.  W.  Otto  Emerson,  of  Ilaywanls,  California,  found  a  neat  of  this  Owl, 
containing  thnse  young  birds,  on  a  sleeper  under  a  railroad  bridge,  and  Lieut. 
Robert  C.  Van  Vliet,  U.  S.  Army,  tells  me  that  he  frequently  saw  these  birds 
Hying  about  within  the  town  limits  of  Santa  I'V,  New  Mexico,  a  pair  occupying 
the  tower  of  the  cathedral,  and  he  thinks  they  nested  there. 

Mr.  Denis  Gale  says:  "Each  pair  of  these  Ijirds  have  their  particular 
range,  and  no  amount  of  harassing  or  robbing  them  of  their  eggs  two  or 
three  times  a  year,  will  induce  them  to  leave  a  locality  ouco  chosen.  Tim 
food  sup])ly,  of  course,  is  the  chief  considerati  )n  influencing  their  choice.  In 
some  cases  half  a  mile  of  creek  bottom  delines  tlie  limit  of  their  preserve 
or  hunting  groinid,  and  occasionally  it  is  larger,  every  .scjuaro  foot  of  which,  in 
time,  becomes  familiar  by  careful  watching  niglit  and  day.  No  doubt  every 
burrow  and  hiding  place,  from  tiiat  of  a  mouse  to  a  jack-raljbit,  is  known  to 
tiiem.  *  «  *  A  clioico  of  location  once  ma(h*  is  never  ab>.ndoned,  unless 
civilization  blots  out  the  cover  or  kills  the  birds." 

The  Western  Horned  Owl  is  extremely  abundant  in  favorable  localities. 
At  Fort  Custer,  Montana,  situated  in  the  angle  formed  Ity  the  confluence  of  tao 
Big  and  Little  Horn  Rivers,  I  obtained  not  less  than  twenty-eight  of  these 
Owls  in  the  winter  of  18.S4-'S,"),  and  at  least  a  dozen  others  were  killed  which 
I  did  not  receive.  All  wens  siiot  within  a  radius  of  6  miles  of  the  post,  among 
tlie  Cottonwood  timl)er  on  these  streams.  Every  specimen,  old  or  young,  was 
excessively  fat,  showing  that  notwithstanding  their  numbers,  they  all  readily 
procured  an  abundance  of  food  even  in  the  severest  winter  weather.  The 
Colund)ian  Sharp-tailed  Grouse  appeared  to  have  suffered  greatly  from  their 
depredations,  as  fully  one-half  of  the  birds  secured  contained  remains  of  these 
in  tluiir  crops.  A  few  of  the  .specimens  obtained  here  were  intermediate  in 
plumage  between  this  race  and  the  Arctic  Horned  Owl,  probtibly  migrants 
from  the  north. 

In  tlie  southern  parts  of  their  range  uidification  begins  occasionally  in  the 
fu'st  part  of  January.  Capt.  IJ.  F.  Goss  fouml  a  set  of  their  eggs  on  the  Htli  of 
that  moutii.  Usually  it  <h)es  not  begin  much  before  February  1.5,  and  lasts 
until  tlie  middle  of  Marcli.  Climate  seems  to  have  little  to  do  with  the  time  of 
nesting  with  tlieso  birds,  as  they  nest  sometimes  fully  as  late  in  the  semi- 
tropical  regions  as  tiiey  do  nuu-h  fartlicr  noiiii. 

'llw  Western  Horned  Owl  is  a  persistent  layer.  Mr.  Gale  writes  me 
that  lie  has  taken  thrtni  sets  of  eggs  from  the  same  pair  of  birds  in  the  sea- 
sou  of  188'J  at  intervals  of  iibuut  four  weeks.  Tlio  first  set  contauied  four 
o'^'^>i,  the  second  three,  and  the  last  two  each,  and  the'nesthig  site  was  changed 
each  time.  Where  they  use  open  nests  the  site  is  likely  to  be  changed  each 
season,  but  when  a  hollow  tree  or  a  hole  in  a  clilT  is  cliosen  they  usually 
occujjy  the  same  from  year  to  year,  unless  too  often  disturbed.  The  old 
l)irds  can  generally  be  found  in  tlie  vicinity  of  tlieir  breeding  ground  through- 
out the  year.  Mr.  Gale  bt^lieves  that  thes(!  ( )wls  do  not  breed  until  the 
.second  year,  and  as  a  rule  only  a  single  brood  is  raised;  but  the  fact  that  young 
20957— Bull.  1 25 


!■  I 


A' 

t 


I',  f 


886 


lilFK  1J18TOUIES  OF  NOKTil  AMERICAN  lilKDS. 


I.  i 

i 


birrls  not  y<'t  iiblo  to  fly  iiro  occasioiiiilly  found  ho  late  in  tlic  wanon,  ami  sonic- 
tinu's  in  localitioH  wliuro  tlioy  curtainly  had  not  butai  disturlxMl  jdoviously,  it 
would  appear  as  if  a  Hocond  niif^ht  now  and  tlifii  Ito  roared.  A  fi'W  days  after 
my  arrival  at  Fort  Klamath,  Orej^on  (June  tS,  1K8'2),  onti  of  my  men  l)rouj,dit 
111(1  a  younjf  Owl  of  this  subspecies  wliicii  he  had  cau^fjit  alive  in  the  jjine 
ftirest  south  of  tho  post.  It  could  barely  fly  at  the  time,  and  if  not  from  a 
second  brood  tho  e{^{?s  nmst  have   been   laid  st'veral  weeks  lati!r  than  usual. 

The  I'ji'j^s  number  two  or  three  to  a  set,  occasidnally  four,  and  sets  of 
three  are  aliout  as  often  found  as  the  smaller  number,  whih!  those  df  four 
are  not  especially  rare.  Mr.  Charh^s  K.  Morrison  reports  takin;^  one  of  six 
in  Wyomiufi',  an  e.xtremely  lari^e  set,  and  ^Ir.  Charles  (!.  Neale  writes  me 
that  lu(  took  a  .set  of  live  ey),>-s  from  a  nest  in  an  oak  tree  in  the  mountains 
in  Plumas  County,  California. 

Tiiey  are  deposited  <>-enerally  at  intervals  of  two  or  tin-ee  days,  the 
female  attendiufr  to  tho  duty  of  inculiation  exclusively,  I  believe,  and  which 
lasts  about  four  weeks.  The  male  supplies  liis  nuitci  witli  the  necessary  food 
wiiile  she  is  so  enj^aged,  and  when  not  huntinj^  is  usually  found  in  close 
jmi.ximity  to  the  nest.  Tiio  oj,'}fs  are  similar  to  those  of  the  (ilreat  Horned 
( )wl. 

Tile  averajfe  mea.surenuMit  of  iifteen  specimens  in  the  II.  S.  National 
Museum  collection  is  50.5  by  47  millimetres.  Tiio  lar<fest  eg>if  of  this  series 
measures  58.5  by  •IS.5,  the  smallest  5.'{.5  l)y  45  millimetres.     None  are  figured. 


135.     Bubo  virginianus  arcticus  (Swainson). 

AKCTIC    lIOUN'K.n    OWL. 

SIri.r  (Biihii)  itrctini  SwAlxsox,  F*'auiia  Hoi-cali  Aiiieric-ma,  II,  IS'!!.  Sil,  PI.  311. 
Bnlii)  firijiniiuiiis  var.  arrHcii.'t  (I.vssix.  llliistrat(Ml  Hinl.sof  Califoi'iiia,  etc.,  lS5t,  17S. 
(B  4S,  i)art  ;  C  ;ii:r(,  i)art  :  11  Ki.l/).  0  Iti:!,  |)art;  IT  :ir,y,.) 

<  jKooKAi'HiCAii  KAXOK:  Arctic,  America,  cliiclly  tlio  interior;  south  in  winter  to 
till-  (ri-cat  Plains  (tlic  two  D.ikotas,  ^tontaua,  etc.). 

Tiie  breeding  range  of  the  Arctic,  Horned  Owl,  a  mucli  lighter  colored 
race  than  tiie  two  preceding  forms,  is  confined,  as  far  as  known  at  i)re.s(;iit, 
to  tliose  parts  of  tiie  interior  of  Uritish  Nortii  America  situated  between  James 
liay  (.Moo.so  Factory),  the  west  shores  of  Hudson  Hay,  and  tlie  eastern  slopes 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  nortli  of  latitude  51  \  and  extending  in  a  iiortiiwest- 
erlv  direction  to  northern  Alaska,  wiiere  a  specimen  was  obtained  bv  Mr.  C.  I>. 
JIackay  on  tin*  .Vttoknagik  IJiver,  August  24,  is.sl.  Like  tlie  Western  Horned 
Owl  it  inhabits  the  more  oj)!'!!  country  tiirouglioiit  its  range,  more  especiallv 
along  the  shores  of  the  mniierous  lakes  and  streams  found  in  tliose  inhospi- 
table regions.  In  winter  it  migrates  southward,  though  raivly  entering'  our 
liorders.  As  yet  I  have  not  seen  a  specimen  of  this  race  ol)tained  within  tlie 
limits  of  the  IJuited  States  that  couM  be   called  typical.     While  stationed  at 


TUK  AKCTIU  UOliiiED  OWL. 


387 


Fort  (^ustiT,  I\r(tiitiniii,  1  iTci'ivcd  scvoral  Owls  wliicli  apinoiiclicd  this  form, 
Ijt'iuj^  iiitcriiKMliiitt;  lictween  it  and  tho  VVusti'iu  Jlitmutl  Owl,  but  iiouo  wore 
l)ert'e<'t  types  of  either. 

Mr.  R.  MiicFiirliiiio  met  with  the  Arctic  Honied  Owl  in  tho  comitry 
between  Fort  Oood  ll<»p(?  on  tho  Lower  Miickciizie  and  tlie  Amlerson  IJiver 
reyum,  within  tiio  Arctic,  circle,  and  in  a  collection  ot"  birds  and  ei^gs  recently 
received  from  him  is  a  very  lij>iit  colored  female  of  this  race,  a  perfectly 
typical  specimen  from  .Moose  Lake,  eastern  Saskatciuiwan,  shot  in  May,  IH!M), 
which  probaldy  marks  nearly  tho  southern  limit  of  its  breedinj,''  ranfjje.  These 
birds  feeil  on  tlie  niunerons  waterfowl,  Ptarmi^rjui,  and  the  Arctic  hares  inhab- 
iting; the.se  regions,  and  are  proljaldy  conmion  enouffh  in  suitable  localities, 
where  an  abundance  of  food  is  easily  obtainable. 

Nothin|jf  i.s  as  yet  known  about  tlu'ir  mod<^  of  nestinfj  or  their  egf,'s,  wliich 
are  not  likely  to  differ  from  those  of  the  precechnj;  races. 


136.     Bubo  virginianus  saturatus  RinowAY. 

nUSKY    HOUNKO    OWL. 

BlUx)  vinjininnufi  Ndfumtnn  RinowAY,  Oriiitholojjy  of  the  40th  Par.,  1877,  67^,  I'oot- 

noto. 
(B  48,  iiart;  C  3ir/>,  R  405c,  C  404,  U  ;}75f.) 

Geooraphi(;al  range:  From  Labrador  and  Hudson  Bay;  west  tln-caigli  tlie  iiito- 
rior  to  Alaska,  and  south  jivohahly  tlirouKli  nH  the  liiglicr  n<Kioiis  of  the  Rocky  and 
Sierra  Nevada  Mountains;  .south  to  Arizona  (San  Francisco  Mount.'iia). 

Tho  range  of  the  Dusky  Horned  Owl,  the  darkest  colored  of  tho  different 
races  of  the  genus  linhn,  has  until  I'econtly  been  supposed  to  bo  confined  to 
the  coast  regions  of  Oregon,  Washington,  JJritish  C'olumliia,  and  Alaska  'i'erri- 
tory.  As  it  is  well  known  to  occur  also  in  Labrador — and,  furthermore,  to 
lireed  tlierti,  sliowing  tliat  it  is  not  an  accidental  straggler — it  jiroliably  also 
inhabits  the  wooded  regions  of  the  interior,  covered  with  hardy  spruce  and 
pine  forests,  which  connect  tlieso  widely  separated  points,  and  reacii  from  the 
North  Atlantic.  Ocean  nearly  to  JJoriiig  ami  tho  .Vnrtic  Sea.  i\s  yet,  however, 
no  specimens  of  tiiis  race  liavo  been  olitaiiied  from  tiio  interior  of  Mritish  North 
iVmerica.  Tliis  is  not  surjirising  when  wo  consider  tlu*  fact  that  this  Iarg<i  liird 
has  until  veiy  recently  been  overlooked  in  regions  far  more  accessible  than 
tlie  .so-calle(l  "fur  countries." 

During  a  l)iological  survey,  conducteil  under  th(>  direction  of  Dr.  ('.  Hart 
Merriain,  Cliief  of  the  Division  of  Ornithology  and  Mammalogy,  V.  S.  De])art- 
ineiit  of  Agriculture,  made  in  August  and  Se]>tember,  l.sS'.t,  nnd  which  resulteil 
in  some  extremely  interesting  discovt^ries,  a.  spcH'imon  of  this  dark  colored  race 
was  shot  on  September  14,  in  the  pine  bolt  on  San  PVancisco  Mountain,  central 
Arizona.  Another  was  seen  at  tlu*  saiia*  time,  and  they  are  reported  as  toler- 
ably common  in  that  vicinity.  This  extends  the  range  of  this  race  south  to 
latitude  ^.^"^  N. 


388 


LIFE  IllSTOUllia  OF  NOBTU  AMKUiCAN  lUltDS. 


'■fl 


Siiico  it  occurs  in  Arizona  it  will  tloul)tlc'SH  Ixi  t'oiiiHl  to  iiiliiihit  all  the 
liif^lior  timburcd  raiij^L'S  and  spurs  of  l)oth  tlio  Rocky  and  Sierra  Novadii 
Mountains,  within  tlio  United  Status,  and  possilily  tiitt  Sierra  Madre  of  northern 
Mexico  iw  well,  and  breedinj^  |)erha|)s  entirely  in  the  iir  and  spruce  ludt  above 
an  altituile  of  H, (>()()  feet,  where  tiiey  find  a  sunnner  climate  similar  to  that  of 
the  hijfJier  latitudes  they  inhai)it  in  tiie  Arctic  re},noiis.  On  tiie  approach  of 
winter  they  probaljly  all  leave  the  mountain  sununits  antl  descend  to  the  foot- 
hills. 

I  am  well  aware  of  tiie  fact  tliat  the  Dusky  Horned  Owl  is  a  nii;.jrant,  at 
least  in  some  parfs  of  its  ran^e,  iiavin;r  sliot  ((iiitu  a  numi)er  of  these  birds 
in  ditlerent  parts  of  ()re<,'on  and  \Vashin<,''ton  durin<r  tlie  winter  mouths.  At 
Fort  Walla  Walla,  Washin<>'ton,  situated  in  the  fertile  valley  bearinj^  the  same 
name,  near  the  northern  slopes  of  tiie  Mine  .^[oI^ltains,  I  found  tiiis  race  espet-i- 
ally  common  at  that  .season.  Of  the  eij,fliteen  binls  obtained  there,  twelve 
were  roferai)le  to  this  form;  three  were  intermediate,  and  three  were  typical 
liuho  virfiinlanns  sulxirrfinis,  the  latter  brcsedinif  there  nfj^ularly,  while  the 
Dusky  Horned  Owls  seem  t(»  retire  to  the  iiii,dier  timliered  mountains  at  tlie 
approach  of  sprin;^;  at  any  rate,  none  of  tlie  dark  birds  woro  seen  during 
tho  nt^stinjf  season. 

The  late  Mr.  lioliert  Kiiiuiicott  found  a  nest  and  two  e;,';j^s  of  the  Dusky 
Horned  Owl  near  Fort  Yukon,  Alaska,  April  U),  lS(i2.  The  female  jiarent 
(No.  "2707'),  U.  S.  National  Museum  collection),  procured  at  the  same  time,  is 
one  of  tho  darkest  colored  specimens  of  the  entire  series  of  skins  of  this  race 
in  the  collecti(m.  The  nest  is  dcscrilied  as  a  larj^e  structure,  made  of  dry 
branches,  and  placed  in  tluf  top  of  a  spruce  standinj;  in  a  dense  grove 
of  trees  of  the  same  species;  the  inner  <'avity  was  shallow  and  simply  liin'd 
with  a  few  feathers.  It  contained  two  fresh  eggs,  and  another,  fully  formed 
but  broken,  was  found  in  the  oviduct  of  the  f(imale,  also  a  smaller  ovum 
about  the  size  of  a  musket  ball. 

Mr.  II.  Coiini'Uy  found  the  Dusky  llorneil  Owl  breeding  at  Fort  Ni.s- 
copec,  Lalmidor,  in  the  s|)ring  of  IHt'y'd.  A  single  {}.<i;<<;  and  the  female  parent 
(No.  341)58)  are  now  in  tho  National  Museum  collection.  This  specimen  is 
the  darkest  colored  bird  of  the  entire   series. 

Mr.  L.  31.  Turner,  of  the  11.  S.  Signal  Servicci,  procureil  several  s|)(!cimens 
of  this  Owl  while  stationed  at  Fort  Oiiiino,  IJngava.  In  his  iiianuscrij)t  on  the 
"Birds  of  Labrador  and  Ungava,"  he  says:  "From  intelligent  ami  trustworthy 
sources  I  liavo  learnctd  that  this  sptn-ies  of  Owl  is  ([iiite  common  near  the 
head  of  Ilaniiltijix  Inlet  and  the  southern  portion  of  Labrador.  The  char- 
acter of  that  region  would  indicate  a  greater  abundance  of  birds  of  prey  than 
in  the  sparsely  wooiled  district  of  Ungava.  That  the  bird  is  resident  and 
breeds  in  Ungava  is  attested  by  specimens  of  both  young  and  oM." 

The  Dusky  Horned  Owl  is  eviih-ntly  only  a  resident  of  the  heavier 
timbered  portions  of  British  North  America,  the  pino  and  spruce  forests  of 
these  regions,  and  tho  higher   mountain  ranges  of  tho  nioro  temperate   zone. 


TUB  DUHKY  MOKNKI)  OWL 


.389 


Its  {^iMK^ral  habits  ami  t'noil  are  similar  to  tliosn  of  the  j)n>ctMliii<^  races.  In 
till!  iiortiiiTii  parts  of  its  raii;j»)  niililication,  as  far  as  known,  hcfrlns  ahont  the 
niiddlu  of  April,  and  from  two  to  fonr  i'u;<iA  uro  prolialdy  laid,  and  thesis  aro 
indistinj^nishid)ln   from  tlioso  of  tlic  other  llornoil  Owls. 

Of  tho  throo  siJiicimiMis  provionsly  mentioned,  the  two  taken  hy  Mr.  li. 
Kunni(M)tt.,  near  Fort  Yukon,  Alaska,  April  l(i,  18(!'J,  measnre  f)")  by  47.5  and 
C}'21>  by  4H  miliimetriss,  and  the  other,  from  Fort  Niscopee,  Labrador,  taken 
by  Mr.  11.  Oomudly,  measures  ')!.'>  l)y  48,5  millimetres.     None  are  figured. 


137.     Nyctea  nyctea  (LiNNi^Mi.s.) 

8NOWV   OWL. 

Strix  nyctea  LinV/KITs,  Systeiiia  Natiine,  eil.  lo.  i,  ir.'iH,  93. 
Nijdni  nijv.lva  Lk'HTKNStkin,  NmiiciiclnlDr  Museo  Buroliiieiisis,  1854,  7. 

(K  01,  C  33fi.  R  4011,  C  47'J,  U  370.) 

OEofiUAi'mcAi,  KAXdK:  Extreme  uortlicrii  jiortions  of  northern  hemisiOiero  in 
smninor;  juiu;i'iitiii,i;  smitliwai-d  in  winter  in  Nortii  Anicrieu,  ahno.st  across  tiie  Uiiiteil 
States,  anil  even  reacliintc,  acciilent.iliy,  the  Hi'rnnidas. 

The  breedinjf  ran;;-e  of  the  Snowy  Owl  in  North  America  extends  from 
about  latitude  h'A°  in  Lal)rador  north  to  the  Arctic  Hea,  and  it  has  been 
obs(!rved  at  the  highest  latiti.des  our  Arctic,  explorers  hav(!  as  yet  been  able 
to  reach.  It  is  likewisii  common  in  (Jreenland  during  the  l)reediiig  .season, 
but  much  more  so  in  the  northern  than  the  southern  portions.  Both  Dowues 
and  Weeks  report  it  abiiiidaiit  in  Newfoundland  iliiriiig  the  greater  ])art  of 
the  year,  but  I  cannot  tiiid  any  positive  recorils  that  it  has  actually  l)een 
found  breeding  on  this  island,  though  it  may  do  so  in  limited  nninl)ers  in 
tho  le.ss  often  visited  parts  of  the  interior.  It  is  very  (loul)tfid  if  it  nests  at 
any  time  south  of  hititiuhi  T).'}"  N.,  although  it  has  been  reported  as  nesting 
occasionally  in  Nova  Scotia,  New  Ihnnswick,  and  northern  Maine.  Mr.  Le 
Grand  T.  Meyer  records  it  as  l)reeding  in  Manitoba,  tlu*  e.xact  locality  not 
stateil,  Aviiere  ho  says  he  found  a  nest  containing  six  nion*  or  less  incul)ated 
egg.s,  February  2f!,  lS7!t.     Ibf  states:    "I   learned  that  a  ]»air  had   used   the 


samo    nisst   for  two    vicars 


lie    ne.st,    aggrega 


ted 


>y 


tl 


i(!   sitver," 


a( 


Iditions,  was  about  IH    inches  al)ove  tho  level  of   tlu*  jirairie,  composed  of 


lay,  gr 


ass,  and  sticks,   warml\-  HikmI  with  feathers  from  their  breasts 


Gen.  A.  \V.  (ireely,  (liiief  Signal  Ollicer,  U.  8.  Army,  mentions  a  nest 
of  this  species  taken  near  Fort  (Bulger,  (Jrinnell  Lan<l,  May  2h,  18S2,  ami 
young  birds  on  Jiilv  X.  lit!  says:  "The  Snowy  Owls  bred  al)undantly  in 
the  vicinity  of  Fort  (^onger,  and  as  many  as  fifteen  or  twenty-live  young 
l)ir(ls  were  raised    in   1.SS2,  and  kejjt  l»y  us  until   ajjproaching  winter  com- 


pe 


lied  us  to  release  them.     A  nest  near  Fort  Conwr  resembled  that  described 


by  Major  Feilden,  which  was  a  mere  hollow  scooped  out  of  the  earth  and 

'Oologists  Kxclmiij;",  Viil.  I,  No.  4.     I  K'vo  this  recdid,  but  liuvo  not  liouii  iiblo  to  vorify  it.— C.  IJ. 


it.    n 


t 


390 


LIFK  IIIdTOUr'lri  OF  NORTH  AMKUICAN  lHltlKS. 


Hitiiiitod  on  tilt)  KiiiuMiit  of  nil  ttiniiutnco  wliic.h  nno  from  iho  coiitt'r  of  tli** 
valley."  In  this  ('iiso  a  few  f'eatir  vn  ami  a  iittit*  ^rasn  wani  |tre.si'nt.  Tlic 
iiuHt  found  hy  Major  l<\>i|(l(>u  in  Orinnell  Land  was  uhtaiiUMl  June  20,  IH7(>, 
in  latitude)  H2°  40',  |)rol)al)ly  tlu)  most  northerly  point  tliirt  HpocioH  has  liccn 
found  nt'stint^."' 

On  tht)  I'arific.  coast  it  is  a  rosidcnt,  and  hrocds  throu<(hout  northern 
Alaska,  both  in  tiie  interior  and  near  the  soacoast,  and  luiH  there  heen  met 
with  hy  Dall,  Turner,   Nelson,   Murdoch,  and  otliers, 

Mr.  U.  .MacFarlaiu)  states  that  tlie  Snowy  ( )wl  is  not  numerous  in  the 
Anderson  Uivor  country,  and  thoUf.fli  overy  effort  was  nuide  to  w)cure  its 
ej^;(s  and  nest,  the  search  was  unsucct^ssfid.  l[e  says:  "<)n  one  oct'asion  we 
noticed  a  White  Owl  huntinj^  marmots  (^Antoinifs  empatrn),  in  the  harten 
^^'ounds;  and  there  can  Ito  no  doiiht  that  this  and  ttthur  Owls  sometimes 
rol»  l'tarinij,'an  and   Ducks  of    their  e<^};s." 

While  a  few  Snowy  Owls  remain  throuf^hout  the  year,  l)ravin<.f  tlio  severe 
Arctic  winters,  even  in  iii^h  latitudes,  by  far  the  j^reatttr  nuinl)i'r  of  these  binls 
perform  aimually  extend(fd  mij^rations  southward.  Some  winters  they  appear 
in  (M»nsi(hiral)le  innniters  in  the  northern  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  a  few 
even  stra;;}.fle  into  the  Southern  States.  On  the  Pacific  coast  they  do  not 
come  nearly  as  far  south,  and  are  rari-ly  seen  in  the  more  open  |)ortions  of 
Washin<,'ton  and  Ore^fon,  and  I  believe  my  recitrds  are  the  first  from  those 
rej^ions.  I  ol)si'rved  it  on  three  occasions  in  the  vicinity  of  (.'amp  Uarne)', 
Oref^oii,  in  January,  ISTo,  and  Ihu-ember,  lH7(i,  and  at  Fort  Walla  Walla, 
Washin^'ton,  one  ea<'h  on  l)eceml)er  1,  IHSO,  and  Novend)er  10,  1H81.  I 
did  not  succeed  in  j^ettinjf  any  of  these  birds  at  Harni^y,  as  thoy  vvero  exces- 
sively .shy  and  wide  awake,  Imt  the  two  last  mentione<l  were  secunMl.  One 
t»f  these  is  now  in  the  c(»llection  of  Mr.  William  i^rewster,  Cambridjje,  Ma.ssa- 
chusetts. 

The  homo  of  the  Snowy  Owl  is  on  the  inunense  moss  and  lichen  covered 
tinidras  of  tiie  boreal  rej^ions,  wliere  it  leads  an  easy  existence  and  finds  an 
abundant  sni)ply  of  food  duriu},'  tiie  .short  Arctic  sunnners.  it  hunts  its  prey 
at  all  hours  and  subsi.sts  principally  on  the  humniiiff,  and  is  saiil  to  be  always 
abundant  wherever  the.se  mannnals  are  foinid  in  any  nund)ers.  Small  rodents 
are  also  cau;,dit,  as  well  as  I*tarmij;an,  Ducks,  and  other  waterfowl,  and  even 
the  Arctic  hare,  an  animal  fully  as  heavy  a',''ain  as  these  Owls,  is  said  to  be 
sm'cessfully  attacked  and  killed  by  them. 

Mr.  L.  AI.  Turner,  in  his  "Notes  on  the  Hirds  of  Labrador  and  lln<>ava," 
says:  "Tiiis  bird  nev(^r  seizes  its  prey  except  while  the  latter  is  in  motion, 
except  in  the  case  probably  of  fish,  for  it  is  .said  to  be  an  expert  lisher,  seek- 
in<;  the  places  overgrown  with  seaweed  to  seize  any  sculpin  (^(yt)ttiis)  ,that 
may  be  lurkinjj^  amonj;  the  crevices  of  the  rocks.  Tlu^  hares  are  chased  and 
seized  near  the  lumbar  rej^^ion  and  held  by  the  bird,  which  spreads  its  winj^s 
and  partly  lifts  the  animal  from  the  ground,  thus  depriviu},'  it  of  the  power 

'Laily  Kranliliii  Bay  Kxptidltioii,  Vol.  il,  IWW.pp.iW.U?. 


i  I 


TIIK  SNOWY  OWL. 


391 


to  usti  its  Htniiijr  iiiiuUir  parts.  •  •  •  '|'|i,,  imtivj^s  asHcrt  timl  wlicu  a 
I'tanui^an  in  Hi;.r|itiM|,  tlut  Owl  oiMloavorx  tn  Htart  tin-  liini  into  a  iiiii  ami  is 
tluMi  Hnizcd,  tlnMij;li  it  iiilopts  (liUcniit  tactics  in  this  case;  tin*  prt*y  Ih  cruslifd 
to  tilt'  },''roiiiiil,  till'  oiitsprcail  wiii^rs  o|'  tlic  captor  prcvciitiiij,'  tlios(!  of  its  prey 
IVom  allowiii;,'  it  to  rise" 

'riici  nnHtH  of  tlii^  Snowy  Owl  iiic  onliiiarily  placed  on  tlic  {.fnanid,  usually 
on  tiu)  lii;>'licst  anil  driest  |)oint  in  the  sunonndin;;  tiindrii.  ( )ccasionalh'  a 
nostinj^  sitts  on  u  rocky  Icdj^o  or  a  dill'  is  chosen.  In  eitlier  case  the  nest  is 
i)Ut  a  tlinisy  atl'aif  at  hest,  consistin;^,  if  on  the  ^Tound,  of  a  sli^rht  hollow 
Hcnitcliud  out  l)y  tlio  hirds,  and  this  is  usually  lined  with  a  little  moss  and 
a  few  feathers;  if  on  top  of  a  li'djr,.  or  a  clitf,  tiie  ef,';,'s  fretpieiitly  lie  on 
the  liare  rock,  with  just  enuu<^'li  material  around  them  to  keep  them  in  placo 
and  prevent  them  from  rollin;;-  aliout.  Incubation  he^ins  with  tho  Krst  i^^g 
laid,  which  are  de|)osited  at  irre^^ular  intervals.  ^  ounj;'  i)irds  are  often  found 
in  the  same  nest  with  nearl}'  fresh  e;,'';fs.  Mr.  'i'lU'iier  says  that  the  old  Ifii'ds, 
especially  tlu^  female,  are  very  fierce  in  the  defense  of  their  younj;.  'i'hey  Hy 
dtmo  to  the  head  of  the  intruder  with  their  talons  fully  s|iread  and  snappinj,' 
their  mandihie.s.  The  natives  in  such  instances  seize  one  of  the  youn;^  jind 
make  it  stru;ff,de,  which  causes  a  char;;'*'  of  the  parent  on  the  intnuler,  who 
holds  up  the  stock  of  his  }rini  and  lets  the  bird  dash  a;;ainst  it,  which  usually 
stops  further  action  on  their  pait. 

From  three  to  fen  eji'^^s  are  laid  l»}'  this  species,  usually  from  live  to  seven. 
Mr.  Collett  states  that  in  1S71  he  found  as  many  as  ten  in  several  instances  in 
northern  Norway.  They  are  deposited  aliout  the  latter  part  of  May,  and  in  its 
e.\treme  northern  ranjic  not  until  .liiiie.  All  of  the  efififs  of  this  species  in  tlu* 
II.  S.  National  .Museum  collection  appear  to  have  lieen  taken  in  June.  Some  of 
these  conm  from  Lalirador,  others  from  l''ort  ( 'hiir<hill,  iliidson  Hay,  latitude 
r»!(°  N.,  a  set  of  six  from  IJepulse  Hay,  .Melville  Sound,  Arctic  America,  lati- 
tude (!(!"  N.,  and  a  set  of  three  from  the  Yukon  Delta,  Alaska.  Hut  one  brood 
is  raised  in  a  season. 

Tho  o<^f(s  of  tho  Snowy  Owl  are  white  in  color,  with  a  fainth'  perceptible 
I'roamy  tint  in  some  instances,  and  obloiij^  oval  in  slia]ie.  None  of  these  c^'fj^s 
are  as  round  as  those  of  the  ;;('nns  nnlm,  and  their  shell  is  rou<fhly  {granulated 
and  without  luster.  A  few  corriijiated  lines  startinji'  a  triHe  beyond  the  center 
of  the  e{>;<;  and  ruimin;;'  to  the  lonjicr  axis  are  noticeable  in  the  majority  of 
specimens  ifxamined  by  me. 

'Hu*  averajfc  measurement  of  fifteen  specimens  in  the  V.  S.  National  Mu- 
seum collection  is  T)?  by  4r)  millimetres;  the  larji'est  (■{;■;>•  of  the  series  nieasurinj^' 
(iO  by  47,  the  smallest  .''i.'i  by  44  millimetres. 

Tli(f  type  specimen,  N<i.  i;5()41  (PI.  12.  Fi<,'.  11»),  selected  from  a  .set  of  si.\ 
e}?}?s,  was  obtaiiu'd  by  ('ajit.  ('.  V.  Hall,  durin<;  his  Arctic  expedition  in  the 
I'oldiis,  in  June,  18(i7,  ut  Heimlse  Hay,  .Melville  Simnd,  latitude  (i(j°  N., 
while  in  search  of  the  remains  of  Sir  John  Franklin's  party. 


]i(' 


H 


I 


ir 


392 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NOKTU  AMKUICAN  BlUDS. 


L^S  ![.','  5' 


138.     Surnia  ulula  (LiNNiKus). 

HAWK    OWL. 

Strix  ulula  Linn^bus,  Systoma  Naturre,  od.  10,  i.  I7r)S.  n;t. 
Surnia  ulida  Bonapartk,  Catalogo  Mctodico  Av^W  Ucculli  Europei,  1843,  23. 

(B  — ,  C  — ,  li  Mia,  C  4H1,  U  ;i7;.) 

GEoaKAPHlCAL  RANOE:  Northern  portions  of  eastern  hemisphere,  from  Noi'way 
to  Kamchatka,  ami  more  northern  Asiatic  sliores  of  Bering  Sea  (Plover  Bay),  accith'n- 
tal  in  western  Alaska  (St.  Michael). 

The  Hawk  Owl,  nnotlier  Old  World  spccios,  likewise  claims  a  place  in  our 
avifauna  on  the  strciif^th  of  several  specinieiis  obtained  in  tin*  vicinity  of  St. 
Michael,  Alaska,  by  tlu'  indefati<fable  Mr.  L.  M.  Turner,  while  on  duty  there  in 
v^onnection  witli  the  U.  S.  Sij^nal  Service  dinMuj;  tlu^  years  1H74  to  1H81. 

It  is  sliffhtly  lar<>cr  than  the  American  Hawk  Owl  and  readily  reco};- 
nized  by  its  nuich  lij^liter  cohn-ation.  It  seems  to  be  a  stupid  bird,  at  times 
at  least,  as  Mr.  Turner  cauj'ht  one  alive  in  his  hands  wliile  it  was  sittiuf^  in 
a  clump  of  rank  grass.  He  says:  "The  natives  assert  that  it  is  a  resident, 
and  breeds  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Michael;  also  tliat  it  is  a  coast  bird,  /.  v., 
not  g;oin<f  far  into  the  interior,  and  that  it  <an  live  a  long  time  in  winter 
witliout  food,  as  it  remains  for  days  in  the  protection  of  the  holes  about  the 
tangled  roots  of  the  willow  and  alder  patches."' 

Mr.  Henry  Seebolmi,  in  speaking  of  this  species,  says:  "It  l)reeds  through- 
out the  pine  forests  of  Scandinavia  and  North  Hussia,  occasionally  re:u'hing 
as  high  as  the  birch  region  on  the  ('onfines  of  the  tundra.  »  *  »  'I'Ik^ 
principal  fooil  of  the  Hawk  Owl  is  mice  and  lennnings;  and  the  bird  follows 
the  migratory  partii's  of  tlu'  last  n:imed  little  mammal  to  prey  upon  them. 
From  its  indomitable  s])irit,  however,  few  birds  of  the  forest  are  safe  from 
its  attacks.     *     *     * 

"'I'he  l)reediiig  senson  of  tlie  Hawk  Owl  a])parently  commences  in  the 
middle  of  April  and  lasts  to  the  end  of  .luiu'.  As  this  bird  jjossesses  the 
habit,  in  common  with  many  of  its  congeners,  of  laying  their  eggs  at  intervals 
and  sitting  on  them  as  soon  as  laid,  they  may  be  found  as  late  as  the  third 
week  in  June.  It  makes  no  nest,  and  the  eggs  are  usually  laid  in  the  hole 
of  a  decayed  pine  tree  and  rest  on  the  powdered  wood  alone,  as  is  the  case 
with  those  of  the  Woodpeckers.  Collett  mentions  a  nest  of  this  Owl  in 
Norway,  on  the  toj)  of  a  broken  pine  trunk,  some  (i  feet  below  which  was 
a  G(tlden-eye  Duck  sitting  on  her  lu'st.  Wolley  nuMitious  a  similar  instance 
in  lja])land.  This  Owl  will  also  fre(|Uently  take  jiossession  of  the  nest  boxes 
placed  by  the  pea.sants  for  Ducks  and  rear  its  young  in  them.  The  eggs  of 
the  Hawk  Owl  are  from  five  to  eight  in  niunl)er,  white  in  color,  smooth, 'and 
jjossess  consi(lera])l(>  gloss.  They  measure  from  l.l!")  to  l.o")  inches  in  length, 
and  from  l.'J.'i  to  1.17  inches  in  breadth  [e(|ual  to  al)out  41.',)  to  311.4  in 
length  and  31.7  to  211.7  millimetres  in  lireadth]. 

'  CuiUribiitiuuB  to  Natural  HiHtury  of  Aluskn,  Turuvr,  leMti,  p,  104. 


■.V. 


THE  HAWK  OWL. 


393 


"IWh  l)inls  sit  upon  tho  (.'fffis  niid  aro  somotimes  found  on  them  in 
company.  While  tlie  I'einale  is  upon  her  charj^e  the  male  bird  will  pereh  ("lose 
at  hand,  ready  to  (h)  l)attle  with  any  intruder,  not  even  exce])tin;i'  man 
himself.  Numerous  instances  are  reconled  of  this  bird's  dauiith^ss  eouraj^e 
when  its  nest  is  assailed.  It  strikes  at  the  intruder  a<jaiii  and  ajiiiin,  .seeminj^ 
not  to  care  for  its  own  safety,  and  but  too  often  i)ays  the  price  of  its  ttfuierity 
with   its  life.'" 

Ten  egjjfs  of  this  species  in  the  U.  S.  National  J[useum  collection  from 
Lapland  and  Finland  <?ive  an  avera<ife  measurement  of  39.5  by  31.5  millime- 
tre.s.  No  specimen  is  fi<fured,  as  the  e<f;rs  are  indistin<,'uishable  from  those?  of 
the  American  Hawk  Owl. 

139.     Surnia  ulula  caparoch  (Miij.Ku). 

AMKKICAN    UAWK    OWI,. 

SI ri.r  caparoch  MC'LLKU,  Systciua  Natiini'  SupplciUL'iit,  l'i7f>.  (JO. 
Surnia  ahda  caparoch  Stk.inkoku,  Auk,  I,  Oclobtir,  18S4,  ',W,\. 

(B  il:>,  C  ;i-.>(i,  K  4(ir,  C  4S0,  U  :irr-/.) 

OEOOHAPHir'AL  UAN'(iK:  Noftlici'ii  North  Aiacrica:  soutli,  in  winter  to  nortlipru 
bonier  of  the  Uiiitcil  States;  Hiiti.sh  Isl.uuls.  ? 

Tile  breediuf^  ranj^e  of  the  American  Hawk  Owl  is  principally  confined 
to  \\w  "far  country,"  the  Hudson  Hay  territory,  and  the  timbereil  districts  of 
Alaska.  It  is  said  to  Inved  in  the  interior  of  Xewfoiuidlimtl,  and  thence  north 
and  westward  from  latitude  4S"  N.,  throuii'li  Lal)rador,  tlu-  northeast  and 
northwest  territories  of  Mritisli  North  .Vmerica  to  the  end  of  the  timber  zone 
in  about  latitiah'  (;s°  N. 

vVccordinj,''  t(.  ^Ir.  Gr.  A.  Hoardmiui,  the  American  Hiiwk  Owl  is  a  rare 
resi(hMit  in  the  vicinity  of  (Calais,  .Maine.  The  I'.  S.  Natiunai  .Museum  collection 
contains  a  (Miuple  of  ej^-jTs  of  this  sul>sp('cies,  obtained  thron<>-h  Mr.  Hoardman, 
which  are  said  to  have  Iteen  collecteil  on  tiie  shores  of  the  (Julf  of  St.  Law- 
rence in  tile  spring;'  of  IHllL  Tiiis,  if  correct,  is  the  most  scuirhern  breedinj^- 
record  of  this  species  known  to  me.  The  nest  from  which  these  e<><i's  were  taken 
was  jdaced  in  the  toj)  of  a  thick  tir  tree.  I  )r.  ( '.  Hart  Merriam  also  states:'-  "The 
Hawk  Owl  niKiuestioiialily  breeds  in  northern  Idalio.  .\uuust  11,  1872,  1  siiot 
one  on  Madison  Uiver,  Montana,  uiily  a  few   miles  t'rom  tlie  Idaho  boundary." 

The  American  Hawk  Owl  is  diurnal  in  its  habits,  huntiiij;  its  prey  to  a 
f^reat  extent  by  dayliylit,  <>-eiiera'ily  e.irly  in  the  morniuii'  or  in  the  evcMiiiiiif, 
bein<>'  often  seen  at  such  times,  and  on  that  accianit  considered  more  common 
than  other  Owls  inliabitinj^-  like  rejrions,  and  at  the  same  time  easily  obtained; 
its  habits  are  fairly  well  known,  and  is  sure  to  lie  noticed  wherever  it  occurs. 
Its  food  is  said  to  consist  princijially  of  small  rodents,  insects,  and  an  occasional 
bird. 


if 


3-. 

li 


1 


a 


•lliHtiiry  nf  BritiHli  KirilH,  Sooliolini,  18S:),  Vol.  i,  pp.  144,  It-'i. 
'Nortli  Aimirii'iiii  Kiiiiii:i,  .\(>.  .^i,  l^'.tl,  p.  '.Hi. 


;!l 

^1 

394 


r.lFK  HISTOltlES  OF  NORTH  AMFKICAN  BIRDS. 


I 


i 


Vi  i 


Act^onliiifif  to  Mr.  Tiinior,  it  is  a  voiy  coinimm  rcsidont  in  tlio  Yukon  dis- 
tricif,  iincl  also  (jiiitu  iil)iiniliuit  xwnr  tlio  codst.  lie  says:  "Tliey  usually  sccludt! 
tli('tnselvt;s  in  the  willow  or  alihn*  patches,  and  an;  t'r('(|U('iitly  startled  from  some 
•rrass-eovered  l)inik  of  a  lake;  they  tly  e(|ually  well  hy  nif^ht  or  by  day.  I 
on('((  observed  a  bird  of  this  species  sittin<^'  duriii;^'  a  brijj'ht  day  on  a  post,  and 
approached  to  within  a  fcnv  feet  of  the  bird;   it  scpiatted,  then  stood  up,  and 


s('eme(l  readv  to  Hv  at  anv  moment; 


went  within   (!  ftnit  of  it,  and  it  then 


settled  down  as  if  to  takci  a  nap;  1  retired  and  threw^  a  stick  at  it  to  make  it 
fly;  I  shouted  and  made  otlutr  noist^s,  and  only  after  several  attempts  to  dis- 
lodge it  did  it  fly.  When  taking  Higlit  from  an  elevated  positi(m  they  invaria- 
bly drop  to  within  a  few  feet  of  the  earth  and  sail  away  rapidly."' 

Mr.  W.  II.  Dall,  of  tli(^  IT.  S.  Coast   Survey,  found  a    nest   of  this  spec 
containing  six  egg.s,  on   the   top  of  an  old   i)irch  .stub  al)out   lo  feet  from  tl 


les. 


"■roimd 


near 


Xulato,  Alaska,   .May  o,  ISdS.      The   eggs 


were 


ly 


le 


lU"'  du'ectlv 


on  the  rotten  wood,  anil  the  mah*  was  sitting  on  tliem.     ("limbing  to  the  nc^st, 
the  Ijird  ilashed  at  him  and  knocked  off  his  ca]).     These  (tggs  are  now  in  the 


U.  S.  National  .Mu.seum  collection 


Mr.    U.    MacFarlane 


,savi 


The    Hawk    Owl   is  not    imcommon   in   the 


region  of  Anderson  Itiver.  Four  nests  of  this  species  were  discovered  and 
the  eggs  taken  therefrom.  All  of  these  were  built  in  ])ine  trees  at  a  consid- 
eral)le    lieight   from   the    ground.     One    was    actualK'  plac(Ml    on  tlu^   topuiost 

lined 
itb 


liounhs,  and,  liki'  the  others,  constructeil   of 


suiall  twi 


and 


sti(^ks 


anil 


wi 


th    liav  and   mi 


his    nest    containeil    two   yi)un< 


l>ird 


s,  one  ai)iiarentl\ 


ten  ila\'s  and  the  otlier  thret;  weeks  old,  together  witli  an  addled  egg.     Two 


o 


f   tl 


U' 


other  nests  contamed  si.x   ('"-irs   and  one  seven. 


Th 


paniuts  alwavs 


disap|)roved  of  our  proceedings."^ 

One  of  the.se  nests  was  found  on  .\])ril  2S.  another  on  May  2,  ami 
the  one  containing  young  on  June  'Jo,  1S(I;{.  .V  single  egg,  taken  by  Mr. 
MacFarlane,  near  Fort  IVovidence,  (Jreat  Slave  Lake,  on  April  14,  1SK."», 
shows  that  th(^  .Vmerican  Hawk  ( )wl  bi'eeds  v(^r\-  earlv,  even  in  high  latitudes, 


anil 


that 


some  wm 


ter  th 


.il 


Accordiu!''  to  .Mr.  B.  U.  Ross,  it  mwts  occasionallv   in   cliffs,  l)ut   its   usual 


nestmg  sites  are  probably  natural  cavitu's  ni  tree 


k'herc!  thev  are  obtainabli 


liiit  when  such  are  wanting  open  nests  placed  on    the  decayed  tops  of  stumps 


or  ai 


nong  the  limbs  of  thick  and  bushy  conifers  are  used. 
Ml".  Turner  found  the  American   Hawk  Owl  to  be  rari^ 


111     SI 


)Utl 


lern 


Lab- 


railor. 


In  h 


'Notes  on   the    Birds  of  Labrador  am 


I    I 


iiiiava. 


le  sa 


}• 


the  latter  part  of  .lime,  1  SS4,  an  Indian  brought  me  two  young  of  this  species 
just  emerging  from  the  downy  stage  and  not  yet  al)le  to  fly.  .\s  I  desired 
to  make  a  study  of  thesis  young  birds  I  kept  them  for  several  days  and  t/'d 
them  on  tlu^  carcasses  of  birds,  inict',  and  young  Ftannigan.  Phe  ipiantity 
of  food    wiiich    these    small    Owls    could    disjiose    of   was    astonishing.     Tliey 

I  (!(pjiMil)iiliipii«  to  tlm  Niilmal  IliKloiy  of  Al.kska,  l-'-'H,  Viil,  ii.  p.  111. 

-Fruiii  U.  MaeKaiiaiiu's  .MikiiiiHciipt  Nottt.s  on  I..11111I  ami  W^ktrr  IIikIh  NoaliiiK  in  Kriliitli  Aiiiuriru. 


u 


THE  AMIiUlCAN  HAWK  OWL. 


305 


n 


were  very  nice  ])(;ts,  and  in  tlu^  course  of  a  few  day.s  came  to  recoj^nze  iiie 
whenever  I  came  to  tlieni,  and  always  greeted  me  witli  a  wliistling  note  of 
plaintive  tone." 

The  ej^ffs  of  the  American  TIawk  Owl  are  from  three  to  seven  in  num- 
ber, and  nidilication  connuences  frecjuently  jonj^-  before  the  di.sa|)j)earanee  of 
the  ice  and  snow.  Like  the  Hawk  Owl  of  the  Old  World,  it  lays  at  irref^u- 
lar  intervals  and  connuences  to  incu])ate  as  soon  as  the  first  eg'g  is  depositeil, 
l)oth  .se.xes  takin<f  part  in  tlu;se  duties.  Kgjys  may  Ite  looked  for  from  the  latter 
])art  of  April  through  the  month  of  May;  these  vary  from  oval  to  oblonji' 
oval  in  shape,  are  pure  white  in  color,  and  somewhat  glos.sy;  the  shell  is 
smootii  and  fine  j^rained.  They  reseinbh'  the  egjjs  of  the  Short-eared  Owl 
very  tdoseiy  and  are  scarcely  distinjruishabie  from  them. 

The  averajj^e  measurement  of  thirty-(;i<fht  specimens  in  the  U.  S.  National 
Museum  collection  is  .'5!».,'»  by  Slit  millimetres,  tiie  larj^cst  ej^fjf  measurinj.^ 
4;5  by  ;5'J,  the  smallest  lUilt  by   30  millimetres. 

Tlu;  type  si)ecimen,  Xo.  1 4r»(;4  (IM.  12,  V\<x.  18),  selected  from  a  set  of 
six  e<,''<,''s,  was  taken  i)y  Mr.  William  II.  Kail,  11.  S.  Coast  Survey,  near 
Xulato,  Alaska,  May  f),    iSfiS. 


m 


140.     Speotyto  cunicularia  hypogaea  (Honapakti:). 


ItrKKoWI.Ml    OWL. 


V: 


Strl.r  liyi>n(i(pn  BoN'.vp.vKTK.  .ViniM'iciiii  Ornitlioloj^y.  I,  IH-.T).  7^^ 

Sjilifoliito  I'lniifiildriii  var.  Iiiijiotjd'n   Kiixiw.w,  in  Coi'Ks's   Key  to  Nortli  Aiiiericiiii 
Birds,  isr-.',  -.ios. 

(B  .IS.  .V.I,  C  :!:!:>,  ii  -los,  C  -tf^?,  U  ;!:s.) 

(jKociRAlMllcAi,  KASOK:  Wcsti'i'ii  Novlli  America;  iiortli  to  and  l)cy<)iiil  tlic  iiortli- 
crii  Ixiumlary  of  tlu>  llnilcil  Stales;  eiist  tiinmjfliout  tlieCiveat  Plains;  south  to  (jiiate- 
liiala;  accidental  in  New  YurU  (••ily)  and  Massacliusetts. 

Tlu^  breediiiN'  range  of  the  littfc  Murrowing  Owl  includes  the  prairie 
regions  w«'st  of  the  Mississippi  and  .Missouri  b'ivers,  the  (Jreat  I'laius  of  tlu! 
I'uited  States  from  northern  'i\'xas  north,  through  the  Indian  Territory,  Kan- 
sas, Nebraska,  North  and  South  Dakota,  to  al)out  latitude  4S°  N.  it  also 
occurs  in  small  numlters  in  western  .Minnesota  (Swift  County).  .\s  far  as  1 
am  iiware,  it  has  not  as  yet  been  noticed  in  the  southern  parts  of  the  pros  • 
inces  of  Manitoi)a-  and  Assiuiixiia.  in  tiie  Dominion  of  Canada,  l)Ut  probably 
occurs  there  also  in  favoral)le  localities.  Thence  it  is  found  westward  through- 
out the  intervening  States  ami  Territori<'.s,  the  timiiered  and  mountainous 
regions  excepted,  to  tlie  Pacific  coast,  wiiere  it  reaches  the  southern  boi'dei' 
of  tiritish  ('oluml)ia  in  aitout  latitude  olT'.  I'nd'.  .1.  .Macoun  founil  it  very 
aiinndant  at  Kandoojis,  i^vitish  ('olundiia,  in  is.sii.  and  took  a  specimen  at 
W<'V(ds  Lak(^  in  IS'.tO. 

It  is  common  in  various  localities  in  Idalio,  Washington,  anil  Oregon,  east 
of  the  (Cascade  range  of  mountains,  and  it  is  well  known  to  occur  in  coiisid- 


I!! 

i 


HI 


396 


LIFE  HlSTOltlES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


erable  nninhers  in  California,  ('spoeially  tlic  soutlion»  portion  of  the  State, 
while  in  Arizona  and  Lower  (,'alifoniia  it  is  somewhat  rarer.  It  passes  south, 
thence  into  Mexieo  and  ('entral  America. 

A  good  deal  of  non.seiise  has  found  its  way  into  print  about  the  life 
history  of  this  Owl,  and  the  .sentimental  .story  of  its  living  in  perfect  har- 
mony with  prairie  dogs  and  rattlesnakes,  both  of  which  inhabit  a  consid- 
erable portion  of  the  range  occujjied  by  these  Owls,  was  for  years  accepted 
as  (juite  true  and  furnished  the  groiuid  work  for  many  an  interesting  tale. 
Dr.  Ellit)tt  Coues  was  perhaps  the  lirst  naturalist  who  showed  the  fallacy  of 
this  generally  accepted  fact  in  an  interesting  article  on  this  species  in  his 
"Hints  of  tli(^  Northwest."  From  an  e.\ten<led  ac(|uaintance  with  the  habits 
of  the  Hurrowing  Owl,  lasting  through  a  numl)er  of  years'  service  hi  the 
West,  1  can  most  positively  assert,  from  personal  (ixperience  and  investigation, 
that  there  is  no  foundiition  based  on  actual  facts  for  these  stories,  and  that 
no  such  hap))y  families  eiist  in  reality.  I  am  fully  convinced  tliiit  the  liur- 
rowing  Owl,  small  as  it  is,  is  mon^  than  a  match  for  the  avenige  ])rairie 
dog,  an<l  the  rattlesnak(!  as  well;  it  is  by  no  means  the  peaceful  and  spirit- 
less bird  thiit  it  is  generally  l)elieved  to  be,  and  it  subsists  to  some  extent 
at  least  on  the  young  dogs,   if  not  also  on  the  old  ones. 

In  California,  Oregon,  Wnsliington,  and  Idaho,  wiiere  I  believe  the  true 
l)rairie  dog  is  not  found,  they  occupy  the  l)urro\'s  of  the  numerous  spcr- 
mopliiles  (such  as  Douglas's,  Townscud's,  and  Heeche}''s)  infesting  these  States, 
and  which  an^  the  greatest  })i'sts  the  farmers  liinc  to  contend  against  in 
these  regions.  The  birds  eidarge  these  l)urrows  to  suit  tlieir  nee<ls  and  live 
on  both  the  old  and  \<iung  s([uirrels.  Wherever  thev  altound  a  colony  of 
these  ( hvls  is  sure  to  l)e  found  also,  but  1  doul)t  if  they  e\er  dig  burrows 
themselves.  At  Fort  Custer,  in  southeastern  .Montana,  where  })rairie  dogs 
are  conmion,  the  yiamg  dogs  furnish  a  consideral)le  portion  of  their  fare,  as 
it  was  foimd  from  examination  of  the  stomachs  of  two  sjn'cimens  that  both 
had  Iteen  feeding  on  such;  and,  judging  from  the  ease  Avith  which  they  dis- 
patch an  adult  ground  sipiirrel,  1  have  no  doubt  that  a  jjrairie  dog  would 
stand  but  little  chance  to  hold  its  own  against  oiif  of  these  Owls.  Their  food 
is  {piite  varied,  and  consists  principally  of  rodents,  such  as  yoiuig  prairie  dogs, 
tlie  different  species  of  ground  sipiirrels  already  mentioni'd,  chipnumks,  pock(!t 
gopiiers,  mice,  as  well  as  shrews,  small  hari-s  (cotton  tiuls),  frogs,  fish,  liz- 
anls,  .snakes,  and  insects  of  different  kinds,  such  as  gnisshoijperj^,  the  large 
and  exciH'dingly  destructive  black  crickets  (AikiIhis  .^iDijili:/)  of  the  (Jreat  Hasiu, 
lieetles,  and  scoriiions.  Birds  an-  also  .said  to  l)e  caught  by  them,  and  such  may 
sometimes  be  the  case,  altlaaigh  I  have  never  found  any  of  their  remahis  in 
tiieir  burrow.s,  and   I   have  examined  (luite  a  nuudier. 

Fast  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  this  little  Owl  is  said  to  l)e  a  constant  resi- 
dent, even  in  .sonu'  of  the  more  northern  portions  of  its  range,  in  South  Dakota, 
for  instance,'  and   while  this   may  possil)ly  be  true  in  these  regions,  1   do  not 

'  Ue[)ott  ou  llird  Migratiou,  Cooke,  liulluUii  No.  'J,  U.  S.  Uuimilmuut  of  AgriciiUurc,  18HS,  p.  124. 


TUK  BUKKOWING  OWL. 


397 


I)(iliGV(^  the  same  contlitinns  hold  pfood  wrst  of  tlicso  mountains,  wlicro  tlie  wiu- 
t((r  cliiiuih'  is  mucli  mildiT  in  coiTcspondin;;'  latitudes.  In  \Vasliin<4tun,  Idaho, 
and  Orc>};on,  tliny  aijpuar  to  niiffnito  alxtut  tho  hcj^iuninfj  of  Novend)or  and 
somotinu'S  earher,  ix'tuniin}^  to  tlii'ir  snnuner  llonu^s  in  tlic;  early  part  of  March. 
At  any  rate,  without  actually  cxiiniinin^''  any  of  their  burrows  during  the  winter 
months,  to  ascertain  tluur  jjresence,  I  never  saw  one  of  these  l)irds,  as  far  as  I 
can  remcmlier,  sittin<f  in  front  of  these  at  such  times,  and  I  have  lived  where 
they  were  very  common  and  would  certainly  have  noticed  one  occasionally  if 
actually  about.  Tlu;  belief  that  these  Owls  niij^rate  re<;'ularly  seems  to  be  con- 
tinued by  the  observations  made  by  Dr.  .riuues  C.  ]\rerrill,  U.  S.  Army,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Hrownsville,  Texas,  who,  in  his  "Notes  on  the  Ornitlioloj^y  of 
Southern  Te.xas,"  makes  the  followinji'  stiitement:'  "The  Hurrowinj^  Owl  is 
rather  abundant  durinjf  the  winter  months,  but  I  do  not  think  that  any  remiun 
to  breed."  The  fact  that  Mr.  Cleorj^e  H.  Sennett,  who  ccdlected  in  the  sanu' 
rcji^ion  for  several  seasons,  failed  to  detect  this  Owl  dnriu;;  the  breedinjr 
.season  tends  still  more  to  coniirm  that  they  are  only  winter  visitors,  and 
consc([Uently  mij;Tants  from  tlie  North.  Dr.  Merrill  tells  me  that  even  as 
far  south  as  Fort  Heno,  Indian  Territory,  lus  failed  to  notice  any  of  these 
birds  durin<i'  the  winter,  altliou<i-h  connnon  enoufi'h  at  all  other  seasons. 
That  they  hyl)ernate,  as  some  ol)servers  siippo.se,  I  do  not  believe  for  an 
instant. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Walla  Walla,  Wasliinji-tou,  and  Fort  Lapwai,  Idaho, 
they  usuall}'  made  tiieir  apja'aranci'  in  tiie  lirst  week  of  Marcli,  alxait  the  same 
tiuui  the  earliest  migrants  arriviMl,  and  by  the  middle  of  the  mouth  they  were 
abnudnnt. 

Tlies(;  birds  are  diurnal  in  their  habits,  and  may  lie  seen  sitting  in 
front  of  their  burrows  at  any  iiour  of  the  day.  Wliere  not  unduK'  molested 
they  are  not  at  all  shy,  and  usually  allow  one  to  ap])roach  tiiciii  near  enough 
to  note  their  curious  antics.  Their  long  slender  h'gs  give  them  rather  a  conncal 
look,  a  sort  of  top-heavy  appearance,  and  they  are  proverbially  i)olite,  being 
sure  to  l)ow  to  you  as  you  pass  l)y.  Shoidd  you  circle  around  them  they  will 
keep  you  constantly  in  \-iew,  and  if  this  is  kei)t  up  it  sometimes  seems  as  if 
they  were  in  danger  of  twisting  riieir  heads  otf  in  attempting  t<>  keep  }'on  in 
sight.  If  you  ventm'e  too  close  tliey  will  rise  and  lly  a  siiort  distance  and 
generally  settle  down  neai-  the  mouth  of  another  burrow  close  l)y,  uttering 
at  the  same  time  a  chattering  sort  of  note,  ami  re[)eat  the  l)o\ving  perform- 
ance. Occasionally,  when  (listurl)ed,  they  alight  on  a  small  sage  l)usli,  j)rob- 
ably  to  get  a  Ix-tter  view  of  the  surroundings. 

They  hunt  their  prey  mostly  in  the  early  evening  and  thnaiglamt  the  night, 
more  rarely  during  the  daj'time.  As  soon  as  the  sun  '^'vs  down  they  Itecome 
exceedingly  active,  and  especiall}'  so  during  thi'  Itreeding  season.  At  such  times 
they  are  always  busy  hunting  food,  and  go  and  come  constantly,  and  they 
may  often  be   seen  hovering  suspemled  in  the  air  like  tlu;  Sparrow    Hawk, 

'  Procoediiigs  U.  S.  Niitioiial  Muhimiih,  Vol.  I,  187S,  p.  151. 


(''i'J 

1 

;1 


398 


LIFK  IllSTOltlKS  OF  NOUTU  AMKKIUAN  UlltDS. 


locatiii},'  tlii'ir  proy  or  dartiiiff  (lnwu  noisolossly  iiiid  swiftly,  and  praspiiifr  it,  witli 
their  talons  witiiout  iirrostinjf  tlicir  tlij^ht  an  instant.  'I'lic  actual  amount  ot"  food 
a  pair  of  tlieso  birds  roquiro  to  brinjf  up  tlu'ir  nuniiTous  family,  {'•eni'rally  uvor- 
{ij,nn{;  t'if^ht  or  nine,  is  somctliinff  enormous.  Kaeli  Owl  will  eat  fully  its  own 
weight  in  twenty-four  hours,  if  it  can  {jet  it. 

I  havi',  at  different  times,  kept  some  of  thes<i  birds  in  confinement  for  a 
week  or  more  and  fed  them  on  Townsend's  jjround  s<juirrels,  an  animal  weif^h- 
iiig  more  than  this  Owl.  These  were  caught  alive,  and  absolutely  uninjured, 
in  wire  traps  baited  with  carrots,  and  turned  loose  in  the  room  where  the 
Owls  were  kept;  first,  to  see  if  they  could  actually  kill  rodents  of  this  size, 
and,  second,  to  find  out  how  uuuh  they  would  eat  in  a  day.  '^i'o  test  both,  I 
fed  a  j)air  of  these  Owls  four  live  full-grown  'l\)wnsen(rs  ground  squirrels  in 
one  day,  besides  the  carcasses  of  five  small  l)irds  which  had  been  skinned, 
and  was  astonished  at  the  east!  and  celerity  with  whicii  lliese  rodents 
were  killed  and  the  small  amount  of  resistance  they  made.  I  watched  the 
proceedings  through  a  small  hole  in  the  door.  As  sudu  as  a  sfjuirrel  was 
turned  loose  in  the  room  with  the  Owls,  one  of  them  would  pounce  on 
it,  and,  fastening  its  sharp  tahins  firiidy  in  the  back  of  the  s((uirrel,  s])read 
its  wings  somewhat,  and  with  a  few  vigorous  and  \vell-direct(Ml  l)l()ws  of  its 
beak  break  the  vertel)rie  of  the  neck,  and  l)efore  it  was  fairly  dead  it  lutm- 
menced  coating  the  heail.  This  was  always  eaten  first  anil  is  the  favorite 
part.  Next  morning  tiienf  was  but  little  h^ft  of  scpiirrels  or  birds,  and  the 
two  Owls  had  certainly  eaten  considerably  more  than  their  own  weight  in 
the  t\vent3'-four  hours.  It  actually  kept  (»ne  busy  to  supply  them  with  the 
necessary  food  the}'  would  consume,  which  gives  a  fair  idea  of  how  nmcli 
a  family  of  half-grown  young  must  ri'(piire.  As  nearly  all  the  food  used  by 
them  consists  (if  noxious  vermin,  it  readily  appears  what  an  immensely  ben- 
(jficial  l)ird  the  Murrowing  Owl  is,  considered  from  an  economic  point  of  view, 
antl  des(n'ving  of  the  fullest  pnttection. 

They  appear  tt)  l)e  mated  wiu'U  tliey  make  their  first  appearance  in  tlie 
early  s])ring,  and  I  Itelit^xc  remain  paired  tlu'ougli  life.  At  tliis  season,  whei'e 
they  are  iii)undant,  and  they  are  gem^rally  found  in  little  colonies  of  several 
pairs  at  least,  their  peculiar  love  note  can  l)e  lu-anl  on  all  sides  about  sundown; 
it  reminds  me  more  of  the  call  of  the  Kuropeau  Cui-koo  {('iirtih(s  raiionis')  than 
anything  ( Ise,  a  mellow  .sonorous  and  far-reaching  "coo-c-o-o,"  the  last  syllaltles 
somewhat  drawn  out,  and  this  concert  is  kej)t  uj)  for  an  hour  or  more.  The.se 
notes  are  only  uttered  when  the  bird  is  at  rest,  sitting  on  the  little  hillock 
surniunding  its  l)urrow.  While  flying  altont,  a  chattering  sort  of  note  is  iised, 
ami  when  alarmed  a  short  slu'ill  "tzip-tzip."  Wiien  woumled  and  enraged 
it  utters  a  shrill  scream  anil  snaps  its  mandibles  rapidly  togetlu'r,  uiaking  a 
sort  of  rattling  noise,  throws  itself  on  its  back,  ruffles  its  featliers,  ami  strikes 
out  vigorously  with  its  talons,  and  with  which  it  can  infli<'t  (|uit(!  a  severe  wound. 

Preparations  for  nidification  begin  in  the  latter  ])art  of  .March  and  con- 
tinue well   into  April.      When   not  disturbed,  tlu!   same  burrow  is  used  from 


4^' 


Til  10  J{UliUO\VlN(J  OWL. 


39U 


year  to  year;  in  hucIi  a  case  it  is  cleaiHtd  out  and  repaired,  if  necessary.  Tn 
(lifl'erent  localities  their  elioiee  in  tliu  selection  of  nt'stin;f  sites  varies  somewhat- 
At  Fort  liapwai,  Idaho,  they  {generally  selected  a  burrow  on  a  hillside  with 
ii  southerly  ex|)osure,  while  at  Walla  Walla  their  nests  were  always  found 
iu  burrows  on  level  {jround.  At  ('amp  Harney,  Ore^^on,  where  the  Hurrow- 
\ug  Owls  were  not  very  connnon,  one  under  a  lar^u  l)asaltic  bowlder  seemed 
to  bo  a  favorite  sit(!  with  them,  and  here  they  encroached  upon  tho  timber 
iu  tho  foothills  of  the  Blue  Mountains.  At  Fort  Custer,  Montana,  I  found 
tlioni  mostly  on  level  {^round,  jfcnerally  bottom  lands,  and  always  at  the  out- 
skirts of  a  prairio  dojf  villajje.  On  tho  I'acifii;  coast  tho  burrows  of  the  fjround 
squirrels  are  more  often  ustul  for  nestin;^  sites,  and  occasionally  tho.se  of  badt^ers, 
which  are  quite  connnon  in  some  sections.  If  one  of  the  former  is  selected,  it 
has  first  to  be  considttralily  enlarj^ed,  and  which  recpiires  a  j^ood  deal  of 
patient  labor  on  tho  part  of  tlut  Owls  to  accomplish.  While  .stationed  at  Fort 
[..apwai  I  had  an  op])orttuiity  to  see  an  Owl  at  work  enlar<fin<r  and  cleaning 
out  a  burrow.  The  loosenc^l  dirt  was  du'own  out  liackward  with  vij^orous 
kicks  of  tlio  feet,  tho  bird  backiiijf  j^radually  toward  the  entranco  and  movui<ij 
tho  dirt  outward  iu  this  manner  as  it  advanced.  These  burrows  vary  greatly 
in  leuf^'th  and  depth,  and  are  rarely  less  than  F)  feet  iu  lenj^th  and  frequently 
10  feet  and  over.  If  on  level  oroiuid  tliey  usually  enter  dia;^onally  downward 
for  2  or  li  feet,  somotinuis  nearly  perpendicularly  for  that  distance;,  when  the  bur- 
row turns  abruptly,  tli<*  nestin;;-  chainber  l)ein;.'-  ahvays  placed  above  tho  lowest 
part  of  the  l)urrow.  If  in  a  hillside  it  will  l"re(piently  run  straijiht  in  for  a  few 
feet,  and  then  make  a  sliarp  turn  direct  to  the  nestin;;-  chaml)er.  At  other 
times  tho  buri'ow  follows  the  curves  of  a  iiorseshoe,  and  I  have  more  than 
once  iound  the  e^';xs  in  such  a  l)urrow  lyinj;-  within  2  feet  of  tho  entranco  anil 
close  to  th(i  surfacti  of  tin*  hill  on  a  tritle  higher  lexcl;  where,  had  it  been 
known  they  couM  hav(i  been  readied  witii  little  trouble.  These  burrows  ar<^ 
generally  about  5  indues  in  diameter,  and  the  nesting  chandxn"  is  usually 
from  1  foot  to  IS  inches  wide.  After  the  l)uri'ow  is  suitably  (-idarged,  espe- 
cially at  th(!  end,  dry  hors(^  and  cow  dung  is  brought  to  the  entrance  of  it,  where 
it  is  broken  uj)  in  small  pieces,  carried  in  and  spread  out  in  tlie  nesting  cham- 
ber which  is  usually  lineil  with  tliis  material  to  a  thickness  of  1  or  2  inches,  and 
I  have  lU'ver  found  any  other  material  in  the  nest.  In  ( 'alilbi-nia,  however, 
they  are  said  to  line  them  occasionally  with  dry  grasses,  weed  stalks,  feathers, 
and  similar  materials.  ( )n  one  thing  most  observers  agree,  nanu-ly,  that  their 
btUTOWS  invariably  swarm  with  fleas. 

In  southern  ("alifornia  tlw^  Murrowing  ()wl  conunences  laying  about  th<i 
beginning  of  A})ril;  in  Oregon,  Washington,  and  Idaho,  rarely  before  the 
ir)th  of  tho  month,  and  usually  about  tlie  lattei'  part  of  it;  in  Kansas  and 
northern  Texas  it  begins  aiiout  tho  same  time;  in  Utah,  fresh  eggs  have 
been  found  as  late  as  Jiuu*    l.">,  and  at  Fort  Collins,  Colorado,  on  July  1. 

Although  incubation  does  not  appear  to  l)egin  until  the  clutch  is  nearly 
completed,  I  always  found  one  of  the  parents  at  home,  even  if  there  was  but 
a  single  {'''n;  in  tho  lU'st.     Tho  old    l)ird  is  courageous  in  tho  tlefenso  of  its 


?;'!. 


ii! 


400 


LIFE  IIISTOKIUS  OF  NOKTll  AMERICAN  lilltUS. 


(Idiiiioilo,  and  as  ii  nilo  will  not  k-avo  it,  altliou;;'h  tlio  way  may  1)o  left  clear 
tor  it  to  do  so.  IJackin^f  up  to  tlio  oxtrcniu  t-nd  of  its  burrow,  it  will  strike 
witli  boiik  and  daws  in  det'enso  of  its  nest.  Frociuisntly  when  within  ii  foot 
or  two  of  tlio  nest  itroiter,  and  before  it  was  yet  visible  the  occupant  made 
a  rattlin<.f  noise,  produced  l)y  the  rapid  movement  of  its  mandil)Ies,  which 
sounded  very  nuich  like  the  waniinj;-  of  the  rattlesnake  when  disturlted;  this 
wouhl  easily  im|)oso  on  tlu*  averaj^o  investijiator,  and  ])roceeding  cmt  of  the 
l)urrow,  somewhat  muffled  and  subdued,  is  very  similar  indeed  to  the  rattle 
of  the  latter. 

The  nundjer  of  f^'^n.  laid  by  the  Hurrowin;!,-  Owl  varies  from  six  to 
eleven.  From  seven  to  nine  are  more  often  found,  while  sets  of  ten  and 
eleven  are  not  especially  rare,  and  Mr.  Walter  E.  Bryant,  of  Oakland,  Cali- 
fornia, i'ouml  one  of  twelve  near  (!arson,  Xt'vada.  The  ej;}^s  ani  usually 
found  in  a  siuffle  layer  and  disposed  in  tins  form  of  a  horseshoe.  On  two 
occasions  in  extra  larj^e  sets,  I  found  them  ])laceil  on  top  of  each  other.  It 
is  astonishing  how  they  manajie  to  cover  tliem  all,  but  the}'  do,  and  it  is 
rare  to  iind  an  addled  ejj^g.  Hoth  parents  assist  in  incultation,  which  lasts 
al)out  three  weeks,  and  but  a  sinji'le  brood  is  raised  in  a  season.  A  second, 
and  .somewhat  smaller  set  is  frc(pU'ntly  laid  in  the  same  l)urrow  or  in  another 
close  by,  if  the  tir.st  ejifgs  are  taken. 

The  aggs  of  the  Hurrowinjj^  Owl,  after  they  are  washed,  are  pure  white  in 
color,  but  as  taken  from  the  lau'mw  they  are  usually  much  soiled  by  the 
excrement  of  the  numerous  tli'as  inhaltitiuj^-  the.se  domiciles,  and  bear  then 
no  reseml)lance  to  white.  They  are  much  more  {flossy  than  most  Owls' efi'fi's 
and  are  usually  rounded  ovate  in  shape.  The  shell  is  close  grained  and 
rather  smooth,  but  in  some  sets  it  is  sti'ongly  granulateil. 

The  av(!rage  size  of  aline  .series  of  these  I'ggs  is  ,'{1  Ity  "J.")..")  millimetres, 
the  largest  egg  of  the  series  measuring  34  by  27  millimetri-s,  the  smallest  28  b}' 
2r»  millimetres. 

The  type  specimen,  Nti.  20.")7.S  (IM.  12,  Fig.  It),  from  the  liendire  col- 
lection, selecti'il  from  a  set  of  nine  eggs,  was  taken  near  Fort  Walla  Walla, 
Washingtim,  April  21,   ISSl. 


■* ' 


s^j\i 

141.    Speotyto  cunicularia  floridana  Kiouway. 

FLOKIDA    HIKUOWIN(i    OWL. 

Speotyto  eunicularin  var.  Jloriilaiid  UtixiWAV,   Amevicaii  Siioi'tsniiin,  v,  July  4,  1874, 

(B  — ,  C  — ,  K  408(1,  C  488,  U  :!:.S((.) 

QEooRAPHlCAii  HANOK:  Floi'iija  aiiil  the  adjacent  Haliama  Lslaucls  (Now  Provi- 
dence)- 

The  breeding  range  of  the  Florida  Hurrowing  Owl,  a  variety  somewhat 
lighter  colored  than  the  preceding,  seems  to  l)e  conlined  to  the*  State  of 
Florida  and  to  somk!  of  the  Hahania  Islamls.  It  is  an  inhabitant  of  the  vast 
prairie  foiuid  north  of  Lake  Okechobee  and  similar  localities  in  other  parts 
of  the  iState. 


TUB  PLOItlDA  BCRUOVVING  OWL. 


401 


Mr.  Walter  IToxie,  in  an  intorostiufj  articlo  on  tlio  brocdinj,'  lialnts  of  this 
Hpecios,  says;  "AltIiouj,'li  in  tlio  west  tlio  Unrrowinjr  Owl  usnally  inliahits  tlio 
(h'scrtod  (loniicily  of  sonio  animal,  this  docs  not  sccni  to  ho  tlio  case  with  the 
Florida  Hurrowinff  ()\v\  (Sproti/fo  ninintldria  Jforiiltnin).  There  arc  no  animals 
in  the  country  the  lattitr  bird  inhabits  that  make  such  holes  as  they  re<|uin', 
and  I  am  assured  that  every  hole  is  occn])ied  by  a  j)air  of  Owls  in  the 
spring,  and  when  one  is  caved  in  by  the  feet  of  cattle  or  horses,  its  occupants 
at  once  proceed  to  excavate  a  new  one.  Tlie  Indians  say  that  they  use  their 
feet  for  this  purjiose,  and  dij;  j)retty  fast,  too.  Tiieir  imitation  of  tin!  cry  of  the 
bird  was  very  much  like  the  notes  of  the  (hickoo,  and  not  at  all  Owl  like  in 
its  tone.     •     *     * 

"The  burrows  are  found  either  in  tlie  very  hi;,diest  jiarts  of  the  prairie 
or  in  tlui  thickest  vejjetation,  and  occupy  a  peculiar  sort  of  sandy  flat  {i^round, 
which,  however,  is  covered  with  a  jjood  toiif^h  turf.  They  are  about  5  inches 
wide  and  .'J.J  hif?h,  and  extend  under  ffroiuid,  on  the  average,  less  than  (5  feet. 
A  few  found  were  H  feet  and  over  and  only  one  less  than  4  feet.  The 
superincuml)ent  soil  is  froui  S  inches  to  1  foot  thick,  and  the  chamber  at  tlie 
extremity  in  wliich  the  nest  is  placed  is  (piite  circular,  and  not  less  than  1 
foot  in  diauieter.  It  is  higla^"  than  tlie  passageway  leailing  to  it,  and  being 
Hkewi.se  slightly  domed,  brings  tlie  toj)  quite  near  to  tlu^  surface  of  the 
ground.  It  is  this  part  of  the  habitation  which  is  most  often  caved  in  l)y  the 
feet  of  passing  cattl(\  Tiio  sand  tliat  is  thrown  out  at  the  mouth  of  the  burrow 
makes  cpiite  a  conspicuous  mound  in  th(»  open  prairie,  but  in  tlu^  'roughs,' 
or  those  places  tliat  have  not  Ix-en  burned  over  for  some  years,  the  weeds 
and  grass  are  rich  and  rank  about  it,  doubtless  fertilized  l)y  the  droppings 
and  castings  of  the  inliabitants.  This  hides  the  l)urrow  pretty  etl'ectuallv 
from  the  casual  olt.server,  Imt  after  a  litth^  experience  these  circular  patches 
of  richer  vegetation  were  <piite  valual)le  as  guides  in  my  search.  1  found  no 
very  large  towns,  the  usual  number  of  burrows  being  five  or  six.  The  largest 
number  found  together  was  (fleven,  anil  the  smallest  three.  The  holes  opeu 
to  all  ])oints  of  the  compass,  although  oni;  of  the  oldest  settlers  in  the  region 
assured  me  that  they  always  extended  south  under  ground.  They  seldom 
make  nuich  of  a  turn.  When  one  hole  was  found  I  always  looked  for  otheis 
within  at  least  a  rod,  and  occasionally  they  were  not  nu)re  than  a  yard 
apart."' 

Mr.  .1.  F.  Menge  writes  me  from  Myers,  Florida,  as  follows:  "The 
Florida  Hurrowing  Owl  nests  on  thc^  high  open  |)rairies  in  this  vicinit\-, 
beginning  to  lay  alxiut  .Marcli  1")  and  up  to  the  midiUe  of  .May.  Tlu^  eggs 
range  from  four  to  eight  to  a  set,  usually  six.  Tlie  burrows  vary  greatly 
both  in  length  and  deiith.  I  have  found  nests  all  the  way  from  (1  to  1(1 
feet  from  the  entrance,  and  only  ,'")  inches  to  ;{  feet  under  ground,  'i'ju' 
nest  is  always  placed  from  2  to  4  inches  above  tlm  level  of  the  passageway 
in  a  circular  chamlxM'  near  the  end  of  the  burrow.      The  eggs  are  laid  on  a 


hi 


'  Oi'nitlii)l'>Ki8t  1111(1  OiiloKist,  Vul.  xiv,  1«89,  No.  3,  pp.  3:1,  34. 

20957— Bull.  1 L'{) 


402 


LIFK  HISTOltllia  OF  NOKTll  AMKUICAN  BIUDS. 


I 


fi    ! 


bud  of  dry  t!o\v  dun<(  luid  j^niss  roots.  Tho  food  of  tlicHCi  (^\vl«  couHintH  inostlv 
of  ht'otlus,  yriiHHlioppors,  Hiuiill  siuikus,  and  frogs.  Many  of  their  lU'sts  arc 
yearly  de.stroyed  by  skunks  and  opossums,  who  .seom  to  be  very  fond  of 
the  eggs.  Dnrhig  tlie  spring  of  IH'IO  T  secured  st^vcral  full  sets  in  the*  fol- 
lowing manner.  Hy  not  distiu'lting  the  entrance;,  simply  inserting  a  plial»lc 
stick  as  far  as  it  would  go  in  the  hole,  withdrawing  it  and  measuring, 
then  digging  a  small  hole  down  to  the  passageway  and  using  the  stick  again 
as  before  until  I  canut  to  tlm  ne.st,  I  could  examine  it,  and,  in  case  the 
set  of  eggs  was  not  comi)lete,  cut  a  turf  to  lit  each  hole  made,  taking  care 
to  shut  out  all  light,  and  thus  found  that  the  birds  would  continue  laying  as 
if  nothing  had  disturlu-d  them.  A  few  days  later  I  went  back  to  the  ne.sts 
so  treated,  and  lifting  tlie  turf  carefully,  invariably  found  the  bird  at  home. 
She  always  made  a  rattling  sound  like  that  of  the  rattlesnake,  so  nuich  so, 
indeed,  that  the  party  who  was  with  me  jumped  back  and  said,  'Lookout, 
there  is  a  rattlesnake!'  These  birds  niw  persistent  layers.  I  robbed  a  pair 
three  times,  first  of  eight  eggs,  tlien  of  five,  and  the  last  time  of  four.  These 
were  all  laid  in  the  same  burrow,  but  each  set  was  a  little  deeper  in.  One 
of  their  burrows  found  l»y  me  described  almost  a  comi»lete  circle,  the  nesting 
chamber  being  .situated  within  '1  feet  of  the  entrance  hole." 

After  the  breeding  .season  is  over,  the  Florida  HuiTowing  Owl  is  said  to 
disajjpear  for  a  time  from  its  usual  haunts,  but  where  it  goes  is  not  posi- 
tively known.  On  the  whole,  its  habits  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  com- 
mon Burrowing  Owl. 

Mr.  .Menge,  from  whom  1  obtained  a  set  of  six  eggs,  sent  the  nesting 
materia]  on  whicli  they  were  fouml.  In  this  instance  it  consisted  entirely  of 
tluf  burnt  ends  of  gra.ss  stalks  and  the  charreil  roots,  evidently  pulled  uj) 
by  the  l)irds,  and  mixed  witii  this  material  were  some  few  breast  feathers 
of  the  Ground  Dove  (Coli(mhit/(illin(t  )i(isscrin(i). 

The  eggs  are  indistinguishalile  from  those  of  the  preceding  .subspecies, 
and  tlieir  shells   are   ecpially  smooth  and  glossy;    their  .shajje  is  also  similar. 

The  average  measurement  of  twenty-three  specimens  is  31.5  by  2C)I) 
millimetres,  the  largest  egg  of  the  scries  measuring  33  by  29,  the  smallest 
30  by  25.5  millimetres. 

The  tyi)e  specimen.  No.  18192  (PI.  12,  Fig.  KJ),  was  obtained  from  Dr. 
J.  W.  Velie,  and  taken  in  southern  Florida  in  the  spring  of  1880. 


iiin 


»''"=> 


Till';  PYiiMY  OWL.  403 


142.     Glaucidium  gnoma  Waglku. 

I'YOMY    OWL. 

Glaucidium  gnoma  Waoi.rr,  Tsin,  ls:i'.>,  '.>75. 

(B  ()(),  C  :i-^!»,  R  40!),  C  IH4,  U  :\V.\.) 

GK()(»RAPHlCAii  RANHB:  Tlio  iiitoi'ior  iiiid  mouiitiiiiKiuH  piirts  of  wcHtcrii  Nnrtli 
Aiuorica,  from  Britisli  Coltiml)i!i;  SDutli  Hu'oukIi  Hk'  United  Hditcs  to  tlio  tiiMt'-liuids  uf 
Me.xico,  o.xcoi)tiiig  tlu)  Piwilic  I'oiwt  ntgioii;  oust  to  the  oiistcrii  slopes  of  llio  Uocky 
Moiiiituiiis. 

The  brocdiu}^  ranf^o  of  tho  Pyfjmy  Owl,  as  tar  as  kimwu,  rxttfiids  tliroufrli 
tho  tiinljored  roffioiis  of  wcstiTii  Noitli  Aiucrica,  fioiii  tliu  soiitluMMi  Wocky 
Moimtaii'S  in  Colorado,  Now  Mexico,  and  Ari/.oiia,  westward  to  eastern  Califor- 
nia, eastern  Crej^on,  and  eastern  Washington,  north  into  eastern  liritish  Colum- 
bia, and  south  into  Mexico. 

The  followiujf  is  (juoted  from  an  article  written  i)y  me  and  published  in 
The  Auk,  October,  IHHfi  (Vol.  v,  ])|).  3(!(i-372),  with  a  few  veri)al  chanj^es: 

"The  f>oneral  habits  of  the  l'y};iny  Owl  are  by  this  time  pretty  well 
known,  and  there  remains  little  for  me  to  add  to  its  life  history  that  is  really 
new.  It  is  a  well  established  fact  that  it  is  (piitc^  diurnal  and  hunts  its  prey,  to 
a  great  e.xtentat  least,  during  the  (hiytime;  its  food  consists  not  alone  of  grass- 
hojjpers  and  other  insects,  as  some  of  the  earlier  naturalists  surmiseil,  but  al.so 
of  birds  and  the  smaller  rodents,  some  of  the  latter  considerably  heavier  than 
itself. 

"I  presume  that  it  is  not  at  all  nnconnnon  throughout  the  entire  mountain- 
ous and  tind)ered  portions  of  the  West;  but  from  its  small  size  and  retiring 
habits,  generally  being  hidden  in  dense  evt'rgreen  trees,  it  is  not  often  noticed 
by  the  naturalist,  and  usually  only  by  accident.  I  have  taken  it  per.sonally  in 
the  Hlue  Mountains  in  Washington  and  in  several  jdaces  in  Oregon,  but  have 
never  met  with  more  than  one  at  a  time.  My  specimens  were,  with  but  a  single 
exception,  found  in  or  near  pine  tindx^r.  While  hunting  Sage  Fowl  on  the 
morning  of  February  f),  187."),  in  the  vicinity  of  (Jamp  Harney,  Oregon,  1  .shot 
a  female  I'jgmy  Owl  at  lea.st  .^)  miles  from  the  nearest  timber.  It  was  perched 
on  a  large  bowlder  lying  at  the  foot  of  a  basaltic  cliff,  and  allowed  me  to  ap- 
proach (piite  closely,  it  had  just  about  finished  breakfasting  upon  a  Western 
Tree  Sparrow,  as  indicated  by  the  feathers  scattered  about  and  on  the  rocks; 
it  was  in  prime  condition  and  exceedingly  fat. 

"The  first  of  these  little  Owls  coming  under  my  observation  was  shot 
by  Sergeant  Smith,  who  used  frecpiently  to  hunt  with  me.  On  the  morning 
of  December  14,  1874,  we  were  out  hunting  Sttoty  Grouse  along  the  .southern 
slopes  and  among  the  foothills  of  the  Blue  Afountains,  a  few  miles  north  of 
Camp  Ilarney,  and  had  been  (piit(!  successful.  The  sergeant  was  walking  along 
the  edge  of  a  mesa,  while  I  was  about  100  yards  below  him  hunting  among 
some  service  beny  bushes  growing  about  half  way  up  the  slope  of  the  hill,  and 


'tit 


I 


404 


LIFE  lllSTOUIi;a  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


H« 


Fl 


/  i 


ji? 


in  wliicli  (intiist^  weir  usually  I'diiiul  f('ciliii<,''  iit  tlmt  tiiiu-  of  tlic  year,  llcariiiji- 
tlu^  scijfcaiit  till!  (lie  foiilil  not  Ik'  si-cn  tVoin  wlion-  1  was  Htan(liii;i-),  I  called 
to  him  and  anked  wliiit  Ix*  liad  sliot.  His  i'c|ily  sct'incd  at  the  instant  ratluT 
stran;;*' to  nic.  !t  was,  'Captain,  1  shot  a  hahyOwl  ridin;;  on  a  rat;  I  luivo 
ifot  tlioni.'  Had  I  not  known  the  sciMrcant  to  he  a  strictly  soltcr  man,  not  at  all 
addicted  ti»  drii.l  in^'',  1  should  have  readily  aj^reed  with  him  'that  he  had  them,' 
and  laid  it  to  iverindul;;'ence  in  something,''  stronj^er  than  water  on  that  |)ar- 
ticnlar  morninf;-;  hut  when  1  dimiu'd  n|)  to  whore  Iiii  was  standiiij,'  the  mutter 
was  lully  explained. 

"It  appears  that  a  tall  old  piiio  treo  had  heeii  uprooted  yearH  ago  by 
some  of  the  heavy  wind  storms  that  occasionally  sweep  (»ver  that  re^^ion,  and 
tho  roots  of  it  were  lyin<i  jiartly  under  a  v)un<,fer  anil  hushy  tree  of  tho 
Hame  species  that  was  takinj^  tlu^  place  of  the  older  one  in  the  ccmrse  of 
nature.  The  massive  trunk  of  the  old  tree  was  free  from  liinhs  for  ahout 
40  feet,  and  was  slowly  hut  stu'ely  (lecayinJ,^  A  larj^e  sized  <,n>pher,  which 
perhaps,  found  a  con;;viiial  home  amidst  the  roots  of  the  old  tree,  on  liear- 
inj;  the  noise  the  .sergeant  made  in  his  approach,  had  climbed  np  on  to  the 
trunk  of  the  tree,  |)ossil)ly  to  get  a  good  view  of  the  intruder  and  to  warn 
the  balance  of  his  family,  when,  (piick  as  a  flash,  a  little  I'ygmy  Owl  that 
had  been  securely  hidden  among  the  Itranches  of  the  growing  pine,  dropped 
down  with  unerring  aim  on  its  victim  and  fastened  its  sharp  little  talons 
securely  into  the  astonished  gopher's  back.  Sergeant  Snnth's  attention  was 
drawn  to  the  performance  by  a  s([ueak  from  tlu-  gojdier,  which,  in  trying 
to  escape,  ran  along  on  top  of  the  fallen  pine  almo.st  its  entire  length, 
making  rather  slow  progress,  however,  hampered  a.s  it  was  by  the  Owl,  when 
the  sergeant  fired,  killing  both.  During  this  time,  nearly  a  couple  of  minutes, 
th(>  Owl  sat  upright  on  the  gopher's  l)ack,  never  letting  go  its  hold  an 
instant,  twi.sting  its  head  nearly  off  the  body  in  trying  to  keej)  an  eye  on 
the  sergeant,  who  was  rapidly  ajjproaching,  l)ut  apparentl}'  showing  no  un- 
easiness whatever,  lie  told  me  that  the  whole  thing  was  done  in  such  a 
business-like  maimer  that  it  was  evidently  not  the  first  ride  of  the  kind  this 
little  Owl  had  .so  taken.  It  held  on  to  its  prey  even  in  death.  (I  published 
a  short  account  of  this  o(!currence  at  the  time  in  the  Proceedings  of  tho 
Moston  Society  of  Xatiu'al  History  (Vol.  xviii,  October  (i,  1875).  Hoth  speci- 
mens are  in  the   l'.  S.  National  Museum  collection.) 

"I  also  met  with  th<f  Pygmy  Owl  on  several  occasions  at  Fovt  Klamath, 
Oregon,  and  remember  cpiite  di.stinctly  seehig  one  (presumably  the  same  in- 
dividual) several  times  at  various  hoin-s  of  the  day,  sitting  patiently,  but 
wide  awake,  on  a  single  long  and  slender  willow  ))ranch  overhanging  For* 
Creek,  but  a  little  distaiu-e  from  the  post.  I  refrained  from  shooting  it  as  I 
suspected  it  nested  in  the  vicinity,  and  it  woidd  also  have  been  rather  diffi- 
cult to  secure.  I  cannot  sa}'  positively,  Ijut  think  that  it  used  that  particular 
perch  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  catch  frogs.  The  willow  overhung  a 
marshy,  reed-covered  spot,  where  the  water  was   rather  shallow,  and  whicli 


TUE  rVUMV  OWL. 


405 


8oi!Iii(m1  to  l)c  a  fiivitritc*  rcsiirt  for  iiiiiiiIhth  of  tlicHci  hatnicliiaiis.  Small  liinJH, 
of  wliicli  tlicn^  were  iiiiiiilxTs  alioiit  ill  the  vicinity  in  tlic  willow  tliickctn 
i)oril('rin;r  tlic  stream,  ilid  not  seem  to  resent  tlie  pieseiice  of  the  little  Owl, 
ami  paid  no  attention   wiiiilever  to  it. 

"its  cull  notes  niji\  often  lie  heard  iliirin<^''  the  early  spring'  months  while 
matiiijr,  and  usually  shortly  after  sundown,  its  love  notes  are  li\  no  means 
unmusical,  'i'hey  somewhat  resemiile  the  cooinji'  of  the  Mourniiij;'  i)ove 
(^Xiiitddiini  iiiKiniHni),  like  'coohiih,  loohiili,"  softly  uttered,  and  a  numlier  of 
times  repeated.     Althou^jh   I   have  not   positively   seen  this  hird   whih-  in  the 


at 


t  of  callin'''  its  iiiiilt 


am  (piife  certiiin  thiit  the  notes  emfiiifited  from  this 
littlu  Owl  and  no  other,  i  am  fiimilinr  with  the  notes  of  the  Acadian  and 
Mtici''arlane's  ( )wls  (Xi/ctdhi  nidiimi  and  Mcfitisntjis  (is'nt  hiiniidliiiiri),  the  only 
other  of  the  small  ( )wls  at  all  likely  to  l»e  found  there,  lait  their  notes  are 
•lirt'ereiit,  and  they  were  not  heard  l»y  me  while  stationed  at  l''ort  Klamath, 
Ore;;<»n. 

"Air.  Ileiishaw  f(aind  the  i'y;iniy  ( ►wis  (piite  numerous  in  the  soiitlieni 
Rocky  Mountains,  and  states  thiit  they  are  rather  sociiihle  in  dis|)osition,  espe- 
cially diu'in<;  the  fall  months,  lie  says  he  has  imitated  their  call  and  readily 
lured  them  n\)  close   enou<;'li  to  l)e   seen.'      I   am  inclined   to  think  that  they 


are  much  more  common  there  than 


farti 


ler  iiortl 


'Diiriii"'  an  ab.sence  oiwe  from  lAirt  Ivlaniiith  on  olliiial  matters,  one  of 


luy  men  found  on  .lime   Id,   1S,S,'{,  a  Imrrow  o(cu]>ie<l  ns  a   nest  hy  the  tr 


ue 


01, 


(inciitiiim  fiimma,  wint 


h  at  the  time  it   wiis  first  discovered    must  Iia\'e  con- 


tained eji'srs.     'I'lie   nest    was   not   disturbed    till    the   dav  after  mv   return    t( 


tl 


le  IK 


ost,  .1 


uno 


■Jf),  when  he  showt  d   it  to   nu 


nestin<>'  site  used  was 


deserted  Wooilpecker's  excavation,  in  ;i  l>adly  decayed  hut  still  livin;;'  as]»en  tree 


aiK 


1  was  about  2t>  feet  from  the  yrou 


the  cavity  was  about  S  inches  deep 
and  Wfi  wide  at  the  bottom.  'I'his  ti  with  t\M'  others  of  about  the  same 
size,  st<»od  rifjlit  behind,  and  lait  a  tew  Net  fiom  a  tarjict  butt  on  tlu'  riHe 
ranji'e,  which  had  been  in  daily  use  since  .May  1,  tarj^ct  lirinji'  fi'oiufi'  on 
three  or  four  hours  daily.  All  this  shootin;.'-  did  not  .seem  to  disturb  these 
birds,  for  the  (irst  (■;•;;•  must  have  been  deposited  .some  two  or  thn'c  weeks 
after  the  tarj^vt  jn'actice  season  bej;an,  i»ut  the  stran^-est  thinji'  is  that  the  Owls 


were  not  discovered  lonj>'  heitu'e,  as  two  men  emploveil  as  markers  were  con- 
stantly behind  the  butt  in  (|uestion  durinfj^  the  tiriiifi'  and  directly  facinj;-  the 
eiitraiu'O  liole  of  the  burrow.  When  the  m^st  was  shown  me  1  had  it  oxain- 
ine(l,  and,  much  to  my  disgust,  found  it  to  contain,  instead  of  the  much  coveted 
e}>;<ys,  four  y()un<j  birds  about  a  week  or  ten  days  old.  I  took  these;  two  of 
them  are  now  in  the  U.  S.  National  Museum,  the  remaiiiin<>-  two  in  Mr.  William 
Hrew.ster's  collection  at  Camla-id^c,  Massachusetts.  The  cavity  was  well  filled 
with  feathers  of  various  kinds,  and  contained  besides  tla^  youn<f,  the  female 
parent  and  a  full  i^rown  Say's  chipmunk  (^'I'diiiias  lutcntli.s),  that  evidently  had 

'  Auli,  Vol.  Ill,  .likiiiiary,  IHtN),  p.  7<J. 


il 


If! 

Mi- 


111 

[I 

!Vl 


^ 


406 


Lll'K  Ui8TOUlE8  OF  NORTH  AAIEKICAN  HIKDS, 


fe" 

just  b(Hm  carrit'd  in,  iis  it  liad    not    been    touched.     Tho    cavity  was  alnumt 
entirely  tilled  uit  by  the  contents  mentioned."' 

Mr.  William  G.  Smith,  of  Loveland,  IJolorado,  well  known  as  a  reliulde 
naturalist  and  collector,  write  me  that  he  t'oun(.  a  nest  of  this  species,  on 
May;U,  lH!lt>,  c(>ntainin<;-  thn  e  youuff  birds  apparently  about  two  days  old 
and  !;  .sin;>le  ef;}>-  which  was  on  tlu*  ])oint  of  hatchin<y,  in  a  ravine  lU'ar  Estes 
Park  at  an  altitude  of  ai»out  10,(»()()  feet.  The  site  was  in  an  old  Wood- 
pecker's hole  in  a  dead  asju-n  about  14  feet  from  the  frroiind.  The  n«'st,  if 
it  can  l)e  called  such,  was  composed  of  a  tew  feathers  anil  rubbish,  'i'he 
female  was  in  the  iiole,  and  in  tryin<>'  to  take  her  out  the  e};f<jf  was  broken; 
the  male  was  perched  on  a  tree  close  by  and  was  likewise  secured.  Mr. 
Smith  also  states  in  one  of  his  letters  to  me  that  one  of  these  little  Owls 
made  it.stdf  (piite  familiar  in  the  town  of  iioveland,  Coloratht,  tlurinjif  the 
winter  (IS'.Ml),  tlyiuff  ai)out  the  hor..->.s  durini>-  the  daytime  for  several  days, 
until  shot.      He  rejiards  them  as  rare  in  that  vicinity. 

Mr.  t'harles  V.  Morrison  rei)orts  havin<>;  taken  four  sets  of  their  e<^<^'s  in  La 
I 'lata  Comity,  Colorado,  dminfi'  1KS()  and  1HS7,  but  fails  to  describe  or  to  j^ive 
measurenuMits  of  these  e<><i's,  and  1  have  been  unable  to  borrow  any  of  these 
specimens  for  exa-Mination.  He  states  that  they  nested  in  deserted  Wood- 
peckers' holes  anc.  hollow  stubs  on  the  sides  of  <>ulches  f^rown  u]»  with  pine 
timl)er.  lie  yives  the  earliest  date  of  nestin<f  as  June  1,  and  the  late.st  June  '2'2. 
The  nestin<f  sites  were  fntni  S  to  20  feet  nj).  The  only  note  he  lu'ard  them 
utter  was  a  faint  sipu-ak. 

The  food  of  the  Pyijiny  Owl  consists  principally  of  the  smaller  rodents  and 
l»irds,  some  considerahly  larger  than  it.self  It  is  a  decidedly  savajic  little  fel- 
low and  a  couraireous  one  as  well.  In  speakinj^  of  their  food,  my  trieiid  Dr 
James  ('.  Merrill,  V.  S.  Army,  makes  the  followinjy  statiMiu'iit:  "One  ca]  tured 
February  21,  had  just  struck  at  a  Hol)in,  and  was  stru<i<iTmj>'  with  it  on  the 
{iTound.  It  is  said  tti  lie  especially  altundant  in  sunmier  at  Modoc  I'oint, 
Klamath  Lake,  Oic-ion,  and  to  feed  ui)on  a  lizard  that  is  conmion  there.  I 
have  also  found  fra<iinents  of  iield  mice  in  their  stomachs.  Insects,  however, 
and  especially  {grasshoppers,  constitute  the  {greater  part  of  their  food,  when  the\- 
can  b(*  obtained.  When  tiie  Owl  is  searchinji'  for  these,  the  smaller  liirds  pa\' 
but  little  attention  to  it,  even  if  it  happens  to  aii<;ht  near  them."" 

.hidf^inf;-  from  the  date  «if  nestiufj  but  a  siuf^le  brood  is  raised  in  a  .sea.son, 
and  incultation  a'lju'ars  to  lie<jfin  with  the  first  v<x<<;  laid.  They  are  constant  resi- 
dents wherever  found. 

I  rcf^ret  that  1  am  unable  to  j^ive  a  iletailed  description  and  nu'asure;uent 
of  rheir  e^jjfs,  which  appear  to  be  usually  tour  in  nund)er,  but  they  \\'ll  uiapu's- 
tionably  |>rove  in(listin;.;uisiiable  from  thosi*  of  its  ni'ar  relative,  the  California 
I'y{{i;:y  Owl,  which  are  known. 

'  Anl<.  Viil.  V,  No.  4,  OetidiiT,  IWHS,  |)|..  lUiCh-:!?!. 
»Aiik,  Vol.  V,  Nu.  2.  Aiiril,  ISSb,  p.  UU. 


TUK  OALIKOKNIA  I'YOMY  OWL.  4t)7 

143.     Glaucidium  gnoma  californicum  (Sci.atkk). 

CAI.IKIUMA    rVCiMY    OWL. 

(Jhuicidiiiin  ralifdniirinn  Sci.ai'KK.  Pi'occiMlinjjs  Zoulnj^iciil  Society  Limdon,  1857.1).  -1. 
UlnnciiUiini  iiniuiia  vnUfornifuiu  Hkndike,  Auk,  V^ol.  v,  ()cti)l)i'i'.  ISS.s,  p.  ;iO(>. 
(B  Cd.  part;  C  ;i-v'!i.  \n\.v\\  K  4()!».  piirt;  C  tH4.  part;  U  ;!:!»<(.) 

Geookai'IUcai,  kanok:  Coast  ii'jjiou  of  California,  Oregon,  Wasliington,  and 
HoiitluM'u  British  Coiunihia. 

Tilt'  Ciililornia  l'y<;niy  Owl,  11  darker  colored  race  than  the  precedinfi',  is  a 
resident  of  and  breeds  in  the  tind)ered  rejiions  adjacent,  to  the  I'acilic  coast, 
o'oni  ahont  latitnde  ;{7°  X.  in  middle  Calitornia,  throuj;h  western  ()re<;-oii,  Wa.sli- 
in<rton,  and  sontlu'rn  IJiitish  ('olund)ia,  wlu-re  Mr.  ('lark  I'.  Streator  reports  it  as 
connnon  in  tln^  vicinity  ot"  Monnt  I^ehinan,  in  latitude  4It'^  N.,  and  l»reeilin<«'.  In 
the  drier  cliinato  in  tiie  interior  of  tln-se  States  it  is  replaced  by  the  true 
(lldiicidiitin  f/iiomd,  and  its  habits  frencrally  arc  very  similar  to  that  subspecies. 
1  believt^  the  cri'dit  of  discovery  of  the  nest  and  e}if>s  of  this  Owl  belongs 
to  .Mr.  (Seorj-v  11.  Ixeady,  of  Santa  Cruz,  ("alifornia,  who  found  a  nest  on 
dune  S,  IH(!S,  containiu};'  three  e;if;s,  in  a  desertt'd  Woodpecker's  excavation 
in  an  (dd  and  isolated  j)oplar  tree  "jrowinf;'  on  tlu*  i)anks  of  the  San  I.orenzo 
Uiver,  near  the  abovi^  mentioned  locality.  Tlu^  cavity  was  To  teet  from  the 
<rrouiid.  A  short  account  of  this  lind  was  puldished  by  me  in  tiie  Proceed- 
ing's of  the  Hoston  Society  of  Natural  History  (\'ol.  xix,  .Marcii  iM,  1H7!>,  p. 
i;{2),  and  a  somewhat  fuller  descri|ttion,  by  W.  ('.  ('oo|ter,  can  be  found  in 
the  MuUetin  of  the  Nuttall  Ornitholo-'ical  Clul»  (Vol.  iv,  April,  1H7!I,  p.  SC). 

The  two  eni>s  which  Mr.  Oooper  has  made  driiwinji's  of,  and  which  1  have 
before  me,  an;  nearly  ovate  in  shape,  and  said  to  be  dull  white  in  color,  with 
a  scarc(dy  percei)til)le  yellowish  tin^c.  Their  surface  is  described  as  (piite 
smooth,  and  to  have  the  ai)])earance  of  haxin;;'  been  partU'  piuu'tured  with 
ii  fine  needle  point  over  the  whole  e^-^\  dudj>iu<r  from  the  drawin<is  they 
art!  ileciiledly  pointed  for  Owls'  e;i<;s,  und  perhaps  somewhat  altnomal  in  this 
resptM't,  resembling'  the  e^i'^fs  of  the  Uurrowinji'  ( hvl  in  shape,  'i'iieir  size  is 
•riven  as  I.IS  by  0.!lO  anil  1.17  by  ()..S7  inches  (abtmt  .'{(>  by  22.1»  and  21».7 
l)y  2:M   millimetres). 

I  recently  had  an  opportunity  to  examine  two  sets  of  efi'fjfs,  now  in  tho 
oolofi'ical  collections  of  .Messrs.  Sanmel  \\.  liadd  anil  .losepli  lloopes,  of  West 
Chester,  I'emiHylvauia,  wiiicii  are  said  to  belon^j-  to  this  sul)species.  Moth 
were  collected  in  Menton  County,  ( >re;fon,  and  found  in  Wooil|)etkers'  excava- 
tions in  dead  trees  in  swampy  woods.  ( >ne  of  these  .sets,  taken  May  20,  ISSl), 
containiu};'  four  eji'^s,  and  now  in  Mr.  I.add's  collection,  measures,  respectively, 
27  by  2;{,  2(;.r.  by  2,'{,  2<i  by  2;{,  and  2(1  by  22.:)  millimetres.  The  sludls  "of 
thest!  v<i>i>i  are  smooth,  close  jjrained,  and  very  thin,  almost  semitranslucent.  In 
color  they  are  dull  milky  wiiite,  with  a  very  taint  creamy  tint,  and  show  no 
luster,  but  have  the  peculiar  pittinj^s  or  punctures  already  referreil  to,  antl 
which  seem  to  be  characteristic  of  the  ejju's  of  this  ( )\vl.      They  are  roimded 


.if 


1    ^'' 

1  ■             1 

1:  ,     >>! 

If  I 


t  I 


408 


LIFE  HISTOItlBS  OF  NOUTU  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


oval  in  sliiipc,  about  tlio  size  of  tlio  well  known  (;g<r  of  tlio  little  Whitney's 
or  Elf  Owl,  but  can  bo  readily  distinj^uished  from  these  by  the  dilferent 
texture  of  the  shells. 

Mr.  Charles  A.  Allen,  writiu}^  nie  about  the  California  Py<^uiy  Owl  from 
Nicasio,  California,  says:  "In  tliis  section  it  iniiabits  the  heavy  coniferous 
forests,  and  is  rather  diiKcult  to  obtain  ut  any  tin)(\  Its  love  note  is  a  soft 
low  musical  'toot-toot,'  repeated  at  intervals  of  a  few  seconds  between  ea*  1> 
call.  Durinjif  tlie  inatin<r  .season,  which  comnuMioes  here  about  the  la.st  of 
February,  the.se  birds  can  be  heard  any  still  nioniin<)-  u])  to  H  or  !)  o'clock, 
and  if  it  Iti^  dull  and  cloudy  to  nearly  11  o'clock;  after  that  hour  they 
remain  silent  until  sundown.  I  consider  them  <>i)od  weather  |)ro<>nosticators,  as 
I  hear  them  invariably  just  before  a  storm.  After  tlie  breedinj;;  .season  is  over 
and  durin<>-  the  summer  months  they  remain  silent.  The  male  when  callin<r 
usually  selects  one  of  the  tallest  trees  and  perches  near  the  topmost  branches. 
Their  food  consists  of  small  birds  and  manunals,  and  I  have  found  them  feedin«f 
on  I'ij)il(i  itnyoinis  and  llnhUt  mrldiKxcplKila,  and  also  saw  one  potnice  down  on 
a  Tdiiiids  foioisciKli  sitting  on  a  lo}>',  seize  it  and  fly  uj)  into  a  larjic  red- 
wood tree,  where  I  found  it  feeding''  three  youn<.;'  which  were  sittin<^  on  a 
limb  (dose  beside  it,  and  crowdin{>'  one  another  to  obtain  the  food  as  fast  as 
the  parent  could  tear  it  up  int<i  suitable  pieces  for  them." 

I'rof  O.  B.  .b)hnson,  in  his  "List  of  the  Birds  of  the  Willamette  Valley, 
Orejjfon,"  referrin^r,  1  think,  to  this  bird,  says:  "(Juite  conunon;  I  have  not 
seen  the  nest.  They  are  savaf>e  little  fellows  and  will  attack  ca}j;e  birds  in 
daylight,  and   I   know  of  two  tliat  sutfered  death  therebj'." 

As  with  the  precedinji'  subspecies,  niditication  conunences  in  May,  and 
occasionally  not  befoii-  .June.  The  ninnber  of  ejrjfs  to  a  set  seems  to  be 
threi'  or  fi'.u",  and  prnbal)ly  but  a  single*  brood  is  raised  in  a  season.  As 
the  egg  of  the  California  i'yginy  Owl  is  indistinguishable  from  that  of  the 
Ferruginous  I'yginy  Owl,  as  far  as  size  and  s]iaj)e  are  concerned,  and  of  which 
a  specimen  is  ligiu'cd,   I  have  not  illustrated  it. 


144.     Glaucidium  gnoma  hoskinsii  Brewster. 

moskin's  i'vo.my  owl. 

Gliiucidiuin  (iiiomn  ho'-'kinsii  Kkkwstkr,  Aiik,  v,  April,  188S,  p.  i;jt5. 

(B  — ,  (;  -.  R  — ,  C  — .  U  ■.i7'M,.) 

GKftijK.vpnicvi,  KANOK  :  Liiwcr  California. 

Mr.  William  Brewster,  who  Inst  described  this  new  subspecies,  speaks 
of  it  as  l)eing  "similar  to  (ihiiir'itiniiii  (/iioiiki  ctiUforiiintiii,  l)Ut  smaller 'and 
grayer,  the  forehead  and  fascial  disc  with  more  white  and  the  upper  parts 
less  distinctly  spotted." 

The  type  sju'cimen,  an  adult  male,  was  taken  in  the  Sierra  th'  la  l..aguna, 
Lower  California,  .May  I",   IX*^?,  Itv  M.  .Vbbott   Frazar;   and  two  others  were 


m 


nOSKIN'S  PYGMY  OWL. 


409 


o])taine(l  hi  the  samo  locality  June  2  and  4,  respectively.      Mr.   Walter  E. 
liryant  took  anotlier  male  near  Coniondu,  Lower  California,  March  22,  1889. 

Nothiufj^  is  as  yet  known  ahout  the  bree'linji'  habits  and  ef^fjs  of  this  new 
8ubspeci«^s,  but  there  is  no  reason  to  believe  that  they  ditt'er  in  any  respect 
from  th(»se  of  the  two  precedinj^  <^eo<jrai)hical  races. 


145.     Glaucidium  phalaenoides  (Daudain). 


FKHKUOINOUS    I'VCiMY    OWL. 

SIrix  phaUmoidrs  Daudain.  Tniitt'  d'OrnitlioloKio,  11,  ISOO,  20G. 
(iliiiiridiiini  plinlivuoidf.s  Caba.nis.  .lounuil  fiir  Ornitliolojfit',  1869,  V08. 

(B  — ,  C  ;{:t(l.  R  410,  C  485.  U  .(«(».) 

OeookapuU'AL  KANdK :  Whole  of  tropical  Aiiioricii  (except  West  Iiules) ;  north 
to  soutliwosterii  hordor  of  the  Unitt'il  Stiilcs  (soutiicrii  Texas  to  Arizona). 

Tlie  Ferruginous  Py;fniy  Owl  is  a  resident  of  the  southern  bonier  of  the 
United  States,  lireediui^-  in  the  valley  of  the  Lower  Kio  (ilrande  in  Texas,  and 
in  soutiiern  Arizona.     It  doul)tle.ss  occurs  in  the  intervenin;;'  re<>ions  as  well. 

Mr.  (}ei)r^'(!  \i.  Sciuiett  found  it  not  unconnnon  at  Loniita,  Te.xa.s,  and  saj's: 
"From  its  small  sizi'  it  is  not  readily  seen  in  heavy  timber.  Its  note,  a  clear 
wiiis'ic,  (piite  dilHcult  to  follow,  was  often  heard  durin,<j  \\m\  and  iMay.  A 
fem.de  captured  April  !)  contained  e;.j-;is  nearly  ready  to  1m'  laid." 

lam  al)le  to  add  l)ut  little  more  relating  to  the  life  histcuy  of  this  Owl  than 
v/!iat  I  hav(i  already  jjuldished  in  the  Auk  (Vol.  v,  No.  4,  October,  1888, 
])p.  371,  .'572),  which  is  here  appeniled,  as  follows:  "This  widely  distributed 
species  was  lirst  described  l)y  I'rince  .Max  z.  Wied  in  182(1.  It  inhabits  the 
wiiole  of  tropical  Auierica  (tiie  West  Indites  excepted),  and  is  found  to  the 
northward  alon;.f  the  southwestern  border  of  the  United  States,  occm'rinjf  in 
scutliern  Texas  and  Arizona.  It  was  first  added  t(»  our  fauna  l)y  the  writer, 
who  took  several  in  1M72  in  tiie  iii-avy  mcscpiite  thickets  borderin<f  Hillitto 
Creek,  near  tiie  pre.-ieut  site  of  ('amp  Lowell,  in  the  vicinity  of  Tucson,  Arizona. 
The  first  specimen  was  taktMi  .January  24,  1872,  showing  that  it  is  a  resident 
tliroiijiliout  the  year;  otlier  specimens  were  obtained  duriuff  the  following 
spring  and  suuiuier.  Unfortunately,  I  was  not  then  an  adept  in  ta.xidermy;  the 
skins  made  i)y  nie  in  tiiose  (hiys  looked  as  if  they  ha<l  passed  througli  the  jaws 
of  ii  liungry  (H>yote,  ami  they  were  onlv  useful  in  determining  species.  Like 
Gldiuiiliitm  fiHomii,  tiiis  little  ( )wl  is  (piite  d'urnal  in  its  hal)it.s.  Its  call,  according 
to  my  own  notes,  is  'chu,  chu,  ciui,'  a  i:  :  ber  of  times  repeated,  anil  most  fre- 
(piently  iieard  in  the  evening.  Accordiug  to  .Mr.  F.  Stephens,  its  note  is  a  loud 
'cuck,'  repi'ati'd  several  times  as  rapidly  as  twice  each  second.  He  further  states 
that  at  eacli  utterance  tiie  l)ird  jerked  its  tail  and  threw  back  its  head.  Occasion- 
ally a  low  'cluick,'  auiliiile  for  onl\'  a  short  distance,  replaced  tlie  usual  call.  Mr. 
Stephens's  notes  come  |)eriiaps  nearer  the  mark  than  my  own;  I  know  him  to 
be  an  excee(linglv  careful,  conscientious,  and   relial)le  obserxcr.     Accor<liiig  to 


i 


410 


LIFE  HISTORIES  OF  NOUTII  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


Prince  Max  z.  Wied,  in  Buntieister's  'Thiere  Hmsilien's'  (Vol.  ii,  185(5,  p.  142), 
its  call  is  said  to  be  'keck,  keck,  keck.'  The  best  acH'oiint  of  the  life  history 
of  this  little  Owl  is  found  in  the  Journal  fiir  Ornitholoj^ie  (Vol.  xvii,  18(5!),  pp. 
244,  245),  under  '  Notes  on  the  Natural  History  of  the  Birds  of  Brazil,'  by  Carl 
Euler. 

"According  to  this  antiiority,  small  as  the  Ferru<>^inous  Pygmy  Owl  is,  it 
has  been  known  to  carry  oti'  youn<^  chickens,  and  he  was  informed  by  tluf 
natives  that  it  even  attacketl  Jacu  hens  (I'l'tirlopr),  a  bird  of  greater  size  than 
domestic  fowls.  It  was  stated  to  him  that  the  little  Ow)  fastened  itself  under 
the  wings  of  the  latter,  gradually  tearing  it  to  pieces,  and  wearing  it  out  and 
eventually  killing  it.  I  am  aware,  from  personal  observations,  that  some  of  our 
small  Owls  are  the  j)eer,  as  far  as  courage  is  concerned,  of  the  noblest  Fiilcon 
ever  hatched,  but  I  should  not  (juitc^  care  t(»  father  that  story.  Carl  Euler  says, 
further,  that  in  cai)tivity,  when  fed  on  birds,  it  always  carefully  removed  all  tlie 
larger  featliers  from  the  carcass  before  beginning  its  meal.  Also  that  it  was  not 
at  all  afraid  of  liglit,  and  that  he  met  with  it  several  times  dm-ing  bright  sun- 
shiny (hiys,  sitting  on  perfectly  bare  and  leafless  trees.  He  gives  its  call  note 
as  'khiu,  kiiiu.'  Apparently  none  of  us  here  mentioned  agree  on  the  call  note 
of  this  Owl,  and  I  leave  it  to  the  reader  to  take  his  choice. 

"Euler  surmises  tliat  it  rears  two  broods  a  season,  one  in  October  the 
other  in  I)ecend)er.  lie  once  met  in  March  a  family  of  four,  two  adults  and 
two  young,  sitting  close  together  on  a  lind)  of  a  tree,  waiting,  as  he  says, 
for  twiliglit.  The  nest  is  said  to  be  made  in  hstllow  trees,  l)ut  no  mention  is 
made  of  the  eggs  liaving  been  foinid,  however,  and  I  cannot  find  any 
description  of  them  in  any  of  the  works  accessible  to  me. 

"A  nest  containing  two  fully  fledged  young  found  by  nie  in  a  hole  in  an 
old  mescpiite  tree  in  the  spring  of  1X72,  in  a  chaparral  thicket  near  C'amp 
Lowell,  and  referred  to  at  the  time  as  being  that  of  MirrofiullKs  irliitni\i)i,  may 
possibly,  an<l  prol)al)ly,  have  been  one  of  tiiis  little  Owl,  as  tiie  Elf  ()wl 
.seems  tt>  confine  itself  in  its  nesting  sites  mainly  to  excavations  in  giant  cactus 
{Ccreus  gii/diitcnn),  so  fur  as  known." 

Since  tiiis  account  was  published,  Mr.  CJeorge  B.  Seiniett  has  secured 
the  eggs  of  this  s])ecit's.  lie  says:  "On  May  2,  ISSS,  my  collector  tot»k  an 
adult  female  and  an  egg  of  this  Owl  at  Cafion  del  ('al)alleros,  near  Victoria, 
Tamaulipas,  Mt^xico.  'Die  locality  is  high  and  at  the  base  of  the  more  pre- 
cipitous mountains.  Tiie  nest  was  in  a  hollow  tree  and  contained  but  a 
single  fresli  egg,  which  is  white,  shapiMl  like  that  of  a  iMi'i/dNtitjis,  mi'asures 
1.05  by  (l.!(t)  inches  [cbout  2(5.7  by  22.9  millimetres],  and  is  now  in  my  col- 
lection with  the  parent  l)ird.  It  will  be;  observed  that  in  size  it  is  very  close 
to  the  egg  of  Mitroiiiillus  itliifiirifi.'"^  • 

Since  Mr.  Sennett  ))ul)iished  the  above  he  lias  received  a  .set  of  four 
eggs  of  this  s|)ecies  taken  within  our  southern  border,  which,  as  well  as  the 
Hrst  mentioned  egg,  he  has  kindly  allowed  me  to  examine.     The  latter  were 

I  Auk,  Vol.  VI,  No.  1.  .Iuiiiiur.v,  HSU,  p.  70. 


^rm 


m: 


THE  FBlUtUGlNOUS  PYGMY  OWL. 


411 


found  on  May  3,  1H!)(),  antl  wi-ri'  apparently  fresh.  The  nestinj^'  site  was  a 
Woodpecker's  hole  in  a  niesquite  tree,  ahout  10  feet  from  the  ground,  in  tiiiek 
woods  near  Brownsville,  Texas.  The  eggs  are  oval  in  shape  and  measure, 
respectively,  'iH  by  23."»,  2K  hy  23.."),  27.;")  I)y  24,  aiul  27  by  23  millimetres. 

C/'ompared  with  the  eggs  of  (Uai'nUiim  i/noiint  laJi/oniicinii,  the  shells  are 
apparently  much  thicker,  and  are  rather  coarsely  gi'anulated,  considering  their 
small  size,  consideral)ly  more  so  than  thi^  egg  of  Miinijxilliis  iihitiirifi,  and 
they  are  not  as  glossy  as  the  latter.  The  textiu'e  of  the  shells  is  decitlcfUy 
difl'erent  from  that  of  the  «'ggs  said  to  l)e  tiiose  of  the  California  Pygmy 
Owl.  In  non(!  of  the  s|)('cimens  before  me  are  the  peculiar  punctures  or  pit- 
tings  noticeable  and  ))urportiug  to  1)e  characteristic  of  the  eggs  of  the  pre- 
ceding species.  In  fact,  the  reverse  is  ratiier  the  ca.se,  mo.st  of  the  .specimens 
Hhowing  a  few  slight  protuberances  on  their  surface. 

The  type  .specimen  figured  on  I'l.  12,  Fig.  '7,  is  the  one  taken  near 
Victoria,   Mexico,  and  now  in  .Mr.  (i.   H.  Scnnett's  collection. 


146.     Micropallas  whitneyi  (Coopku). 

in.K    OWL. 

Alhrnc  whUnviji  CooPER.  Pi-i)(  coiliiiuts  cil'  Oiilironiiii  Acailoiny  Sciciiecs.  ISOl,  118. 
Mirrojxillds  irliilni'iji  Sennktt,  Auk.  Vol.  vr,  iss'.i,  ■,>7i;, 

(B  -,  C  ;j:!I,  K  411.  C  4s<i.  U  .-isi.) 

Geoor.vi'HIcal  k.a\(JK:  Lower  Califdi'iiiii  ami  soutliwestHrii  United  States,  from 
soiitliejisteni  Ciilit'iiniia  luid  southern  Arizona  to  soutlKTU  Texas;  south,  to  southei'u 
Mexico  (Fuel)Io  iinil  (Juanajuato). 

The  range  of  the  Klf  Owl,  the  smallest  of  our  Owls  found  within  the 
United  States,  extends  from  southeastern  California  (Mojave)  southeastward 
through  soutliern  .Arizona,  where  it  is  the  commonest  Owl  in  that  Territory. 
Mr.  (Jeorge  l'>.  Sennett  olitaiiied  a  siuyle  s])ecimen  from  Hidalgo  County, 
Texa.s,  taken  on  April  ,''>,  1H,S!!,  extending  its  range  consideral)ly  in  this  direc- 
tion. Mr.  L.  lidding  reports  it  as  not  uncoimnon  in  the  vicinity  of  Miratlores, 
Lower  ('alifornia,  where  he  took  several  specimens  in  April,  1SS2,  and  it  is 
likewise  an  iidialtitant  of  the  greater  portion  of  .Mexico. 

Although  probal)ly  a  constant  resident,  and  breeding  wherever  found,  I 
believe  its  eggs  have  as  yet  only  been  taken  in  tlie  vicinity  of  Tucson,  soutli- 
ern  Arizona. 

Siiu'e  Dr.  J.  (J.  Cooper  ol)tained  the  type  specimen  near  MojaNc,  Cali- 
fornia,   April    2(1,    1S61,   no   others    have   been    taken   in   this   State,   and   this 


point    proha 


il)abl\ 


arks  the   extrenu^  western  and    northern   limit  of 


Its  raniic, 


The  type  remained   uni(|Ue  for  eleven  year.s,  until    I    met  with  this  little  Owl 


amiin  in  i 


\pril,   1872,  in  the  vicinity  of  Tucson,  Arizona. 


The  Klf  ( )\vls  are  nocturnal  in  their  habits  antl  are  seldom  seen  mov 


inji- 


about  in  the   daytime,  which   they    jiass  either   in   aliandoiied    excaxatioiis  of 


412 


LIFE  IIISTORIKS  OP  NORTH  AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


I '3  I 


fn. 


i: 


Wdoilpockcrs  in  trees  and  ffiinit  eactus,  or  in  the  tleiisest  thickets  in  tlie  ereek 
Ixittoms.  I  tirst  met  witli  the  KlfOwlin  April,  1S72,  my  attention  hein},^ 
drawn  to  it  hy  its  peculiar  call  notes,  refyinhlinj^  the  syllahh^s  "cha-cha, 
cha-cha,"  tVequently  repeated  in  dirt'ertMit  k(^ys,  sometimes  (piite  distinct  and 
ajiain  so  \nw  that  they  could  not  he  heard  more  than  20  yards  off.  Althou<>h 
uttered  in  a  rather  trenndous  tone  there  is  nothiuff  unpleasant  in  the  sound,  in 
fact  it  is  rather  the  reverse.  They  become  active  shortly  after  sundown 
<and  were  prohahly  attracted  t  the  vicinity  of  my  camp  hy  tli(^  ^uard  fire, 
which  was  usually  kept  up  all  ni^ht.  This  also  attracte<l  numerous  insects, 
on  which  these  little  fellows  feed  to  a  <>;reat  (extent. 

On  April  20,  1S72,  while  pushing  my  way  throujrh  a  dense  mass  of 
willows  in  the  Uillitto  ('reek  hottom,  I  .saw  one  of  thenj  ])erched  in  the  thicket 
and  shot  it.  Althou<;h  I  had  made  considerable  noise,  it  allowed  me  to 
approach  ([uitt*  do.so  and  did  not  seem  to  be  disturbed  by  my  intrusion  into 
its  retreat.  I  took  several  others  subse(piently,  most  of  them  .shortly  after 
sundown,  by  carefully  watchinjr  for  tlie  i)oint  from  which  they  uttered  their 
call  notes.  When  tliey  find  themselves  observed  they  sit  (piite  erect  and 
jjerfectly  motionli'ss,  and  may  in  such  a  position  l»e  easily  mistaken  for  a 
part  of  the  lind)  on  wliicli  they  are  }ierched. 

Mr.  William  Mrewster  published  tlit^  followiufj  notes  made  by  Mr.  F. 
Stephens,  while  collecting  for  him  in  1H,S2.  deferring  to  this  species,  he  savs: 
"I  was  walking  ])ast  an  elder  bush  in  a  thicket  when  a  small  bird  started  out. 
Thinking  it  had  flown  from  its  nest,  I  stoppeil  and  began  examining  the  bush, 
when  I  discovered  a  Whitney's  Owl  sitting  on  a  branch  with  its  side  toward 
me  and  one  wir.g  held  up,  shield  fashion,  b(^fore  its  face.  I  coidd  just  see  its 
eyes  over  the  wing,  and  had  it  kept  them  sinit  I  might  haxc  overlooked  it,  as 
they  tir.st  attracted  my  attention.  It  had  drawn  itself  into  the  smallest  jio.ssilile 
compass  so  that  its  head  formeil  the  widest  part  of  its  outline.  I  moved  around 
a  little  to  get  a  better  chance  to  shoot,  as  tlu^  bush  was  very  thick,  lait  whichever 
way  1  went  tlu*  wing  was  always  inter])osed,  and  when  I  retreated  far  enough 
for  a  fair  shot,  I  could  not  tell  tlu!  bird  from  the  surrounding  bunches  of  leaves. 
At  length,  losing  j)atience,  I  fired  at  random  and  it  fell.  Upon  going  to  pick  it 
u|)  I  was  surprised  to  find  another  which  I  had  not  seen  before,  and  which  must 
have  been  striu'k  by  a  stray  shot.  Hather  curiously  both  these  specimens 
proved  to  be*  adult  males.  It  is  by  no  means  ))ositive,  however,  that  tlu*  males 
are  not,  to  a  certain  extent,  gregarious  din-ing  the  bre»'ding  season,  for  on 
another  occasion  two  more  were  killed  from  a  tiock  of  fiv(*  which  were  sitting 
together  in  a  thick  bush.  They  had  seviM-al  different  call  notes,  one  of  which 
.sounded  lik(>  the  syllable  'churp,'  while  another  was  a  low  *ti(»-jur-rrr.'  These 
crii's  wen*  heard  at  all  times  of  the  night,  but  more  often  in  the  early  eveiring 


and  again  at  daybreak."' 

Mr.  Herbert  Hrown  writes  me  from  Tucson,  Arizona,  as  follow; 


'i'l 


KMr 


food   consi.sts   largelv   of  ants  and    l)eetlei 


I    h 


ive   examnieil    mort 


nan 


>  Uulletiu  Niittall  Uriiitholngiuul  Club,  Vol,  viii,  ISKi,  p.  \>K. 


m 


TUK  ELF  OWL. 


413 


dozen  of  their  stoiuiu-lis,  always  with  tlio  saine  result,  and  am  of  the  ()|)inion 
that  they  do  not  l)rey  upon  eitlu-r  birds  cr  niaiinnals,  however  small.  In 
dozens  of  excavations  occupied  hy  tliem  I  have  failed  to  lind  a  vesti;;e  of 
fur  or  feathers.  In  the  sprinjj^  of  ISH')  I  raised  livtt  of  their  youn^'.  When 
I  first  took  them  they  W(;re  little  downy  cottony  thin<f,«<,  blind,  an<l  not 
larjfer  than  the  end  of  an  ordinary  sized  man's  thumlt.  I  ke|»t  them  until 
full  grown  and  then  sent  three  to  the  Zotilo<;ical  ({arden  in  Philadelphia  and 
two  to  the  one  in  Cinciimati.  They  were  fed  with  raw  meat  and  did  well. 
They  are  !)eautiful  little  creatures  and  ])erfectly  iiannless.  I  have  taken 
dozens  out  of  their  holes,  and,  so  far  as  I  can  remend)er,  hut  one  snapped 
its  beak  at  nu\  Wiien  taken  out  they  offer  no  rt^sistancc*  and  make  not  the 
least  attempt  to  yet  away,  but  will  lie  in  the  closed  hand  api)arc;ntly  dead. 
Release  the  },n-asp,  however,  but  for  one  moment  anil  they  are  fjone.  The 
first  hostile  demonstration  I  saw  one  mak(^  was  a  few  clays  affo.  1  had  taken 
two,  a  male  and  female,  and  placed  them  in  a  box,  Itut  shortly  after,  on 
addinj^f  anotlier,  tiie  male  pinniously  captmiMl  raised  his  feathers  on  en<l  and 
lookin;;'  as  wicked  .is  it  was  possil)le  for  the  little  fellow  to  do,  he  bejiaii  in 
true  Owl  fashion  to  sway  his  body  from  side  to  side  and  kept  it  up  as  loiifr 
as  I  watched  him.  Me  so  frightened  the  newcomer  that  it  triecl  to  e.scaj>e, 
but  failing  in  this,  huddliMl  down  in  the  o]ii)osite  corner  of  the  box  in  apj)ar- 
ent  terror.  This  convinced  me  that  notwithstanding  their  wonderful  meek- 
ness the  little  fellows  fight  among  themselves.  During  the  rainy  .season  they 
leave  the  sahiiaras  and  take  to  the  bush,  at  least  lutne  are  foiuid  occupying 
such  burrows  at  that  time  of  the  year,  as  1  have  repeatedly  lookeil  for  them, 
but  without  success." 

Two  stomachs  t>f  the  Elf  Owl,  kindly  sent  by  Mr.  Hrown  and  turned 
over  by  nm  to  Dr.  (J.  Hart  Merriani  for  examination,  contained  the  follow- 
ing remains  of  food:  One,  taken  on  March  iJO,  iSIKt,  the  remains  of  twenty 
beetles  (7V//«////s)  and  fragments  of  two  rilis  of  a  small  mammal.  Another, 
taken  April  20,   IHilO,  tim  ri'mains  of  nineteen   beetles  and  one  gras.shopper. 

In  southern  Arizona  nidification  rarely  begins  l)efore  May  10,  and  la.sts 
through  this  month  and  the  first  week  in  dune.  The  favorite  nesting  sites 
of  the  Elf  Owls  are  old  Woodpeckers'  holes  iji  giant  cactus,  the  .sahuara  of 
the  natives.  These  grow  fre(|Uently  to  a  height  of  ;{()  and  40  feet,  and  the 
main  trunk  as  well  as  the  candelal)ra-like  arms  or  branches  an^  sometimes 
fairly  riddleil  witii  these?  holes,  many  of  which  are  undoubtedly  bored  simply 
for  amusement,  as  they  arc;  easily  excavatol,  nnd  also  furnish  safe  and  cosy 
homes,  a  fact  which  these  little  Owls  seem  to  ha\c  found  out.  Some  of  these 
holes  are  occasionally  found  as  low  as  4  feet,  and  again  near  the  very  toj)s 
of  these  curious  plants,  but  more  often  from  10  to  20  feet  from  the  gionnd.  In 
very  rare  instances  they  nest  in  holes  of  trees,  such  as  the  mescpiite  and 
t'ottonwood. 

As  a  rule  only  such  cactus  as  grow  along  the  lowlands  of  the  rivcsr 
l)ottoins  and  the  talde-lands  bordering  them  are   selected  to  breed  in.     Mr. 


til 


414 


LIFE  IIISTOKIKS  OF  NOUTII  AMKUICAN  BIUDS. 


Brown  has  nipoatodly  examiuod  Hahuaras  out  in  tlio  deserts  witliout  fiiitlinfj 
a  single  Owl  in  any  of  them,  altliou};li  they  were  fnll  of"  snitable  exeava- 
tions.  Tu  a  sinj^lo  instance  he  foinul  one  of  these  l)ir(ls  some  distaiiee  away 
from  the  lowlands,  \umiv  the*  summit  of  the  Quijotoa  Range,  90  miles  sctuth- 
weHt  of  Tucson,  Arizona. 

From  two  to  five  eggs  are  laiil  to  a  set,  hut  the  most  connnon  inunl)er 
found  is  three.  Of  thirty-eight  sets  taken  by  ^fr.  V.  Stephens,  who  found  the 
first  eggs  of  this  species,  twenty-four  sets  contained  three  each,  twelve  sets 
contained  four,  and  two  sets  five  eggs.  The  cavities  in  which  they  an* 
dei)osited  are  usually  about  10  inches  deep.  There  is  no  nest,  tlie  eggs  simply 
lying  on  the  dry  cliips  in  the  liottom  of  the  hole.  One  of  the  parents  is 
always  at  homo  after  the  first  v<^i!;  is  laid,  and  fre<juently  both.  The  male 
assists  in  incubation,  which  lasts  about  two  weeks.  The  eggs  of  the  F^lf 
Owl  are  piu'i*  white  in  color  and  oval  in  shape,  tlie  shell  is  finely  granu- 
lated, and  while  some  specimens  are  rather  glossy,  the  majority  are  only 
moderattdy  so. 

The  average  measurement  of  twtuity-three  specimens  in  the  U.  S.  Na- 
tional Museum  collection,  all  taken  by  Mr.  K.  \V.  Nelson,  is  27  l)y  23 
millimetres.  The  largest  of  thes«!  eggs  measures  28. f)  l»y  24,  the  smallest 
2r)   by   22.5   millimetres. 

The  tyj)e  specimen.  No.  22134,  was  taken  by  the  above  menti  >ned  gen- 
tleman near  Ftnt  Lowell,  Arizona,  May  25,  1884.  The  set  contained  three 
eggs.     The  specimen  is  figured  on  1*1.  12,   Fig.  13. 


CI 

i 


if  I 


■I'M! 


1 

i 

;   ii 

J 

EXPLANATION  TO  PLATE  I. 

fig.  1.  ColinuR  virpriniamis, //iiDi'riM.    Hob  Wliili'. 

Kitr«.  2,;t.  Oi'i'Di'tyx  i)i<'lus  i)liiniifi'riis,  Goiilil.     I'limii'd  PtirtriilKc. 

Kins.  4,").  ('ullipt'pla  H<iiiiimutn.  VigorH.     Sciilcd  Piirtridjfc 

I''i(;!<.  (t,  7.  ('ulli|)i'i)lu  sriuumata  ciiHtanofjastris,  UrcwstT.     Clustiiiit-licUiiil  Sralrd  Piirtridco. 

l''ifrs.  8,il,  1(1.  fallipcpla  cullfornii'a.  Shaw.    California  Part riiljfr. 

KifTH.  II,  12.  i;i.  14.  t'allipi'|)lu  (jamtxdi,  Nuttall.     Cambcl'.-i  Partrid^jc 

Kig.  I">.  ("yrtonj'.N  miinU'Zumn'.  Vitjors.     .Manst'iia  I'artrid^c. 

Ii'i>;K.  Iti,  17,  IH.  lil.   l)ondru);apu>.  ohsciiruM  fuliijinosu.s.  Uidgway.     Sooty  (Iroiisc. 

figu.  20, 21,22, 2.'t.  Uuiidru^'upub  uauaUuiiiiib,  LinuiuuH,    Canada  Uruii»iu. 

416 


"ff 


? 


r' 


ii* 


,t 

1^ 

.1 

il 

1 

1 

! 

1 

ii 

/ 

I.X!'l.AN^rii>\  T>i  I'l  \T1':   '. 


'■ill' 

I'l...  I 

|,'i,„   !•.  i;,  I*-.  I'l 


•  '11     (k*'H'Vit'ii  '  I:  •■■     '    ' 

..,!l,iV       > 

Mutt*  ..tt  i'n  •■   -"J  • 


)■•!,.  ,jt,:,|l  >«.|l„.4l    '•i4'ttllil    I'ill-trl'l, 


4tn 


il 


/  i ; 


Ir'f' 


k*4 


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It> 


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^^^%^ 


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> '» 


x« 


I     : 


m 


I  i 


KXI'I.ANATION  TO  I'l.ATK  II. 


Plff. 

1. 

F'lR- 

o 

Ki(f. 

:t 

fig- 

1 

Fifjs. 

>.«,  7,H.  !l.  lU. 

Fl(;s.  11, 

12.  i:t.  1 1,  i:.. 

KifiN- 

Iti.  IT. 

l'"lns. 

IS.  l!(.2(l. 

rttx- 

•Ji. 

Kit,'. 

•».> 

Kitr. 

•J.1 

fig. 

•Jt. 

Kit;. 

-•"i 

FlK. 

•2H 

UdiiiiKii  iiinlu'lliis.  I.iiin.'i'ti.-^.     KiilTcil  (Irimsi'. 

Hciiiu.'-ii  iiinlx'lliiM  to^riitu.  I,inii.i\is.    CiiniulliiM  KiilTi'd  (ii'ouse. 

l!iinii.sa  iimlu'lliis  iiinlM'llipidis.  l)oiit:las.     (iiiiv  IJiifli'd  (Jnni.so. 

Ii<>nii.sii  iiiiilx'lliis  s:il>iiil,  Douj.'la.'^.     <  )ii'j,'()ii  ItiilTcil  linnisn. 

Ii)iHc)|iiis  liij;(>|mM.  I.iniiiiiis.     W'ilhuv  I'laiinisiin. 

IjiiHopus  I'lipi'sli'is,  (Iiiii'lln.     Kink  IMai'iiii;,'itn. 

|jij;o|)Us  li'iiiMinis.  Swainsoii,     Whitr-laili'cl  riai'iiii;;ari. 

'I'ympaimrlMis  aiiii'iMi'aiuis.  Kcli'lii'iiluidi.     j'laiiie  Hun. 

Zriiaida /'naida.  Udtiapai'li'.     Zi'tiaida  Dove. 

Kn^r.vptila  allilfriiiis,  Itunapaiti'.     Wliili-ficmtiil  Diivn. 

.Mi'liipidia  liMU'optiTa,  Liiiiwiiis.     Wlilti'-wln^'cd  Dcivc. 

('idiinilii^'alliMa  passrrirui  palliwiiw.  Itaii'd.     .Mixiraii  Criinnd  lliivi 

Scui'ditridlu  liica,  I^HSdii.     Iiuiu  Dovi'. 

(icolrjiion  moiiUmu,  LiniianiM.     KiiUdy  IJuail   Dove 


i 


418 


E*,..'i» 


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^* 


r*--- 


^.l^t^i.^ 


v  4-'  .■ 


• 

> 

Sf 

. 

« 

^• 

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«!>(" 

t 

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," 

■     ■•»! 

7 

1 

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>    f 

• 

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■r 

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r 


li>  ,     I  '        'L,     'I', 


II.        ■>>  ..;.    ■^• 


I     .t    ■\    i.'i' 


).    i,, -I- 


ll.,,( 


)t''\  (•' 


.a,  1  itir 


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Ki^'. 

1. 

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Kijis.     • 

7.  ^. 

Fij.'!*. 

!l,  10 

l-'i^'h.ll. 

i:;.  i;i 

I'M);. 

It 

H'iB. 

1.") 

Pig. 

Hi 

Pig. 

17 

Pig. 

IX 

KX1'I,AN.\TH»N  TO  IM.ATK  111. 

•I'.vmiuimi.'liii.s  piillUli.'im'lu^.  Uiil^'way.     U'swr  I'niiri.'  Ilcii. 

'l'.viM|iiimicliiisiii|ii(l(i,  l^iiiii.iMis.     lloulli  lliii. 

l'ciliiM;:i'tcN  |ilnu.>iiiin'llii^.  Lirin;iMi^.     Slmi-iHliiileiKiroiiM.. 

I'l'iliocuten  iilmsiiimlhiscoliimliiuMus,  Oni.     t'olimiliiiin  Sliiii'p-liiilod  (Imoiix'. 

I'nli.HM't.'x  iiliasiiini'lliis  (:iimi..>tiis,  UiilK'wa.y.     VniUW  Sliurii-luil.'il  Un.iis.', 

Ci'HtiiKriMviw  iin)|pluisiiimis.  It(iiia|iar'tc.     Safji!  Gi'oiiiso. 

.Milranri.s  •jalldpavii.  MiitiMu;-.     Wilil  Tiirkiiy. 

.Mi'liaijrU  nallopav"  mcxicaiia. « ImiM.     Mexican  Turkey. 

OftalU  voliila  rniwcalli,  llaiid.    i 'litu;lialuca. 

(Nvlumlia  faxiata.  Say.     llaiiil-lailcd  IM^'i'oii. 

(^iluiulia  fa.sciata  vio.soii'.  Uivwslcr.     Viosua's  I'inuoii. 


430 


l-.fi 


\'\ 


^1^ 


IK  .11 


II      M 


I'l  A  !  K      |i 


46 


iV! 


1 


!( 


1^1 


■M.r^l 


KXI'l.A.SATHiN  T(  t  IM.ATI".  IV. 

l,:i.  Cartlm-tis  miiii.  l,iiiii:iiih.    'I'lirki'V  Vultiiri'. 

■^.  (!i)l'..iilpu  llaviiifrtri-.  W'lu'l'i'-     It' <l-l>ill''l  I'l^iiin. 

;.  .olimilMl  liiiciici|i!i'Uu.    .iniKi'i*.     \Vhil<'-<'i-i,wii.(l  riu'i'im. 

;'>.  I'wiiiliiiri-jlil.iiHi'iiliriiiniiimis.  Slmw.     <  iilifdiiiiii  Viilliirf. 

(i.   rMii|ii»l<'H  llli^;^lll(ll•ill^-.  l.inii.'ii-.     "ii»s.'iit.nr  I'lu'i'im. 
!''lj.'n.  T.  III.  Ciilliuiislu  iitnitii.  Hailiiiiii       lli-i-.k  \  ulliii-f. 
KitfK.     x. '.I.  Aiiuiiluin  iiiiiiiiiiMa.  I.iiiii;fiih.     MuuriiiiiK  !><»'<'• 


KlU'H 

I-'l».'. 


^■I 


*XJi 


■  ■  -,  r.  Ay  *;•, 


J-^r?3S«r 


I 


•*■ 


^  A*^ 


M 


J  an* 


4„ 


<1M 


r«.  ,  I  V  ii    <\ 


i»-.         i»^--' 


V    l(    \   '.iMlI 


'I;  '    MMi  t  ,1,1 


V   It" 


'I 


,!     1 

5!! 


f 


t.  •■:,■    IV 


\ 


.1 


• 


il 


ill 

M 


KXIM.ANA'niiN    I'o  l-I.ATK  V 


I. 


Klaiiciiiliv^  fiii-rii'alii^.  I,liiiii>'ii^<.     .s»'iillii»-luil<'il  l<it<' 


.'I.I.  Kliuiiis  li'iii'iii'iiN.  Vii'illiil.     Whiti'-taili'il  Kill 


mill    llllSSlH^llljlll'IIHlN 


l<'ti 

Itosll'lllllllll 


WilH 


Mi»»is>i 


I'I'i 


Kit.' 


.iii'iuliili».  V'ii'iiliil.     K 


iih'  Kil> 


Kilfs.      •*.!•.  111.  I 'iiiMis  liiiilsiiiiiii-.,  I.irin:i.iis       Mai>li  Hawk 

KiiTH.  II.  i:.m:i 


II.  1.'..  Hi. 


IT.    Ai'iipitir  \..|ii\.  \Vil..iPM       Nliai|i-.'liirmi.il  Ijaivlt 


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WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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EXPLANATION  TO  PLATE  VI. 

Pig.       1.  Accipitar  atricapillus,  Wilson.     Ainerioan  Goshawk. 

I'Mg.        ll.  .\i;iu])iUM' ati'icai)ilUis  .'itrialiihi.s.  itidffway.     Wustcrn  IJusliawk. 

I'lf.'.s.  .'1.4.  i'aralmteo  unioiiiittiis  hari'isi.  .Viu1ii)h)I1.     Harris's  Hawk. 

I'Mfjs.  "i.  (1.  IJuti'i)  Ixirealis.  Giiinliii.     Itfd-taili^d  Hawk 

Kijfs.  7.  H.  Hiitei)  iMiri'alis  lialuriis,  <'a.Msiii.     Wi'stern  red-tailed  Hawk. 

I''i{j.        9.  Huteo  liaeatus  elej^ans,  Ca.ssiii.     Ifed-bellied  Hawk. 


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:# 


^'^ 


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I 


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V 
5s, 


« 


r-.vf'UiV  vTT/t;i  ti>  I'l.ATK  vr 


■  .  iw  1'      AmiTli-aii  floKliawk. 

tiiiii-    KkliTWiiV       W'-.-it"  in  Ciir^liavvk 
*.  ii|u)nili.     Uttrris's  :li*wk. 
:    '»UU"I  Hawk. 
'  u.fiii      W4«ti(rn  iiil-tttili>il  Ilmvk. 
las,  ("ifc<«iii.     Itud-biliiMl  lluwk 


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11 


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EXPLANATION  TO  PT.ATK  VTI. 


Fiffs. 
Pig. 

PifT. 

Piffs. 
Pigs. 


2.3,4,5.  Butco  linoatus,  Gmelin.    Ucd-shoiildercd  Tliiwk. 
(!.  Biiteoabbi'i'viatuM.  Cubanis.     Zoiin-tailtnl  Hawk. 
Astiirnia  plaffiata,  Schlojjiil.     Mexican  Ooshawk. 
Butoo  albloaiidatii.-i.  Vicillot.     Wbito-tailcd  Hawk, 
liutuu  lutUaimus,  WiUou.    BroaU-wiuffod  Hawk. 


1, 


7 

8,!l, 

10,11,  vz.y.i 


428 


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FXTT„\NAT10.N  "^o  PLaTK  VTT. 

Fl(?!i.  l,2.;t,4,'i    lltiino  llnoirtiw.  (iini'Di;      Ked-BhoiiM-rcil  Hawk. 
Fi(f.  <l.  HutwiiilihovYialu'i,  < 'iitmtiiv.     Z«in-t«iii'il  Hftwk. 

V\tl  t.  AHtiiroiu  pltt^loltt  Hiili's-iv'      Vliixiciui  Cni.ihawk. 

Fig'h.  ».0.  HiiU'Dulliliuiu.jttinx,  VU'illdt.     Whit.-fnlltul  Hawk 

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EXPLANATION  TO  PLATK  VIII. 

Figs.  I,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6.  Biiteo  swainsoni,  Uonapai'tc.    Swainson's  Ilawk. 

Kip.  7.  Huteo  brachyurus,  Viuillot.    Short-tailed  Hawk. 

Kijia.  X,  i>.  Ui'ubitiiitfa  anthraoiiia,  LiclitonsU'in.    Mexican  Ulack  Hawk. 

Figs.         10,  11,  12.  Arcliibutco  latropus  sancli-johuunis,  Ginulin.    American  Kough-legged  Hawk. 


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RXPI/A NATION"  f-c  f'l.ATi!:  Vltl. 


rijfi  i,  f   :.,  4,.p.  (i.  Hut^m  vtAiHiBiivi,  fViuapail/;.    siwiiir.son's  Hawk. 
F'a;  '.  Jiol'v    itnuli.M.iub,  ViBillot.    Short- latlmi  Huwk. 

l-'igs  II'  11    u,  .Mvti:9uUAj  imrowubsauoti-joliuimb,  Omclin.    Amoi-kuu  Koiiirli-l'psfvd  ff.' 

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KXI'LANATIDN  TO  IM.ATK  IX. 

I'Mgs.  1.  2,  4.  Ari'hiliiiU'ii  firriifriiieiin,  Lit'litonstcin.     Koi'i'iiKiiiims  lvoii;,'h-li'gifi!d  Elawk. 

I'M^H.      ,'t,  ").  AciiiiliK'lirysui'toH,  Linii.'ciis.     (ioldi'ii  ICufjU'. 

I'^ifis.  •>.  K.  !'•  FiiU'o  iMisticolus  (lyrfak'o,  LiiiiiMMis.     (Ij  rfali^oii. 

VifT,  7.  Ilaliii'otiiH  leuoouophulus,  Liuuanis.     Uald  Kufjlo. 


432 


V]f-''K    IX 


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KM»l,.\NATli'.\  TO  I'l.M'i'-  IN 


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(..ililcii  lOa;;!'-. 


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KXPLANATION  To  I'l.ATK  ,\. 


I.  Fttluo  ruHtU^oliiHolwololuH,  Gini'llii.     Hlmjk  (iyrfuluon. 

Z,.'l.  Kiilco  mcxii'iiiiuH,  Sclili'j;"!.     I'mii'iu  Kiilcoii. 

4,H.  l''iil(,'c>(M)liiiiiluii'luH,  Miiiiii'iiH.     I'im'dn  lliiwk. 

5,(1,7.  Kiilco  |>oi'('(,'firmM  iiiuitiim,  Moimpiii'tn.     Duck  lliiwk. 

It,  10.  I''rtli;()  fiiHco-cMi'i'iilr'HCfns.  VicUllol.     Aplciimulo  Kiilcoii. 


I'Mgs.ll,  I:;,  1.1,14,  l.j,  111.  Kiiloo  HjHirvoi'iuH,  Liiin.i'iiM.     Amici'Icuii  Spurrow  Hawk. 
Fi|{.  17.  I'undiou  huliuOluH  curoliuuusis,  Umuliu.    Amoricuu  Osproy. 


4M 


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I'lf,.!!.  I -J.  Ii 


J  Fi.l-'.    r  H"M''..,fIv,o.    f.ir.,  I>i..  lilJ.      lUik'k  <;>,-, iw.  ..;, 

U    1  l''n.-     .■    .      ..  'iu;»,    -.vinjf':.      I'i-V,i!  ic  F.I'  -111 

t,  "  .■'•iii-.  ■.!.'  i,,i  111  i  i-^.  ii.Di  ,.i,s.     i  ■!','... in  'hirtl. 

IT  I'mi  I- :i.  isHiVt;.,  vai'i.lit.L-u     ..(;rj;oliii.     Am.  .  !>.Hii  u.-p 


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EXPLANATION  TO  PLATK  XI. 

FigK.       1,2,  :!,  4.  Polyborus  cheriway,  .fai;(|iiin.     Auilubon'H  Caraoara. 

FifH.  ."i,  f>.  7,  S,  «.  Pandion  haliactus  carolincnaia,  Umulin.     American  Osprey. 


436 


I 


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Fig, 
KifT 

Fitf 

Fiff. 

FiK'. 

Pit,'. 

Fig. 

Fig. 

I''ig 

Fig 

Fig, 

Fig, 

Fig. 

I'^iK-  14. 
Fig.  1;-,. 
Fig.  I(i. 
I'Mg.  IT. 
Fig.  18. 
Pig.  111. 


EXPLANATION  TO  HLATK  xrr. 


bti i.x  pratincola.  Honupun...    Amorioun  H.,,,,  o„.l 
A«.o  w.lH„„ian,>.s.  U.s.son.     AnuTicn  [..mg-,.u,v,i  Owl 
A.SU)  .M,.i..pitriMu.s.  i'ulla,,.     Slu.rl-wiie.l  Oh! 
Wyriiium  iu.|)iil()Himi,  Forntcr.     HaiTfil  Owl 
Scotiapk'x  ciMurmi,  (i,m,lin.     (irwil  (iru^y  Owl 

Eclala  I'J.ITr";"  '■''.•'""•''•^'""'  "<'""l«iit-     i{i..|,a,..l..n-s  Owl. 

Njctaluiu'adifa.  (Jmelin.     Saw-wli,.t  Owl 

Megiwcops  a'llo,  Liiin.iMis.     Scivcch  Owl 

McgaHoopH  a«io  ■nm^farlanW.  H,vw..u.r.     MaoParlano's  .Sr.v.vh  Owl 

Megascops  as  o  „.a..w,.|li...  Kidgway.     W,,Uy  .^^^,^un  s  .   .ec    Owl 

MegaHoopH  ^sio  in.,.lu.pHi„,  Wagl..,..     .\Io.x  i..an  ScvJ  low 

I   .1.0  vi,.g„ua„u«.  GmellM.     (i,,.ai  ,i„,,„.j  owl. 

Mi(M-opalla«  whltiiuyi.  Chiirt.     F,|f  Owl 

•Spootyto  cumcularia  hypog^-a.  Honaparto.     Unvrawin^r  (^ 

Moga«oops  .la,n,„e,.luH.  Kaup.     Flannnulat^d  .S..,.......I"ow      ' 

S|x„.ty  o  euMioularia  llondana,  Kidgway.     Florida  Huvnnvm.  Owl 
Olauc.dnnn  phala.„oid..H.  Daudain.     F-Vruginou     ■  g    '   owf 
■Su.ma  ulula  oapan,..l..  Mrdl..,..     Anu.nca.rHawk  Owl' 
iN.vctua  iiyck-a,  Liuiimus.    Snowy  Owl. 

438 


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i 

Htilx  pv^' 

I'C, 

•1 

A»i<i  »  1 

'*!" 

'1. 

A«lo  w  '    : 

....      .    1  ■ 

FU 

I 

Sytlu  ijl,  Ik 

',:lilnlv.'ll 

f'i! 

1*1. 

^^«;«lil(Hl' 

hV. 

I!. 

Nvi-l.ii.. 

''i»r 

7, 

Kv 

1  Ii 

H. 

Nt, 

l■■■■^  I' 

Fi|f    I' 


I'll    ,Ulll<i|i'l>  ( 'U  t 


iVI'll  f'UI'llUlir'-  .-»  I    .-1  I)  »*(sl 
!.'l'l<        Moi.rltllill   MMT.  I'll  Ow! 

.i!,-v.ii.ii  S.  n'M'K  O'.'  I 

lli.li  I'.i  Owl. 
1      ,   1  HM.        . 

l!<,rri|'  >"i.'       '■  Hi  n. win','  •.  i«  i 
1...   :..     :-i;  •■! 

il.iim.  K.'  .     ■,  .  .mi).;  ■  »».■ 

V.Jw.t.  iilltUi4  i'ltA'  I  t  ........J,   r*oiitl.'.Ml.      i*»  j'l  .;  -i.on.  i 't^i-  y  tj\s-' 

Sill 'liu  tiliiia  .  'pai'i^iii.  Hiillii'       V'lu.i.  .;,  i!,'i.' ,;  tiwi. 
Nyiii'ii  ini-''i;    Huu  I'li-i.     !rii4<j«  V  WX'I 


J 


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17 


i« 


ALPHABETICAL    INDEX. 


I 


PilRP. 

Ai'adlanOwl m) 

Ai'olplter  atricapilluB imi 

atricaplllus  strlatiiltis IDU 

(-'ooperl ]Wi 

velox 180 

Alkens  Screech  Owl 370 

Allen.  Charles  A.  on  the  vertical  nil^rnllonn  i>t  the 

Plumeil  I'urtrlilKc  Int'alirnnila     .  15 
on  Ihe  nesiiiii;  liablls  of  Ihe  Califor- 
nia ParirldKe 24 

on  the  fooil  o(  the  Western  Redtall 

In  California 214 

on  tlie  nestln^liahltsof  the  VVcHtern 

Horni'il  OttllnCallfornla 384 

on  the  habits  of  theCallfornIa  Pyyniy 

Owl 408 

Allen.  Prof.  J.  A.,  on  the  Introduction  o(  the  Boh  While 

Into  Utah i 

Allen's  Ptarnilf^an 7r> 

American  Harn  Owl ar^t 

Kagle i."74 

Goshawk lua 

HawkOwl 3U3 

LongearedOwl 328 

Osprey 320 

RollKhleKKed  Hawk 2St! 

Sparrow  Hawk 3o» 

Ankeny.  Henry  K  .  on  the  Handtalleil  Pigeon  InOregon  l'-'3 
Anthony.  A.  W.,  on  the  San  Pedro  Partrlilge  In  Lower 

California 17 

on    the    Scaled   Partrlilge   In  Nev 

Mexico _ ..  2i| 

in  the  Valley  Partridge  In  Loweri;all- 

fornla 27 

on  the  nesting  hal)lts  of  the  Oregon 

Huffed  (Jronse.  In  Oregon B9 

on  the  nesting  halilis  of  the  White- 
tailed  Ptarmigan  In  (^iloriwlo gii 

onthe  almndame  of  Hand-tailed  Pig- 
eons In  Ori'gon 123 

on  the  nesting  halilt.s  of   the  Keil-bel- 

lled  Hawk  In  Lttwer  California 22H 

on  the  occurrenie  of  the  Zone-tailed 

Hawk  in  I..o\ver  California 2211 

on  the  nesting  haMis.f  the  American 

Osprey  In  Lower  California 322 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Rocky 

Mounlain  Scr hOwl  In  Colorado  .W( 

(m  the  food  of  the  Pnget  Sound  Screech 

Owl  In  Oregon 374 

Aplomado  Falcon aw 

Aquila  chrysaetos _ 2^3 

Archtbuteo  ferruglneus 259 

lagopus 266 

lagopns  samal-Johannls 86B 

Arctic  Horned  Owl g^d 

Aslo  acdpltrlnus 332 

wllsonlanus. 3^ 

Asturlna  plaglata 251 

Atkins.  J.  W.on  the  rarity  of  the  Key  West  yuall 

Dove  at  Key  West.  Florida       ir>4 

Attwater.  H.  P.  on  the  nesilng  habits  of  the  Texan 

Bob  White y 


Page. 

Audubon's  Caracara 315 

Avery.  Ur.  Wllllain  C.  on  thenesUug  habltsof  the  Hob 

Whlii' In  Alabama 6 

Uabblit.  l.lent.  Uol.  I.,awr.iic.-  s..  on  the  abundance  of 

the  Prairie  Hen  In  Texas ge 

Bald  Kagle .yJ^ 

B:u)d -tailed  Pigeon j22 

Hanks  J  W.,  (m  the  (Canada  lirous.'  In  New  Bruns- 
wick    53 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Canadian 

RulTed  Orouse  In  New  Brunswick 6tJ 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  American 

Uoshawk  In  New  Brunswick itti 

Harn  Owl.  American a-a 

Barred  Owl :j;i5 

Owl  Florida ;i;i9 

Belding,  L  .  on  the  Band-talle.l  Pigeon  In  California  rJ3 
on  the  abundance  of  the  White-tailed  Kile 

In  ixirtloiis  of  California 174 

Hensim.  Lieut.  B.C..  on  the  aliuiidance  of  Ma.sked  Bob 

White  In  Sonora 13 

on  the  abundance  of  Swalnsiju's 

Hawk  In  southern  Ari/.MUa  238 

on  .Swalnsons  Hawk  living  In  har- 
mony with  other  birds .  240 

on  the  habits  of  the  Aplomado  < 

Falcon  In  simthcrn  Arizona  306 
Beyer.  George  E,  on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Bob 

White  In  Louisiana 3 

on  partial  migratlims  of   the  Hob 

While  In  Louisiana a 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Wild 

Turkey  In  Louisiana   us 

on  the  nesting  habltsof  the  Swallow- 
tailed  Kite  In  Louisiana irj 

on  the  nesting  habilsof  the  Missis- 
sippi Kile  In  Louisiana  178 

the  Great  Horned  Owl  breeiling  in  a 

hollow  pine  log  (m  the  ground 380 

Blgniue  Darter |ti8 

Birch  Partridge (^ 

Bishop.  Watson  L,.  on  the Canaila Grouse  In  captivity 

In  NovaScotla 53 

Black  'lyrfalcou 286 

Merlin 302 

Quail 36 

Black  bellied  Quail 35 

Black  Vulture i65 

BIue-HeadeilQuall-Dove 166 

Bob  White .'..!"....  I 

Cuban 9 

Florida 7 

Masked _  10 

Texan g 

Bonasa  umbel lus 59 

nmbellussablnl 68 

umbel  lus  tugata 64 

umbellus  umlHdloldes C7 

Brewer.  Dr    T    M  .  <m  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Bob 

White  In  Massachusetts 4 

Brewster.  William,  onthe  Heath  Hiui  mi  the  Island 
of  Martha's  Vineyaril.   Massa 

chUHetts _  93 

439 


I, 


440 


ALl'lIAUETICAL  INDKX. 


r>gr. 

Brewster,  William,  n  denrrlptlon  nt  Vloarwi  ptgenn.  I'JT 
on  till'  iircMcnt  Htaliis  of  tlieWUil 

inueoii 13.1 

the  SI.    fjiu-aH    KeiM.ill  not   (»n- 

lUh'd  to  Hub-a]MM'ltlc  rank 217 

Hrlmley.  C.  S.,  on  tho  food  of  the  Mourning  Dove  In 

North  Ciirollna  141 

Hrlmley.  H.  II..  on  thf  nesting  habltH  of  tho  Bro.ad- 

wliiKril  Hawk  In  Norih  Carolina Hi 

Broail  wlimi'il  Hawk 841 

Bruwu.  Herbert,  on  the  habits  of  the  Maxked   Boh 

White 10 

on  the  Keographlrat   range  of   the 

Scaled  Panrlilge  In  Arl/.ona IS 

on  the  atunidance  of  CianilH'l's  Part- 
ridge In  Aii7.4ma ai 

on  liainl«'l'.'<  I'artrldge  oeenpylng  a 
newly    niiule    neat    of    Painter's 

Thrasher  S-2 

on  the  Mexican  Turkey  In  Arl/.ona  .  117 
on    the   abtinilance  of   the   Whlte- 

wiaged  Dnve  in  Arl'/,<ma 14fi 

on  the  nesting  halilts  of  the  Mexi- 
can (-Jroiind  Dove 151 

un  the  nesting   habits  of  the  Inca 

Dove  In  Ari/,<uia 152 

on  the  abundance  of  Audiibcm's  Car- 

aeara  in  Arizona 316 

on  the  habits  of  the  Mexican  Screech 

Hwl  in  Arizona 389 

on  the  nesting  habits  and  foml  of  the 

Kif  Owl 412 

Bryant.  Walter  E..  on  tlie  nesiing  baldts  o(  tho  Cali- 
fornia Puririiige ^ 

on   the   rarity  of    the   ralifornla 

Vnltnre _ ifio 

on  the  nesting  of  the  Praii'lc  Fal- 
con In  California  and  Lowcrrali- 

fornia 391 

llntfo  vlrglnianu.i mi 

virglnianiis  arctictis nj^d 

virginiannssatnratns 31*7 

virglnianiis  siibarctlciiH 383 

Mtirrowing  Owl 305 

Llurrows.  1).  II ,  on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Mexican 

Black  Hawk  In  sonthevn  Texas 2.V) 

Uuleo  abbreviatns 'j'.>y 

alblcandatns 234 

borealls 2(16 

borealls  calnrns 213 

borealls  harlani 217 

borealls  kriderll 212 

borealls  Incasanns 817 

braehyurus 246 

buteo 2(IS 

latiHslmus 241 

•         llneatns 219 

llneatns  alleiil  224 

lineatus  eiegans 22(1 

swainsoni 23H 

Butler,  A  W  .  on  the  nesting  habltH  of  the  Black  Vul- 
ture in  Indiana 107 

Buzzard.  Kuropcan. 20."> 

Bough  legged  2.'i,i 

Turkey igi 

Cairns.  J,  c  .  onthe nesting  hal)!'s  of  the  Broail-wiuged 

Hawk  In  North  Carolina 814 

Califurnla  I'artrlilge   .j;^ 

Pygniy  Owl 407 

Screech  Owl 301 

Vulture 157 

CalUpepIa  californica              "3 

callfornlca  raillcoia 211 

ganilHli ; 29 

fMliianiata is 

luinaiMatacastanogastris 22 

Canada  Orouse  51 

Canadian  KuOed  Urouse 04 


Page. 
CantweU,OeorgeG..on   the  nesting   habits   of    the 
.Swallow  tailed  Kite  In  Minne- 
sota        172 

on  an  unusual  nesting  site  of  the 

Marsh  Hawk 166 

on  Cooler's  Hawk  nesting  occa- 
sloniitiy  on  the  ground  In  North 

Dakota 193 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the 
Broaii-winged  Hawk  In  Wiscon- 
sin       244 

Caracara.  Atidnbon's 315 

Kagle 315 

(!uadalu|H' 318 

Carpenter.  Capt.  William  L.onthe  Massena  Partridge 

inNewMexlci> 36 

on  the  food  of  the  Sage 
<i  rouse    In    Wyoming 

ami  Colorado 107 

on  the  nestingof  the  Kage 

(irouseln  W.voming...      109 
on  tlie  Wild  Turkey  In  Ne- 
braska       112 

on  a  nesting  site  of  the 
Willi    Turkey    lo    No- 

br.-vska 115 

on  the  atiuuilance  of  the 
Mexican  Turkey  in  Ari- 
zona        117 

on  the  Band. tailed  PIgeim 

in  Arizona 132 

on  the  occurrence  of  the 
Red-billed     Pigeon     In 

Arizona 130 

Carrion  Crow 165 

Catharlsta  atrata 165 

Cathartes  aura '. 161 

Catim.  ,Tudge  John  Dean,  on  the  nesting  of  the  Prairie 

Hen 89 

Cenirocercus  nrophasianus 106 

Chachalaca 119 

Chest  nut -iM'llied  Scaled  Partridge 22 

Chicken.  Prairie 88 

(^Ircns  hutlsoniiis 183 

Clark.  Judge  J.  N..  <m  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Hob 

While  In  Connecticut 3 

on  the  habits  and  fiKxl  of  the  Marsh 

Hawk 185 

on  the  habits  of  the  American  Oa- 

prey  in  Connect  iciii 322 

Cobb.  W.  H..onthemigiatiimsof  the  Scaled  Partridge 

luNewMeXlco    21 

on  the  vertical  range  of  OamlHd's  Part- 
ridge In  New  Mexico 30 

on  the  ni'sting  habits  and  foiMl  of  Swaln- 

son's  Hawk  In  New  Mexico 240 

Coale.  H.  K.,  on  the  is  curri'iice  of  Krider's  Hawk  In 

northern  Illinois 213 

Collnus  ridgwayi lu 

vlrglnlanus    1 

\lrglnlanus  cubanen.HiH 9 

vlrglnlanus  tlorlilanus 7 

vlrglnlanus  texautts 8 

Ciduinba  fasclala    122 

fasclata  vlosca^ 127 

llavirostrls 128 

leuciK  ephala 131 

Columbian  Sharp  tailed  Orouse 98 

Coluinblgalllna  passerina 148 

l)asserina  pallescens i5u 

Cooke.  W.  W..  on  tin'  occurrence  of   Bob  White  in 

MInnesola  ami  South  Dakota     I 

on  the  lulgrai  ions  of  the  Prairie  Hen  8tl 

Cooper's  Hawk  192 

Crow.  Carrion 105 

Cuban  Hob  White 9 

Sparrow  Hawk  314 

Cyrtonyx  luontezuiuu.' 35 


ALI'IIABKTK'AL  INDEX. 


441 


Page. 
Dall,  W.  H..  on  tho  iwsting  habits  ot  the  Gray  Rufted 

firouHC  In  Alanka flH 

on  the  ni'HtlnK  habits  o(  the  Short-eareil 

Owl  InAlaMka XK< 

Dendragapns  canatlenslH fit 

frankllnll M 

obHcurnH 41 

obscurUM  milnlnoHUH 43 

obHCUrus  rlchardsonll Wl 

DetwUler.  Dr.  John  W..  mi  thr  aliiinilanre  of  Iho  Duck 

Hawk  In  Pennsylvania 2W 

Dove.Oroinid 14H 

Inra Ifi- 

Mexican  Gronnil tM 

Mourning 13tf 

White- frontcil 144 

White-winged 145 

Zenalda 143 

Dllle.  F.  M..  onthenesilnK  habits  or  the  FerruKlnouH 

Kough-leg  In  Colorado Sfil 

Dusky  CJroufle 41 

Duck  Hawk S9S 

Dusky  Homed  Owl 387 

Dutcher.  William,  on  tho  nestlnR  habits  of  Ibe  Ked- 

shouldered  Hawk  on  Long  Island.  New  York ISl 

Dwarf  Screech  Owl 37tf 

Eagle.  American 'Hi 

BaUl 274 

Oolden 2«3 

Harpy  270 

Ectoplstes  niluralorlus 1.13 

Elanoldes  forlli'atns IIIH 

Rlanus  leucurus 173 

Klf  Owl  411 

Emerson.  W.  Ottu,.  on  the  nesting  habits  *)f  the  Califor- 
nia I'lirtrlil^re _ 21 

on  the  foiid  of  the  Western  Ued- 

lail  InCallfornia 214 

on  the  nesting  hablisof  the  Ameri- 
can Itarn  Owl  in  California  32(1 
on 'be  nesting  habits   of  the  Cali- 

fm-u!a  Screech  Owl mi 

Engyptlla  alblfrons 144 

European  Ilu/.v«trd 2a'S 

Everglade  Kite ISO 

Evermanu,  Prof.  U.  W.,  on  tho  habits  ot  the  White- 
tailed  Kile  in  California  174 
on  the  nesting  habltsot  the 
Heil  bellied  Hawk  in  Cali- 
fornia    227 

Faico  columbarlus 29H 

I'olumbarlus  suckleyi 302 

domlnlscensls 314 

fuscn-co.'rulescens 300 

Islandns 381 

mexicanus 288 

l)*'regrlnus  auatuni 292 

IM'regrlnuspealel 397 

regulns.._ 304 

rlcbardscmli 303 

rustlcolus 283 

rustlcolllsgyrfalco 283 

rusllcolusobsolelus 28(1 

sparverlus  309 

tliinnuculus :10H 

Falcon  aplomado :in(l 

PealB's 297 

Peregrlno 292 

Lanner 288 

Prairie 388 

Ferrnginous  Pygmy  Owl 409 

Uongh-leg 359 

Fish  Hawk 330 

Plaher.  Dr.  A  K..  im  the  <llsiributl(m  of  the  Plinned 

Parlridge  iiiCalirornIa     lii 

on  Ibe  fniid  iif  ihe  K\ifled  (Irolise  (13 
on  Ihe  occurreiici'  of   the   Hroad- 
winged  Hawk    hi  soulliern  Ala 

bama 242 


Page. 

Flammnlated  Screech  Owl ;t74 

Flint.  William  U..  on  the  habllaof  the  California  Vul- 
ture       IH) 

Florida  Uarred  Owl 3;i« 

Hob  White 7 

nnrrowlngOwl 4(10 

Red-shmildered  Hawk 3»4 

Screech  Owl AW 

Fool  Hen 57 

Franklin's  (i  rouse 5fl 

I  Frazer,  M.  A,,  a  ilescrtpllon  c»f  the  nest  and  egg  of 

Vliwea's  Plgerm  from  Lower  California 128 

tiale,  Denis,  on  the  Hob  White  in  Colorailo  and  New 

Mexico 3 

on  the  Dusky  firouse  in  Colorado 41 

on  Ihe  habits  and  food  of  the  White-tailed 

Ptarmigan  in  Colorado H5 

on  the  scarcity  of  the  Prairie  Sharj  -tailed 

Cifouse  in  Colorado 103 

on  Ihenesflng  habits  of  Cooler's  Hawk  in 

Odorado _       194 

on  Ihe  lu'stlng  habits  of  tho  Golden  Eagle 

in  Colorado 3no 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Duck  Hawk 

InColonulo 30.'i 

on  the  habits,  n(>st,  and  eggs  of  the  Saw 

Whet  Owl  in  Colorado  353 

on  the  habits,  nests,  aiuleggsofthe  Uocky 

Mountain  .Screech  Owl  In  Colorado 305 

on  the  nesting    hablis  of   Ihe   Western 

Homed  Owl  InColcu-ado ...       38,'. 

OanilM'l's  Partridge 39 

Ganlt.  U  T..  im  ihe  habits  of  the  Mississippi  Kite  In 

Texius 177 

on  the  abundance  of  the  Ked-bellliul  Hawk 

in  California 337 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Duck  Hawk 

In  Arkansas 291 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  California 

Screech  Owl 303 

(jctitrygon  marlinlca i,'i3 

mont.ana 154 

(ilancldlnmgnnma 403 

gnomacallfornicum 407 

gnoma  hosklusll iiw 

phalauioides 409 

Golden  ICagle  30;i 

Goshawk,  American 190 

Mexican J-d 

Western 199 

C.oss.Capi.  II  F..  on  the  nesting  habltsof  the  Hob  White 

in  Wisconsin 3 

cui  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Mexican 

Turkey,  in  souiliern  Texas 118 

lUl  the  Wild  Pigeon  in  Wisconsin  ....       137 
on  the  lU'stlng  habits  of  the  Turkey 

Vulture  In  Kansas  and  Texas 103 

on  the  brcedl.ig  bablls  of    Harris's 

Hawk  in  southwestern  Texas 393 

on  the    hablis  of    the    Wblletalled 

Hawk  in  Texas 331 

on  the  nesting  hablisof  Swalnson's 

Ilawkin  North  Dakota 239 

on  Ibe  nesting  habits  of  the  Fer- 
ruginous Ut>ngh-leg  in  North  Da- 
kota        200 

the  nesting  habitsofthe  DaldEagle  in 

Texas 277 

on  the  abmulance  of  Audnbon'sCara- 
cara  In  southern  Texas 315 

<tn    Ihe  nesilng  habits  of  thetireal 

HorneilOwiln  Wisconsin 378.381 

(loss.  C^ol,  N.  S,,  on  the  scart'liy  of  the  Prairie  Sharp- 
tailed  Grouse. in  Kansas.  Wisconsin. 

and  Iowa    10? 

(Ml  the  oc<'aslonal  urrence  of  the 

California  \'uliure   In  Lower  Cali- 
fornia       I.W 


442 


ALPHABETICAL  INDEX. 


I'age. 
OosH.Col.  N.  S.,on  the  brppdlng  hablta  of  the  Missis- 
sippi Kite  111  Knnsiis 178 

on  the  neatliiK  hiiblts  of   the  Duek 

Hawk  In  southeiisterii  Kansas 283 

QrayGyrfaleon -jga 

Ruffetl  (}  rouse 67 

Sea  KaKle 272 

Great  ClrayOwl 34s 

Horned  Owl $76 

GrimnK,  Moses  B.,  on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Ameri- 
can Osprey  In  New  York 321 

Grinnell,  George  B.,  on  the  habits  of  Pranklln  Grouse  57 
on  the  habits  of  the  White-tailed 
Ptarmigan  In  Colorado.  Mon- 
tana, and  British  Columbia 84 

on  the  habits  of  the  Sharp-tailed 

Grouse _ 102 

on  the  habits  of  the  Sa^e  Grouse 

in  Wyoming iiO 

Ground  Dove 148 

Grouse.  Canada 6| 

Canadian  Ruffed ai 

Columbian  Sharp-tailed , 98 

Dusky 41 

Pranklin's M 

Gray  Hulled 67 

Oregon  Ruffed 68 

Pinnateil 88 

Prairie  Sharp-tailed 101 

Richardsou's !iO 

Ruffed m 

Sage 106 

Sharp-tailed »7 

Sooty 43 

Guadalupe  Caracara 31« 

Gundlacb.  Dr.  Jean,  on  the  Cul)an  Bob  While  in  Cuba  9 
on  the  habits  of  tlie  Cuban  Spar- 

roA-  Hawk 314 

Gyrfalcon 283 

Black 286 

firay 283 

White 281 

HallBBBtus  alhiellla !J?2 

leuftM-ephalus 274 

Hardy.  Manly,  on  the  ('an.ida  Grouse  in  Maine  53 

on  the  Huffed  ({rouse  lit  Maine    61 

on  the   habits    of    Can:ulian    Ruffed 

Grouse _ 65 

on  the  food  of  the  Cauiullan  Ruffed 

Grouse  .  66 

on  the  habits  of   the  American  lios- 

hawk  In  Maine  197 

Harlan'."!  Hawk 217 

Harpy  Eagle 270 

Harrier I83 

Harris's  Hawk S02 

Hawk.  Anierh'an  Rough-legged 256 

American  Sparrow  309 

Broad -winged 241 

Cooi)er's 192 

Cuban  Sparrow 314 

Duck 292 

Florida  Red-shouldered lMJ 

Harlan's 217 

Harris's 202 

Krider's 212 

Little  Black 247 

Marsh 18I 

Mexican  Black 248 

Mouse 183 

Owl ;«h.' 

Pigeon 298 

Red  bellied  226 

Red-shouldered 219 

Red  tailed  2(W 

Rough-legged  'iiWi 

Sharp-Shinned 186 


Page. 

Hawk.  .Short-tailed  246 

Swalnson's aao 

While-tailed 2:11 

Z<me-ialled 228 

Heath  Hen 93 

Hen,  Heath 93 

Hen,  Prairie )|8 

Henshaw.  H.  W.,  im  a  |>ecHiiar  inci.leni  relaiing  m 
the   habits  of  the  American  Sparrow  Hawk   in 

Colorado 3|.j 

Horned  v)wl.  Western 383 

Hoskin's  Pygmy  Owl 408 

Hoxle,  Walter,  on  the  breeding  hablls  of  the  Black 

Vulture  in  South  Carolina iiiti 

Ictinla  mississlppiensis 177 

IncaDove i^> 

Ingersoll,  A.  M.on  the  nestlnghablts  of  the  Red-bellied 

Hawk  In  California 227 

Jackson,  Thomas  H.,  (mlhe nesting habltsoftheChest- 

uut-l)ellled  Scaled  Partridge  2'J 
(m  the  number  of  eggs  to  a  set  o( 

the  ChachaLica iji 

Johnson.  A.  S.,  on  the  nesting  habits  of  the   RulTe<l 

Grouse O',* 

Johnson.  Prof.  O.  B.on  the  occurrence  of  I  he  Mount  ain 

Partridge  In  Washingion 1:1 

on  the  present  abundant-e  of  the 
California  Partridge  on  Whitby 

Island,  Puget  Sound 23 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Ore- 
gon HulTed  Gr<mse  in  Wash- 
ington   m 

Jones,  Lynds,  on  the  nestlnghablts  of  the  Bob  Whiii'  in 

Iowa 3.4 

on  some  unusual  nesting  sites  of  the 

Mourning  Dove  ii.  Iowa in 

on  the  habits  and  a  large  set  of  eggs  of 

the  MiHirniij;<  Dove  In  Iowa 11'^ 

on  tlie  nesting  habits  of  the  Turkey  Vul- 
ture in  Iowa MB 

on  the  food  of  the  Marsh  Hawk  In  Iowa  188 
on   the  habits  of  Swalnson's  Hawk  in 

Iowa 2119 

on  the  nesting  habits   of   the   Pig 1 

Hawk  in  Iowa -299 

on  the  American  Sparrow  Hawks  breed- 
ing In  oimmi  nests  In  Iowa 310 

on  the  mating  of  the  Screech  Owl  in 

Iowa 3M 

on  the  mode  of  incubation  of  the  Screech 

Owl 357 

on  the  habits  of  the  Great  Horned  Owl 

in  Iowa 378 

Kennlcott'B  Screech  Owl ,163 

Kestrel ,308 

Key  West  Quail-Dove ijis 

Kite.  Everglade    |so 

Mls.slsslppi 177 

Swallow-tailed 168 

White-tailed 173 

Kline.  HA,  on  the  habits  of  the  Short-eared  Owl 334 

Krider's  Hawk 212 

Lagopus  lagopus 69 

lagopus  alleni 7.'> 

leucurus 83 

ruitestrls 7.'* 

rupesirls  aikhensis 81 

rupeslris  nelsoui 80 

rupestris  reinhardti  78 

welchi 8'J 

Lanner  Falcon    288 

Lantz,  Prof.  E.D.,011  the  Great  Horned  Owl  laying  in 

ciuillnement  in  Kansas 382 

on  the  nesting  siti-s  of  the  Great 

Horned  Owl  in  Kansas...  378 

Lapp  Owl 346 

Lesser  Prairie  Hen 80 


ALPHABETICAL  INDEX. 


44;} 


Pngp. 
Lewis,  Eran,  on  tho  nesting  habits,  etc.,  o(  the  Whili' 

tailed  Ptarmigan  In  Colorado B7 

Little  Black  Hawk 347 

Blue  Darter I«» 

Lloyd,  William,  on  the  Texan  Bob  While 8 

on  theSealed  Partridge  In  Tt'XJis 19 

on  the  MaMHena  Parlrldt^e  in  Texas  . .       3ft 
on  theneHtlng  habltri  of  the  Mexican 

Tnrkey  In  Texas 117 

on  the  abundance  of  Haud-talled  Plg- 

eon.sln  Texan l'J3 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  White- 
fronted  L)r>ve  In  Mexico 145 

on  the  habits  of  the  Mexican  (J round 

Dove  In  Mexico IIH) 

on  the  habits  of  the  Black  Vulture  In 

Texas  iro 

on  the  food  of  the  Western  Ked-tall  In 

western  Texas -M 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  Audubon's 

Caracara  In  Texas 318 

Long-eared  Owl,  American 3'.^ 

Loonils,  Dr.  Leverett  M..on  the  Ked-talled  Hawk  occa- 
sionally raising  two  broods  In  a  season  In  South 

Carolina ;;il 

Lowell.  A.  C,  on  the  Valley  Partridge  In  northeastern 

California » 

on  the  Kage  (iroiise  ))elng  a  victim  of  a 

grub  inCallfornla liw 

Mac  Farlaue.  K..  on  the  breeding  of  Franklin  Orouse 
near  Stewart  Lake.  British  Coluin- 

bla I>s 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  ('anadlan 

Kuffed  (Jrouse  in  British  Columbia.       (17 
on  the  Willow  Ptarmigan  In  British 

North  America 7:1 

on  the    nesting  habits  of   the   Rock 
Ptarmigan      in      llriilsh      North 

America 7rt 

on  the  lireeding  hal)its  of  the  Sliarp- 
tailed    Grouse    in    British     North 

America tts 

on  the  nesting  haltlis  of  t  he  American 
Rough  legged     Hawk     In     British 

North  America aw 

on  t  he  alxnidatxe  of  the  ti  jTfaleon  In 

British  NorthAmcrlca 284 

im  the  rarity  of  thetireat  Gray  Owl 

In  British  North  America  ..  345 

on  the  occurrence  of  the  American 
Hawk  Owl  in  British  North  A  niirica     3W 

Mac  Parlane's  .Screech  Owl  371 

Macoun.  Prof.  J,  on  the  abundance  of  the  Burrowing 

Owl  in  British  Columbia 39.-. 

ou  the  range  of  the  Sage  Ciroiise  Into 

sc  Hit  hern  Asslnlliola 107 

Marsh  Hawk im 

Masked  Bob  White [_[        10 

Massena  Partridge 3,5 

Maynard,  C.  J,,  on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Everglade 

Kite  In  Florida iho 

Mcllwralth.  T.outhe  Boli  White  in  souihcni  Canada 

McLaughlin.  R.  B 1  the  nesting  haliUs  .if  the  Bob 

White  In  Ni>rth  Carolina  3 

on  a  peculiar  nesting  site  of  the 
Mourning  Dove  In  North  Caro- 
lina        141 

<in  the  nesting  hattlts  of  the  Mourn- 
ing Dove 14'J 

im  a  set  of  six  eggs  of  the  Ued- 
shouldered  Hawk  taken  in  North 

Carolina •j'-'a 

Mearns.  Dr.  E.  A.,  on  the  food  of  the  Western  Red  Tall 

In  Arizona '2\i 

Megascops  aslo itj-yi 

aslo  alkenl 370 

aslo  beniiirel :nji 

aslo  llorldanus 35^ 


,  Page. 

Megascops  aslo  kennlcottll :W3 

aslo  macrarlanel 371 

aslo  iinixwellla; 'WA 

aslomccallll ma 

aslo  saturatus 373 

aslo  tllihopsls 368 

liammeolus 374 

flamnieolus  Idahoensis 376 

Meleagrls  gallopavo 113 

'                    gallopavo  mexicana 116 

gallopavo  Osceola 116 

Melopella  lencoptera 145 

Menge,  J.  P.,  on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Florida  Bob 

i                                  White - 

'  ou  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Kverglade 

i                             Kile  in  Florida  I8I 

im  the  nestinghabllsor  the  Florida  Bur- 
rowing Owl 4U3 

Merlin 301 

Merlin.  Blark ;«« 

Klchardsim's 3113 

Merriam,  Dr.  C.  Hart,  on  Allen's  Ptarmigan  In  New 

Foundland t.s 

Merrill,  Dr.  J.  C,  ou  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Prairie 

Hen »1 

on    the   habits  of   the  White-tailed 

Hawk  In  Texas '.j;l4 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Uolden 

Kagle  in  Montana L'OS 

on  thi*  abundani-eor  the  Duck  Hawk 

on  the  rpjM'r  Missouri.  Montana  ',*y4 
on  the  nesting  of  the  American  Spar- 
row Hawk  In  Montana 311 

on  the  abundance  ami  food  of   the 

Pygmy  Owl  In  soiitheru  Oregon  . .  4U6 

Mexican  Black  Hawk 248 

Goshawk 251 

Ground  Dove 1511 

Screech  Owl ,368 

Turkey 116 

Micropallas  whltneyl 411 

Mlsslssljipl  Kite 177 

Morrison.  C.  F,.  on  the  nesting  of  the  .Sharp-shinned 
Hawk  ill  abandoned  Magpie  nests  in 

Colorado UK) 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Pygmy 

Owl  In  Colorado 406 

Mottled  Owl XA 

Mountain  Partridge 13 

yuan 13.14 

Mourning  Dove i;,9 

Mouse  Hawk 183 

Muiiger.  H.  C..  on  the  Bob  While  Incubating  a  set  of 

eggs  in  mld-wiiitcr  In  Missouri 3 

NeLson.  E.  W..  on  the  Scaled  I'artrldgi'  in  New  Mexico  19 
on  the  Massena  Partridge  In  New  Mex- 
ico   37 

on  the  habits  of  the  Willow  Ptarmigan 

In  Alaska Tii 

on  the  habits  of  the  Uock  Ptarmigan  In 

Alaska 76 

Nelson's  Ptarmigan 80 

Nyctala  acadica    .  360 

tengmalml  rlchardsonl 347 

Nyctea  nyclea 389 

Oregon  Buffed  Grouse t'8 

Oreortyx  jilctus 13 

plctiisconllnus 17 

plctus  plumlferus 14 

Ortalls  vetulamaccalU 119 

Osprey,  American 330 

Owl  Acadian lew 

Aiken  s  Screech 370 

American  Barn 335 

Amerliau  Hawk   393 

American  Long-eared _  ,338 

Arctic  Hornetl 386 

Barred 338 


444 


ALlMIAIUrnCAL  INDEX. 


Pago. 

Owl.  nurrowlnc 395 

OitllfiirniH  I'yginy W 

l,'iillfiiriilii  .Srri'Bch ;W1 

Diiaky  lliirnwl 387 

Klf 411 

KiTnijilnous  Pyf^iny 400 

riainiiiulati'd  Si-n'ci'h 374 

h'liiiid.i  lliinvd 83» 

Florida  liurmwiiiK 400 

Florida  .Scri'iMh 368 

(ire.-il  (Iriiy  345 

tlri'iit  llDrncd 3711 

H:i»k 3K 

llDsUlns  Pyismy 40« 

Ki'imliiitt's  .Scri'Poli 363 

Llipil 316 

Mai'Furliinc'M  Srrpech 3T1 

Mi'Xican  Srreerh 308 

Miillli'd 3M 

Pymny  403 

I*llK''l  Sulllul  Scn'PPh 373 

Rliiianlsiin'H 347 

Kdcky  MimntalnScrwch 36,1 

SawWhid  X<n 

Srrcwli .351 

Sliiirt  I'lired  .^'^2 

Snowy 389 

Sixillcd 343 

Swamp 340 

IVxan  Scri'i'di  .100 

Wi'stirnlliirmd    38:1 

Fiilnlln.  .lolni  T.,  on  i  In-  niimlHT  of  i'KK»  dmiid  In  a  nest 

of  the  KufftMl  (frouHC  in  Iowa 03 

Palonia  rrvniador 140 

Pandion  liallat'tns  caniliui'nNis ;120 

Paralnili'o  nidfliwtnrt  liurriKl  20j 

Park.    Atlslin    F..    (tn    llip    imniltatlon    of    the    Kwl- 

should.Ti'd  Hawk  ...  ffJ-J 

Parkhurnt.  A.  L..  on  the  abundani'i*  of  the  California 
VtilMiri'  in  soinf  of  tin-  nionntain 

dlslvlrlM  of  C'allf.n'iila   158 

on  llu'  ni'SlhiK  lialilts  of  llii'  Wlllti'- 

tailed  Kile  in  C'al'fomia 175 

Partrldno 1.59 

nirili 04 

California S3 

Chesinnt-lD'llied  Hi'aled S2 

CainberH 29 

Massena .15 

Mountain 13 

I'lunnil 14 

.San  Pedro 17 

Scali'ii 18 

Valley SO 

Viriplnia I 

PassenRPr  Pigeon 132 

Peales  Faleon 2»7 

Pedlocietes  pha-sianellns 97 

pliaalanellus  canipe.^trls     101 

pha.sianellus  coliiniliianu.s 98 

Pennopk.  C.  .1..  on  the  nesting  lial)lts  of  the  .Sliort- 

talled  Hawk  in  Florida SI7 

Peregrine  Falcon  _ _ 292 

Perry.  T.  1)..  on  the  breeding  haUltR  of  the  Ground 

ni>ve  in  Ceorgla 149 

Pigeon.  Hand  tailed 122 

Hawk 298 

Passenger 132 

Ked  billed 128 

Vlosea's 127 

Whltp-erowned 131 

Plnnatpdtironse  88 

Plumed  Partridge |4 

Poling,  UthuC.  on  the  M.i.sk<>d  lloli  White  In  Arizona  .  12 

on  tlH'  Massena  Partritiye  in  Arizona  ;I8 
on    the  nesting  haliiis  of  the  Hand- 

laileii  i»igpons  In  Arizona 124 


Pollng.ntlinCnn  the  iipstlng  habits  of  the  Mexican 

tloshawk  In  Arizona 2M 

Polyborns  pheriway 315 

Iniosus 318 

PfHSloii.  J.  \V..  on  tlip  wintering  of  a  few  Mourning 

Doves  In  Iowa 141 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Turkey 

Vulturi'  in  Iowa 104 

on  the   liablts  of  the  Swailowlalled 

Kile  in  Minnesota 171 

on  the  nesiing  habits  of  the  Marsh 

Hawk  In  Iowa 185 

on  the  habits  of  Swainson's  Hawk  In 

Iowa 239 

on  ihe  haliils  of   the    Hroail-wlngpd 

Hawk  In  Minnesota 243 

on  Itie  rail  noit>s  and  nesting  of  the 

American  Long-eared  t1wl :J28 

on  the  call  notes  and  habits  of  thi* 

llairedowi  In  Iowa 3:1B 

on  the  tniinlM'r  of   eggs  laid  by  the 

(Heat  Horned  Owl  In  Iowa 381 

Prond,  William,  on  the  Valley  Partridge  in  California  28 

Prairie  ChlPken 88,99 

Falcon 288 

Hpn 88 

llpii,  lA'.s.spr 96 

Sharp-lallpii  C  rouse Wl 

Pspudogryphus  callfornlanUH 157 

Ptarmigan.  Allen  s 75 

Nelsons 80 

Uelnhardfa 78 

Kock 75 

Turner's 81 

Welihs 83 

Whllelailed 83 

Willow 69 

Puget  Srmnd  .Spreeph  Owl 373 

Pygmy  Owl 403 

(Jnall I 

Hlapk 38 

lilac  ktielUed 35 

Hove,  liln.'  he:ided 150 

Dove.  Key  West 153 

Dove.  Kuildy i.M 

Halph.  Dr.  W.  L.  on  the  habits  of  the  Florida   Holi 

While     - 7 

on  the  Wild  Turkey  In  Florida      ...  113 

on  IhehabltsollheMoiiridngDove  112 
on    the    habits    and    nests  of    the 

lironnd  Dove  In  Florida 148 

on  the  haWlsof  the  Turkey  Vulture 

In  Florida 182 

on  ilM'  habits  of  the  Hlaek  Vulture 

In  Florida 107 

on  the  habits  of  the  Swallow-tailed 

Kile  in   Florida 109 

im  the  food  of  the  Mar.sh  Hawk  In 

Flotilla 184 

cm  the  habiis  ofilii>  Sharp'shinned 

ll:iwk  in  norlhern  Ni'W  York 187 

olilhc-habilsor  the  Red  tailed  Hawk 
in  iiorlhern  .Vew  Vurk  and  Flor- 
ida    2118 

cm  the   habiis   of  Harlan's  Hawk 

in  Florida 218 

on  the  hahils  of  the  Red  shouldered 

Hawk  in  lion  hern  New  York     ..  '.'IW 
on  the  call  notes  of  Red-shonlilered 

Hawk .  222 

cm  Mil'  habiis  of  the    Phulda   Red 

shciuldiM'ed   Hawk ...  224 

on  Ihe  habits  of  ihc>  Mroad  winged 

Hawk  in  .New  York 242 

on  the   occ-urrence    of    the    Short 

tailed  Hawk  In  Florida 247 


ALrilAUKTUAL  INDKX. 


445 


Kiilph,  Dr.  VV.  Ii.oii  the  abundanrc,  iu'sIIiik  hiililts, 
etc..  i>r  ihi'  nulil  K;iKli^  ill  l''lm-lil:i 
(111  thii  iicHiliiK  hiililtsot  thu  AiiiiTl 
ciiu  Ospi-cy  ill  I''loriilu._ 

on  thO  lllibllH,  Ilt'HtM,  1111(1  i'KKM  of  llio 

I''iorlilii  Hiirrcil  Owl 

(Ill  lliH  iiliiiiuliiiiru  (ir  lliB  Siiw-whct 

Owl  ill  n-irihcrii  New  Vorlt -- 

(in  tlio  liiiblts.  nests,  unit  ('j,',n«  of  the 

Kloridii  Scrcecli  (Iwl 

on  the  ncstiiiK  luihlisot  the  Urciii 

Hoim'd  Owl  In  l''lorlU:i 

Rcd-liclllcd  Hiiwlt 

Hed  liillcil  I'iKcon 

Uud-slumldert'd  Hiiwk 

Florida 

Ked-tiillud  Hawk 

llt'd-lull  Saint  LiicaH 

Western 

Keinhardl's  I'lariniRan 

Kiebardson'.s  (Jronse 

Merlin 

Owl 

Bldgway,  Prof.  Kobtjrt.  on  tbo  ncstiiiK  baldtsot  thu 

Hull  While  

on  thB  distrilmtion  of  the 
I'liuiied  I'artrldKe  ill  Ne- 
vada  

Rocker 

Rock  Grons*! 

Ptarmigan 

Roeky  M(niiitain  Screeeh  Owl 

Honey.  rid(.  H.  H..  on  iho  InunviUio  deslriictlou  of  the 

Pa.sseilKcr  IMReoii 

Rostrhaiiius  H(H'labilis 

RouKh-legKt'(l  Hnzzard 

Hawk 

Ruddy  Quail  Dove  

Ruffed  Grouse 

Grouse,  Canadian 

Grouse,  tiray 

Grouse.  Oreiion 

.Sa^e  (.1  rouse 

Sage.  J.  II..  on  eoiniiosltion  of  tho  nest  of  the  Shai'ii- 

shinned  Hawk  in  Connecticut 

Saint  Lucas  Red-tail 

San  Pedro  Partridge 

Saw  whet  Owl 

Scaled  Partridite 

Scardafellainea 

Seotiaptcx  elnerea 

einerea  lapponica _ 

Scott.  W.  K.  D.ou  the  nesiiiiK  habits  of  thu  Klorlda 

Uob  White 

on  tho  occurrence  of  the  Inea  Dove 

In  Arizona 

ontho  nostiun  habits  of  the  Western 

Ked-tail  In  Arizona. 

on  the  abundance  of  the  Florida  Red 

shouldered  Hawk  

on  the  iiesliii);  of  the  Short-eared  Owl 

in  New  Jersey 

Screech  Owl 

Owl,  Aikens 

Owl.  California 

Owl,  Dwarf 

Owl.Plammnlated 

Owl.  Florida 

Owl.  Keunlcotfs 

Owl.  Mae  Farlane'.s 

Owl.  Mexican 

Owl,  Plljlet  Sound 

Owl.  Rocky  Mountain 

Owl,  Texan 

.Sea  Ka,i;le,  (J  ray 

Sennett,  George  H..  on  the  abundance  of  the  Texan 
Hob  White  In  the  Rio  Grande 
Valley 


I'lge. 


II 

78 
7H 
-."i 
3)l;i 

i;i7 
mi 

IM 

m 
m 

*i7 
(W 
IIKI 

IWI 

air 

17 
.Till 

IN 
I.VJ 
[IKt 
31(1 


Senuetl.GeorKe  11.  on  the  uesiint;  habits  of  the  Per 
riiKiiious     I'ymny     Owl     In 

TexaH 

Sharp  shinned  Hawk 

SharptalledGroii.se 

Grouse,  Coliiiiiblau 

Gron.se,  Prairie 

Shick,  Charles  H..  on   the  habits  of  the   Aiuerleaii 

Osprey  ill  New  Jersey 

Shlveiln«0«l 

Short  cared  Owl  

Short-tailed  Hawk 

SlnifiiiK  Dove 

Sinyley.  J.  A. ,  on  the  Texan  Hob  White 

(m  the  nest hiK  habits  of  the  Wihl  Tur- 
key In  Texas  

on  tho  nesting  habits  of  the  Cliacha- 
laea  in  tho  Lower  Klo  Urivnde  Valley, 

TttxaH 

on  the  ncstliiK  habits  of  the  Ml.sslssijipl 

Kite  In  Texas 

Smith,!',  11,  Jr.,  on  the  iiesttuK  of  the  I'rairie  Hen 

above  the  ground 

on  the  breeding  habits  of  the  Ued- 
talled  Hawk  in  Mouthwestern  llll- 

iiids 

on  lieciiliar  nest  Iiil'  sites  of  the  O  real 

Horned  Owl  liiinincds 

Sllllth,  WUIialuG..  on  the  balilts  of  the  SaKeGroll.se 

ill  WyciniiliK 

cm  the  food  of  the  Marsh  Hawk  In 

Colorado 

on  I  be  nesting  habits  of  the  Flain- 
nilllaled  Screech  Owl  in  Colo- 
rado  _.. 

on  the  nesting  habitsof  the  I'yginy 

Owl  in  Colorado 

Snail  H.awk 

Snowy  Owl  

Sociable  Mar,sh  Hawk  ...y...... 

,Sooly  Grouse 

Sparrow  Hawk,  American 

Hawk,  Cuban 

Siieotyto  ciinlcularia  lloridana 

eiiniciilaria  hyiKigiea 

Spike-tail  Grouse 

Spotted  Owl 

Starno-iiascyaiioeepliala 

Steinbeck.  W i  tho  liablis  of  the  Golden  Kagle  in 

California _ 

Stephens,  F.,  on  the  nest  and  eggs  of  the  Mexican  Tur- 
key in  .southern  Arizona 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Haud-lailed 

Pigeon  ill  , Arizona 

a  de.script  Ion  of  t  he  llesi  of  1  he  lied  iNdlied 

Hawk  In  sonlhcrii  Callrornia 

on  the  abundance  of  Swaln.son.s  Hawk 

in  southern  California 

on  the  breeding  haliils  of  the  Mexican 
Goshawk   In    souilierii    Arizona  and 

New  Mexico 

SIrme.  Whilmer,  on  some  unusual  nesting  .sites  of  the 

Moiuniug  Dove  in  Penn.sylvania 

Strix  pratilicola 

Suriiia  ulula      

Ill  Ilia  eaparoch 

Swainson's  Hawk 

Swalbiw-taliedKlto 

Swamp  Owl _,  . 

Swinburne,  John,  on  tho  nesting  habits  of  Gambel's 

Partridge 

on  tho  Ma.s.seiia  Partridge  In  Ari- 
zona   

on  the  Dusky  Grouse  111  Arizona 
ontheucsiing  habiisof  the  Marsh 

Hawk  in  Arizona 

.Syrninm  uebulosiim 

uebulosuin  alleul 


P«(P>. 


no 

IHII 

Iff 

(18 
101 

:fi 
aw 

34(1 

lie 

8 


1^1 
171) 
III 

L'lll 
.181 
Mil 
181 


4(»1 
182 
ItWl 
180 

i:i 
mill 

.IM 

mn 
■.m 
m 

3Vi 

\m 


118 

IJl 


III 
Si". 
:ig-.! 
.wi 
aw 
irs 
.'iiii 


.'IT 

II.' 

I8.'i 
33ii 
3.19 


44fi 


ali'iiai!i:ti(!al  index. 


Syrnlnni  (iri'ldcnliilp 

Ttiyliir,  II  K,,  nil  the  iilitinrtiiiicc  ot  Hoh  While  in  (ill 
loy.Ciii  

Ti'xiiii  iioiiwiiiif .....!!..! 

Scrt'i'ch  i>wl 

Thoiniwdu,  Kriist  I 


im  llii'CaimdiHii  ItulTi'il  (iriiiisn 
im  Die  liiiliiis  uiiil  riMiil  III    ihc 
Slinriitalli^il  driiTiHi'  In  Miiiil- 

lohii 

nil  tlii'ulniniliini'i' cir  the  Tnrk«y 

Villi iiri^  111  Miiiiliiihii 

Tbnmpiinn.  Frank,  J.,  on  ihr  nrailiiK  "I  lln>  I'lism-iwr 

rigcnn  In iMiii'iiiviu      

Tliorne,  Ciipt.  P.  M i  the  liabitH  of  iho  Tuxan  Bnl) 

Whlii' 

iin    Itin    MiiHHi'iiii  Purl ridKi!    In 

TPXIIH 

(in  I  111'  ftiiKi  iif  ttiu  Uoliien  Kiinii'  In 

Mnlltiinil 

Tlirasaetiis  Inirpylu 

TiHlil.  (i.  w  ,  ,in  ltu>  MiisNpnii  I'liiliiilKc  In  Tcxiis     ..!! 
Triilll.  w.  K  .  un  thr  liimlliiKiif  FriinldliiH  tironso  In 

Hrllish  ('Dliiiiiblii 

Tnrkoy  Hnzziinl '.!..!.!.! 

Mnxli-an 

Vulture 

Wild '.\]' '.'.[['.''.'''.'[[] .[ 

Turnor.  I..  M.  (Ml  tlir  lir IIhk  liuhlis  ,ir  tlic  fiinadii 

liriiii.ir  111  l.aliiiiilipruiKl  L'nitavii   .. 
im  ilii>  haliiis  iif  III,.  Wlllinv  IMarmlKan 

in  l.iilinidcpr  and  I'ln-avii __.. 

<"i  Uc'lnlianlt  s  I'lannlKaniii  l.alinidni- 
on   111!'  hahlls.  ih'sis,  iiiid  runs  "I  Tnr 

Hern  i'larniluaii 
iin  tlii>  haliliHid  ilir  American  Cnshawli 

In  Alaska 

on  the  rarity  of  tin.  Anii'iiran  (iosliiiwk 

In  Lahrailor 

on   till'  aliiiiiilani r    the   Aini'rlraii 

UiMiirhh'i.'iri'd  Hawk  In  Labrador 
on  till,  balillsof  ihi'  Illa.k  (iyrfalron  in 

Labrador  and  IJngava 

on  till'  iii'.stinn  habits  of  ihi'  Uurk  Hank 
in  soiitlii'rn  Labrador 

on  thi'  oi'ciii-nnK f  thi'  Dusky  Hornod 

Owl  In  UiiKava  and  Labrador 

on  till'  habits  or  thi'  Snowy  Owl  In  Lab- 

railor  and  IJiiKava  - 

oniht'  habltH  and  rarltyot  the  Anii'rl 
I  an  Hawk  Owl  inmjHthcrn  Labriulor 

Turners  Piarmittan 

Tympanuchns  aim'riiannn ^|^ 

ciilildo 

lialllilli'lni'lHs 

I'mhltinna  aiithraclna [__ 

Valh-y  I'artrldK'c  

Van  Vlb't,  Ll.'iit.  Holwrt  Con  Hie  Ma«si'iia  Piiriridui' 

in  Ti'xas 

\'Uaro,  Dr.  Juan,  t 


H 
Mil 
IVI 


ail 
wo 


on  till'  iii'stliiK  habits  of  the  Cuban 

Hob  Whll,' 

on  thi'  abiinilanii'.  food.  I'ti'..  of  thr 

Ki'y  Wi'st  (Jnail  Dovi-lnCiiba    ^ 
on  thi'  di'rrcasi'  of  ihi'  lllui'.hi'adiid 

CJuaii  Dovi'  in  Cuba 

Vlnsra'8  PlReon 

Virginia  Partridge _  _[  


151 

i5H  I 

I 


Vnitnro,  niiirk  

California '  ' 

Turkey 

VVi'lih,  di'orgi' ()..  on  iho haWm of  WPlch'H PiarmiHan 

Wi'lihs  I'tarinlgan 

Wi'ntt'rn  lloshawk    

Ilorni'd  Owl 

Hi'il  Tall '.''. 

White  (Jyrfali'on .".!..!.!..[ 

Whiii'  ifowni'd  I'lgvon 

While  fronted  Dove 

Whiletalled  Hawk 

Kite -i '"'"!!!"!! "!!!!!!" 

I  i'lannlgnn 

White  winged  Dove '     

Wilcox.  Dr.  T.  K..  on  the  abiindan, f  Hob  White  in 

NeliriLska  and  Idaho  

on  the  Sooty  Oronse  in  WuHhlng- 

Ion 

on  the  habits  of  l^'rankllns  Croii.se 
on  the  nesting  habits  of  ihe  Prairie 
.Shariitaileililrouse  in  Nebraska 
on  the  Wild  Turkey  in  NebraMka 

Wild  Pigeon 

Turkey 

Williams.  KobortS..  on  RIeliardsonn  (JroHsii  in  Mon- 

tnna  

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  (iray 

UulTi'd  iJrouse  In  Montana 
on  the  food  of  the  Sage'.irouse 

In  Montana  

on  the  nesting  habits  of  Swain- 

Hon  »  Hawk  111  Montana 

on  the  abunilanie  of  the  Diiek 
Hawk  on  the  UpiH-r  Miitsoiirl, 

Montana 

(Ml  the    nesting   habits    of   the 
Short  eared  Owl  in  Montana 

Willow  Ptarmigan      

Wilson,  A.  D 1  the  nests  and  eggs  of  the  White- 
tailed  Ptarmigan  in  Colorado 

Wolfe.  W.  M..  on  theabundaiiieof  tlie  Hob  White  in 

I'lebraska 

on  the  nesting  habits  of  the  Hob  While  in 

Nebraska  

on  the  oiiiirrenee  of   the   White  tailed 
Ptarinigan   In  Wyoming.    Idaho,   and 

Montana    

onihel'ralrie  Sharp  tailed (iroii.se  in  Ne 

braska 

on  the  nesting  siles  of  the  Prairie  Sharp 

tailed  (irouse  in  Nebraska. 

Woodward.  Ma.|.  S.  L..  on  the  nesting  habits  of  ihe 

Wild  Turkey  in  Texas   

Worthlngton.  W.  W.,  on  the  nesting  habits  of  the 
Hlaek  Vulture  in  .South  Cam 

Una 

on  the  food  of  the  Halil  I'lagle 

inOeorgia 

on  the  habits  of  the  Ameriean 
Osprey  in  New  York 
Varnall.  .1.  H..  on  the  food  of  the  Canada  OrnuHe  in 

New  Ilrunswiek 

Zenaida  l>ove  

Zenalda ...\y..^.\.^.". 

Zenaid  nra  maeroiira 

Zonetailcd  Hawk 


Pnge. 

im 

\M 
lai 
Bi 
K 
190 

aai 

SI3 
281 

1.11 

144 

m 

m 

14,'i 


IH 
f>7 

IIM 
11.1 
l;l.1 
III! 

hi) 

118 

107 

^'39 


S3i 

m 
m 
I 
fl 

8,1 
102 

I  lie 

IbS 


I4R 
14.1 

1.19 


